TO: THE MEMPHIS/MID-SOUTH FILM & TV COMMUNITY
FROM: THE MEMPHIS & SHELBY COUNTY
FILM AND TELEVISION COMMISSION –
Film Commissioner Linn Sitler
Chairman Herb O’Mell
Deputy Film Commissioner Sharon O’GuinRE: SUPPORT NEEDED FOR PRODUCTION INCENTIVES LEGISLATION
DATE: FEBRUARY 19, 2006
As you are likely aware, since January, 2004, The Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commission has been a strong, vocal advocate to our state legislators re: the continuing, urgent need to pass competitive production incentive legislation.
We now have well-researched and well-considered recommendations for such legislation —thanks to a report recently prepared by the Film Production Advisory Committee (FPAC) of which Linn Sitler was an ex-officio member. The report is available at The Commission’s website at www.memphisfilmcomm.org
Recently, our Board voted unanimously to endorse the recommendations in this report. As you’ll see upon reading the report, the incentives proposed by FPAC encourage both out-of-state production companies working in Tennessee and also indigenous production companies shooting in the state.
You, as members of the Memphis/Mid-South production community have everything to gain — and everything to lose — by the fate of the legislation containing these recommendations.
In the weeks to come, we’ll keep you informed of the progress of the legislation filed — and what you can do to enhance the cause.
Right now, we are asking you to email a short message of support asap for The Film Production Advisory Committee’s Report on Tennessee’s Urgent Need for Competitive Production Incentive Legislation to:
phil.bredesen@state.tn.us (Governor Bredesen)
cc: dave.cooley@state.tn.us (Deputy Governor Cooley)
david.j.bennett@state.tn.us (TN Film Commissioner)
linn@memphisfilmcomm.org (Memphis/Shelby Co. Commissioner)Additionally,with this email, we are asking for the support of the innumerable businesses and hotels in our community which benefit so greatly from production. Let’s stay “in touch and together” in the weeks to come in order to see our state come from behind to pass competitive incentive legislation THANKS!
A follow-up: here is the email I sent. Feel free to steal any part of this for your own:
Dear State Representatives,
I wanted to take a moment to contact you in support of the Film Advisory Committee’s Report on Tennessee’s Urgent Need For Competitive Production Incentive Legislation. As a working professional in the film, television, and commercial industry, I want to stress to you the importance and urgency of this legislation as it relates to our state’s overall short and long-term economy, our regional economy, and the job security of thousands of people like me: Tennessee residents and their families who are working professionals in the film, tv, video, and commercial industries.
As a working professional, I speak on a daily basis with people in these industries regarding projects they are considering filming in Tennessee. The deciding factor on whether or not to begin production in our state is almost always the tax incentives that are provided by other states in the region. As a result of Tennessee’s outdated standards for Film/TV/Video/Commercial production, we have lost millions of dollars in production revenue to neighboring states who willingly legislate and provide tax incentives. We stand today at a crossroads in the future of the entertainment industry; the decisions each of you will make regarding this legislation will have a far-reaching impact in terms of our state’s short and long-term economic growth and well-being.
The production houses that choose to bring work to Tennessee are walking away and taking work to other states. These companies would willingly pour billions of dollars into our state’s economy over the next ten years; but their decision will be based on whether or not these tax incentives are approved.
For the security of working Film/TV/Video/Commercial industry professionals who make Tennessee their home by choice, it is imperative that you quickly and judiciously review the recommendations of the Film Advisory Committee and sign into legislation the tax incentives which they are proposing. Allowing even another six months to go by without moving forward would deliver a crippling blow to our state’s economic well-being. Your urgent consideration of FPAC’s research and swift move to provide tax incentives to companies willing to come to Tennessee to film will stimulate rapid economic growth and put Tennessee on the fast track for its share in the annual $1.23 trillion entertainment industry of the 21st century.
E.J. Friedman
