Chicago’s Diverse Film Conference, aimed at organizing support for greater film job diversity by amending the Illinois Filmmakers 30% Tax Credit, will be held Saturday, Sept. 6 at the DuSable Museum of African American History, 10 a.m. to noon.
Presenters are END Productions (former Alderman Ed Smith, Nate Grant and Delvin Molden) in association with Richard Gallion and Joe Boateng’s Reel Black Filmmakers, actor/producer/director Troy Pryor and the DuSable Museum.
Host and moderator is veteran filmmaker Pemon Rami, currently director of the DuSable’s educational services and public programs.
The meeting’s focus will be how two proposed amendments to current Illinois Film Tax Bill (SB 1816) would increase business and therefore more job opportunities for minorities.
One part of their twofold proposal is give a production a 30% tax credit for above-the-line on-screen talent. (Last October, the Senate had approved this amendment, which is now in the House awaiting further action.)
The second part: To qualify for the tax credit, the production would be required to hire 35% people of color on union-contracted below-the-line jobs.
More “good faith efforts” needed
The conference also has the tax credit’s “good faith effort” (to hire minorities according to state population representation) on its agenda. Although the Illinois Dept. of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s Diversity Plan already provides for a fair hiring process, END’s Delvin Molden recently told the Chicago Defender “more needs to be done.”
He wants “the good faith effort” to look at the hiring process from a production standpoint. “This will make sure minorities are getting jobs in Illinois,” he said in the Defender article.
As such, production companies would have to document its minority hiring efforts and share them with the Illinois Dept. of Labor. Also recommended: a Labor Department representative would visit production sites to ensure the goals in DCEO’s diversity plan are being followed.
Film supporter Sen. Van Pelt on Conference panel
Discussing these issues at the Conference will be a panel with Sen. Patricia Van Pelt (D-5th), sponsor of the SB1816 and a film industry supporter; Rep. Art Turner (D-9th); Cesar Rolon, CEO, Image Marketing and community leader; Doreena Towner and Shirlene Small, CPAs; Emerging Business Solutions Group, and a representative from Cinespace Studios.
The Conference Agenda also includes production jobs in Illinois; understanding the film tax bill, good faith efforts and how it shapes local job growth for people of color and stimulating Illinois film production through the tax bill.
To attend the Sept. 6 meeting, RSVP to delvinm@endprods.com.
