SELLING THEIR WARES at Location Expo in L.A. this week is what Scott Robbe would call “A Third Coast coalition” as film office heads and associates from Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan meet and greet at Location Expo this week in L.A.
Incentives are the hot topic, of course. Illinois’ CFO’s Rich Moskal, the IFO’s Todd Lizak and Lisa Banks and Local 476’s Mark Hogan are talking up ours, while Michigan’s Janet Lockwood and Wisconsin’s Robbe are doing the same for theirs. May they all come out winners.
NEW YORK STATE RAISES THE INCENTIVES STAKES by TRIPLING its tax credit for film and TV productions in a bid to regain an edge over its credit-happy neighbors Connecticut, New Jersey and Massachusetts.
The state legislature approved extending the program to 2013 and takes the total credit to 30% of all below-the-line costs from 10%.
New York City also offers a 5% credit, so city shoots can reap a total of 35%. The credit will be granted in one lump sum rather than the current method of spreading it across two years of tax returns.
ZACUTO’S STEVE WEISS and eight Zacuto associates will be at their NAB booth April 14-17 in Las Vegas. The booth will promote many Letus35 Extreme DOF adaptors, including some secret prototypes, RedRock M2 adaptors and lots of Red One products and support equipment.
“THE ENGAGEMENT: MY PHAMILY BBQ 2,” directed by Ytasha Womack has been released on DVD. A screening and party to celebrate will be held Saturday at Artistic Jeanius, 1711 S. Halsted, hosted by the Screenwriters Network.
CH. 11’s “IMAGE UNION” is the outlet for the 44th Hugo TV Awards finalists, allowing the public to vote on their faves over four nights. Upcoming: April 13 at midnight, April 19 at 11 p.m. Winners will be honored at the May 1 Hugo TV Night at the Cultural Center.
PBS’ “EVERYDAY EDISONS” must be expecting a huge crowd for its April 19 casting call, since it’s holding the event at McCormick Place.
The national show is out to discover inventions from any production category and stage of development, from sketched concepts to patented designs and prototypes. Registration is from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Registration forms are available online at EverydayEdison .
RON BRINKMANN, co-creator of Shake! advanced digital compositing software, speaks at Flashpoint’s Industry Workshop April 18 at 9:30 a.m. The Workshop, open to interested industryites, is designed to involve high school and community college counselors, teachers and students in advancing digital arts technology.
Previous Workshops with the top pros in their field have drawn more than 100 guests. To attend phone Lindsay Drucker at 312/332-0707.
PRODUCTION STARTS APRIL 29 on “The Informant” in Decatur, which is interesting inasmuch as the government went after the agri-business giant with a price fixing accusation.
Directed by Steven Soderbergh, the big-budget movie is based on Kurt Eichenwald’s best seller of a few years back. Matt Damon plays ADM VP Mark Whiteacre, the true life informant. It also films in L.A.
IT’S THE FIRST TIME IN CHICAGO for Final Draft and ScriptShark’s May 3 seminar, The Business of Writing. Speakers are Writers Boot Camp founder and script guru Jeff Gordon and ScriptShark founder Lee Zahavi, a veteran of film development and production.
Date is Saturday, May 3 at a place TBA. Zahavi speaks on Sunday to the Chicago Screenwriters Network.
WORD HERE ABOUT THE CHICAGO FILM PRODUCERS ALLIANCE (CFPA), a website support and resource sharing group created by filmmaker Drew Turner, has caught the attention of Blackfilm.com.
CFPA was asked to help a Chicago filmmaker to complete his film for entry in the Chase Legacy Film Challenge, teamed with Blackfilm.com, HBO and Kodak.
The finalist from Atlanta, Chicago, Houston and New York will receive a grant and equipment from Kodak to produce a five-minute film. Winners work will be showcased on blackfilm.com.
Join in at filmind.meetup.com.
SPEAKING OF COMPETITIONS, watch for the ReelChicago Screenwriting Contest to launch this summer. It will replace the Chicago/Illinois Screenwriting Contest that has has been retired after 20 years. Lack of time and resources was the reason given.
The CFO’s Debbie Beck and the IFO’s Todd Lizak earned plaudits for the many years they helmed the contest in their respective offices.
Unlike the former city/state contest that was restricted to Illinois residents, the ReelChicago competition will be open to national entries. Prizes will be cash and other good stuff.
As the ReelChicago contest is a collaborative affair, your input and/or personal involvement is welcomed. Just Email
