Association for the Future of Film and Television

If I had a dollar for every time I have asked myself “Why am I DOING this?” over the last 3 years, I’d be financially secure today.

Creating a statewide advocacy organization for film, television & music folks takes some doing. 

Convincing people that we can succeed in saving our entertainment industry if we stand together has been a challenge.

Explaining to lawmakers that filmmakers in Tennessee are not all in the same tax bracket as Steven Spielberg and face extinction in this state if lawmakers don’t help has strained every fiber of my patience.

The bumps in the road have been many and I have often felt overwhelmed by the demands of the organization and incapable of moving quickly enough to stop the slow asphyxiation of our industry.

And then there is today.

If you’ve kept up with my blog posts, you know that we were in danger of losing our Headquarters Incentive through an amendment to the Technical Corrections Bill that would have rendered the incentive just short of useless. We immediately met with Rep. Harry Tindell to ask that he put a hold on the amendment until we had had an opportunity to meet with the Department of Revenue (DOR) to explain our opposition to the new language. He agreed to stall the amendment until we had reached a satisfactory agreement with DOR.

Our meeting with Deputy Commissioner Glenn Page and attorney David Gerregano of DOR was both illuminating and positive, and once we were able to explain the negative aspects of the amendment as it stood, we were assured that they would revisit the language of the amendment.

And then there is today.

A call from Glenn Page. An explanation of the new language in the amendment. A success. Clear and certain victory. A new lease on the life of our industry.

PROOF.

Proof that we can succeed in saving our industry if we are strong in numbers; if we provide our lawmakers and government leaders with accurate information in a reasonable way; if we become a part of the political process that supports political candidates from both parties who share our concern for the future of film and television.

Today, I know why I am doing this.

Acknowledgements:

My heartfelt thanks as always to the Board of Directors of AFFT who guide me and the Association with level heads and strong hearts. I am grateful to Brian Kubricky and Jeff Miller of Vineyard Productions who moved their company to Middle TN to take advantage of the Hdqts Incentive and attended our meeting with DOR to explain the negative effects of the amendment on a production company like theirs. I am also thankful to Larsen Jay and Kathy Hamilton of DoubleJay Creative in Knoxville who spent time on the phone with me sharing their thoughts about the language of the amendment. And to Reina Reddish, lobbyist for Memphis/Shelby County, I am forever indebted to you for your help. Had you not notified me of this impending amendment, it would have quietly made it’s way through the Legislature and the loss to the industry would have been substantial.