Association for the Future of Film and Television

Shortly after membership renewal notices went out at the beginning of month, I received this email. The person sending it shall remain nameless, but the sentiment is worth sharing.

"I regret to tell you that I will not be renewing my membership in the

AFFT. Tennessee has lost another one to Georgia.  I am moving to

Atlanta at the end of the month.  I have to go where the work is.  I

admire your attempts and dedication to this PAC and wish you

great success with it.  We have such a greater challenge with no

state income tax (I am actually someone who would likely favor it!)

in passing a competitive incentive, not to mention the whole film

friendly governor, consistency in the film commissioner obstacles. 

With the infrastructure that is being built in Atlanta and everything, I

am sure this is a smart move. Had I gone just a year ago I would

have been working like gangbusters.  I will also be that much closer

to Florida when theirs takes off." 

This is not the first time I have been told by valuableTennessee crew members that they were considering moving to another state so they could find work. The competitive incentive strategy among states has unwittingly created unemployment lines in states who have a crew base but non-competitive film and television incentives.

Nearly every state incentivizes the hiring of in-state cast and crew only - effectively ending opportunities for crew to travel outside their own state to work. Some producers will still hire our key crew members for out-of-state projects leaving everyone else with little work WITHIN the state and no work OUTSIDE of the state. Unless they move.

It is this information – that Tennessee crew is being forced to leave the state permanently in order to work or face long-term unemployment within the state –that needs to be the message we share with lawmakers repeatedly until they hear us.