Recently, the Oregon Legislature's Ways and Means Committee Co-chairs zeroed out the Film Office marketing budget, which could severely limit their ability to market Oregon to film, television and commercial production companies.
By making a short two-minute appearance at the Ways and Means field hearings, you can help let the Co-chairs know that their decision has a direct impact on thousands of Oregonians whose livelihood depends on film and video work coming into the state.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?: Attend one of the public hearings, sign up for a two-minute time slot and deliver your personal message directly to the Co-chairs. These hearings are particularly important, because it is the Co-chairs who draft the budget that is eventually voted on by the entire legislature.
HOW DOES IT WORK?: Arrive at the hearing nearest you at 6:30 PM, sign in at the door, and then deliver your message. Public testimony is limited to two-minutes per person and it is as easy as saying "My name is __________, and I make my living working as ___________________. I am here to ask you to restore the Film Office marketing fund as it is integral to their ability to attract film, video and commercial work to Oregon. I make my living, and support my family by working in this business, and so do thousands of other Oregonians. It is an industry that brings hundreds of millions of dollars into the state's economy and the small investment in marketing is an investment that returns many times over via the production spending and jobs that it creates."
WHERE AND WHEN?:
In Southern Oregon
Friday, April 13th
MEDFORD
6:30 PM
South Medford High
815 S. Oakdale AVE
If you want to know when and where the other meetings are, email me and I'll give you the whole agenda.
This is a very important issue for all of us. If you haven't gotten to know the folks at the Oregon Film Office - Steve Oster, Bob Schmalling, and Susan Haley - you should. They are great! They are big fans of filming in southern Oregon and have been very helpful in the past and are eager to provide more assistance in the future, primarily in the form of sending interested productions our way. Without a marketing budget, it will be less likely that filmmakers in other parts of the country will know how great it is to shoot in Oregon. And if this part of their budget goes, the Incentives might be next, which would be a horrible situation.
Please try to get to the meeting, and bring another friend in the industry that isn't in the SOFAT group (but should be; come on folks, let's get everyone signed up on this thing already).
Thanks.
Gary Kout
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Moderator
SOFAT: Southern Oregon Film and Television
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