I will be there.

W Pecchi, SOC
541-761-3456
541-857-5045 res
wpecchi@...
www.wpecchi.com

SOFaT General Meeting minutes
Dec. 2, 2009

The meeting was called to order at 7:15 p.m. at Fir Street Studios

PRESENT: Members Gary Kout, Ray Robison, Jes Webb, Bill Pecchi, Patricia Snyder,
John Foote; Guest Casey Kamps

MEETING DAY CHANGE
Group agreed OK to move the regular meetings to the first Wednesday of the month
because Fir Street Studios is no longer available on Tuesday nights.

BOARD NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
Jes expressed interest in helping. Gary discussed what would be involved.

Bill may be moving to Portland but is willing to be involved on the board as
treasurer until such time as he may move. He has been going back and forth. Jes
said he would be willing to be a backup for Bill, if Bill has to leave the area.

Gary asked if the current board members are interested in continuing.

Jes talked about some problems he’s been having trouble getting e-mails from
the Yahoo group, and there was some discussion about the Yahoo group and looking
into a replacement system for the group email.

Patricia said she is willing to remain on the board.

Jes moved keeping officers all the same, pending acceptance of nominations. Ray
seconded. The motion passed. Gary will contact Mark Butterfield about
continuing, since he was not present.

BOARD OF ADVISORS/COMMITTEE HEADS
Gary described the concept of an advisory board and an executive director, who
would be over committee heads. SOFaT would choose people who are not involved in
the industry, perhaps from the finance or education world, who could provide
oversight and guidance.

Jes said he is on the board for Food Share, and it works, in his opinion. They
have a banker, a CPA and others on it. He asked how many people belong, and the
answer is about 50.

John said he first had a hands-on board for Kids Unlimited. Once it grew and
established its roots, then it was able to bring on an advisory board. He
expressed concern that bringing an advisory board could send it in a wrong
direction because of people not involved.

Jes said his sense is that SOFaT isn’t ready for an advisory board. Bill
agreed.

John said that we need to start thinking in those terms because they can start
mingling and speak on our behalf. As grassroots, Kids Unlimited had about a
$100,000 budget. They brought in a CPA on the fringes about a year ahead of an
advisory board. Now, the budget is in the millions.

Bill said there is potential that an advisory board could have more people
present at the public meeting.

Gary said that an advisory board could meet maybe quarterly and might not even
have a public meeting.

John said the advisory board worked because of the efforts to raise millions for
programs, but they were guided by the executive director. Gary said that is how
most work, the executive director still runs the organization and comes up with
ideas.

John asked how an advisory board would serve SOFaT, what their duties would be?
He reviewed what we did in the last year, such as lobbying at the state. Gary
said business strategy and other things. Gary brought up the distinction between
a board of directors and a board of advisors.

Bill suggested that we look at it again when the membership reaches 150.

John said he saw a need to breathe more life into subcommittees.

Gary said that a board could free up people who now serve on the board to be
more involved as committee heads

Gary said that the advisory board could be something in the future. John said he
liked the idea.

Patricia suggested that the existing board develop goals for 2010 and that they
include development of the definition of an advisory board and approach people
we might like people to be involved.

Gary asked if John was still on the Kids Unlimited board, but he isn’t. It
would help Gary to go to a board meeting to see how it works. Jes suggested he
attend a Bright Futures meeting. Patricia suggested Josephine Community
Libraries.

COMMITTEE HEADS
Gary said we definitely need to get more people involved because participation
is disappointingly lacking. He asked for suggestions on how best to get people
involved.

John praised what SOFaT has done in 2009, with networking and letting people
know what jobs are available. He said we need to realize that we’re
resurrecting something that had been stamped out cold and had a bad reputation
and that, in southern Oregon, it is hard to get people out and involved. How we
do it is a matter of finding the right people who will do it and deliver.

Casey said  it is a matter of finding the right thing to get people behind and
energized.

John suggested maybe get someone who gets a 10 percent commission on getting
more members. Jes asked for verification that more member are wanted. John said
it is the law of averages, that a larger base will lead to more people involved.
Associated members are a struggle.

Gary said it is a matter of keeping one member focused on a specific part of the
organization and someone who recognizes that it is important to the
organization. He doesn’t think that enough people know about the possibility
of being involved in the organization.

John said that, whenever he thought about not becoming involved in the chamber,
there would be a quarterly membership drive. Perhaps we could be here for a
Friday or a Monday and do calling.

Gary suggested doing a committee drive by the board, calling people, having a
list, and saying , “will you do this?”

Gary asked if the current duties of the committees are good. Patricia said she
might be better for public relations than web site. Bill is still good on
membership. John has been marketing and has some problems. Events has fallen to
Gary, but he is gone too long. John suggested that Gary do marketing and John do
events. Gary said it should be more of a committee head situation where people
delegate.

There was discussion about whether people should be attending meetings. John
said that perhaps we should reemphasize to people what the expectations are for
members.

Casey said that the Active Club does that, and Jes said that it is the same way
for Rotary. Gary said it is that way for Elks too, but it isn’t the same
because those are service organizations.

Gary asked if there is a better word than expectations.

Patricia suggested asking each member what their expectations are of the
organization and of themselves as members, and that could be the way the board
sets its goals.

There was more discussion of the need for people to participate. John asked what
kind of impression it creates when someone gives a presentation but few people
come. People need to know that their participation is important to the
organization.

Gary emphasized understanding the mindset of people who are doing the work.

Ray asked if perhaps we should have some sort of outer ring of people who are
interested but not necessarily working in the industry, but not to allow those
people to come in and take over. He thinks there is potential for that kind of
energy.

Jes asked about making meetings public and said he’s on an e-mail list for an
organization in Portland that courts him to attend meetings, that you can come
to the first few meetings for free, that the public would be interested.

Gary said he would need to have it more clearly defined between members and
non-members as to who is invited to what.

Jes suggested allowing members to be on things such as jobs lists, and those who
aren’t could be invited to more public activities.

Patricia said maybe we could do member cards.

NEW MEMBERS
Gary said we have three new members in the last month:
Oregon Sprinter Van is a transport service that is doing some work on “Rogue
River.”
Jack Armstrong, of WHOA, is a horse trainer/owner who worked on the Jesse James
project.
Steven Kardell is a Los Angeles-based location scout.

We have gotten a series of applications, some are still pending and one that was
turned down.

Potential members were discussed. Gary said he is willing to talk to anyone who
might be a member.

OREGON MEDIA PRODUCTION ORGANIZATION
As SOFaT members, we are allowed to attend their meetings and get their same
discounts. They publish SourceOregon, the statewide media guide. Gary showed the
guide, which is sent worldwide. SOFaT gets a portion of any SOFaT member’s
listing fees. Last year, we got $92 back. Membership in SOFaT includes a free
SourceOregon book.

More discussion about e-mail problems led to the suggestion that people
subscribe to our Google calendar.

OMPA is working to create an attractive package to encourage SOFaT members to
become full OMPA members, but the details are not final.

TALENT MEMBERS
We have gotten requests from people who were actors. They were turned down. John
said he was surprised that we said no. Gary said that we didn’t have a
category for it, and it needs its own category, and we were being very cautious
about doing anything that made us feel like we were heading in the direction of
a less-professional organization.

Gary said he just got a membership request from a local actress. Gary asked if
we want to explore that. John said he is interested in creating a talent
category, as that could draw a production here as well as anything else. Gary
asked if we also need to be as careful with the criteria. Gary said that Oregon
Media Production Network had been overrun by talent, and he was getting a lot of
“friend requests” as a producer. John said that, like anything else, there
should be criteria. The membership committee will come up with the criteria.

There was some general discussion of having “SOFaT Extras,” people who are
interested in it but who are not in the industry.

FINANCIAL REPORT
We currently have about $1,400 in the bank even after joining the Medford
Chamber, which is $260. Gary asked who could attend Chamber Greeters meetings.
We pay just under $16 a month for a phone number, which emails Gary a .wav file
via email of any voice messages so that he can hear them anywhere and respond
quickly. Anticipated expenses include renewal of domain names. We have five
domain names, and the general feeling was to still reserve these.  Web site
optimization was discussed. Patricia asked if maybe one of our members would
know how to do this.

Gary spoke to an Umpqua Bank vice president about a community grant program that
provides money to organizations that have certain criteria, and he thinks SOFaT
could be a candidate for that. He is meeting Wednesday morning with the bank in
Ashland. With that money, the organization could advertise, such as in the
Oregon Shakespeare Festival playbill.

WORK IN THE REGION
We’ve had a lot recently, Gary said.

Ray recently completed production on “The Bag.”

John noted that Ray used the Fir Street Cooperative for his office.

Gary said SOFaT members participated in “Heathens and Thieves” in Etna,
Calif.

Nathaniel Bennett, who grew up here, finished a Bigfoot film, as did Chris
Munch, who did a presentation to SOFaT earlier this year.

“Rogue River” is now shooting in Josephine County, and some SOFaT members
are working on it.

Gary said he has had a few inquiries from people whom he has referred to the
website.

“Last Man on Planet 9” is in production at Fir Street Studios.

Bill is working on a local project that is still casting that relates to divorce
and child custody.

MARKETING
A music video producer recently up from L.A., Vance McDaniel had coffee with
Gary; he is not a member who might be interested in signing up associated
businesses on commission. John would like him to do a pitch to the board. Vance
also is interested in working on the tri-fold pamphlet and other materials to
help him sign up businesses.

Gary doesn’t know economic impact numbers of other projects, only his own, but
he would like people who have spent money locally in production to make a recap
of their local spend and get it to Gary to use as marketing materials.

ADVERTISING
Gary suggested advertising in the Oregon Shakespeare Festival playbill. The
price for a half page ad is $2,000 in volume 1 and volume 2. They have 400,000
attendees, all of whom get one, and send these to hundreds of locations hotel
lobbies around the region. A lot of visiting filmmakers come to the festival,
and Gary thinks it is really targeted marketing. It’s only a 20 percent
decrease if we wait until the second edition. He sees the money for this coming
from the bank grant. The deadline to commit is Dec. 13, but we don’t have to
pay until March 19.

John said that our advertising reach should be on the 2010 things to do.

Bill wondered about the cost of an ad in SourceOregon and if it would be a
better investment. Gary said he will look into the cost.

Patricia asked when the first wave of membership renewals start, and Gary said
it was March, because the year didn’t kick in until the website became fully
active.

Gary again urged participation in Chamber activities.

Art Walk does not seem to have progressed. A Digital Archive update was not
available, as Danielle is working on “Rogue River.”

Gary and Robert are meeting Thursday to work on the website.

John asked about a newsletter for the web site. Gary said it is a matter of
doing it. John said he was able to set up Constant Contact newsletter option.
Gary said the registration form will have to be built into our web site. One
challenge has been that the site was built using Ruby on Rails, and Robert seems
to be the only one who is familiar with that, and he�s a busy, working member.
Gary said it is an amazing web site, despite the work still to do.

Bill asked about doing a printed newsletter. He asked if that is the same as a
trifold brochure. Gary said he didn’t think so, and John said we could
potentially do that when our membership increases, something like the OMPA Call
Sheet.

FUTURE EVENTS
Dec. 10: Annual Governor’s Film Office meeting, the state of film in Oregon.
The Governor, Film Office Director Vince Portler, Ed Asner, Gus Van Sant will be
there in Portland. Last year, Bruce Hostetler represented SOFaT. This year, they
are doing a statewide live video teleconference. Thursday night, next week, at
SOU, it will include offices all around the state, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The
governor will speak, others will speak, Gary will get to speak for about three
minutes. Gary has invited the president of SOU and the Ashland mayor, as well as
other VIPs. Gary would like the board to come. The seating capacity is 40. When
the meeting is over, he’s reserved a room to have a little reception. Gary
will notify our membership and is inviting people. Patricia will help Gary with
invitations.

Holiday mixer: Bill suggested Four Daughters. Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. was selected.
The gathering will be open to members and guests, but members will get free
drink tickets.

Gary said that Calvin Marshall is going the festival route, including the
Ashland Independent Film Festival. Gary has asked that SOFaT be an active
partner in the screening at AIFF.

Community Film Project. Gary said it will take a force of will to get it going.
Patricia said that a possible script has been uploaded to the Yahoo group.

Gary announced that the Netflix script writing winner is not being shot here, as
they couldn’t raise additional funds to shoot on location and must meet a
spring release date, so they are shooting in Los Angeles.

Film Frenzy. John said it had to be delayed but could still happen. He will look
through his calendar and suggest a date. The frenzy is everybody working on a
short film together in a limited amount of time, with duties assigned randomly.

The meeting adjourned at 9:22 p.m.

Are you ready to enter your film in the OpenLens Festival? This Friday is the
last day for submissions.

The 2010 OpenLens Festival, Eugene's only winter short film festival, is
accepting entries through December 11th. The competition is open to filmmakers
living in the counties of Benton, Coos, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Lane,
Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, and Polk.

Prizes this year include: Best of Jury $500, Honorable Mention $200, and
Audience Choice Award $100.

Entries can be mailed to, or dropped off at DIVA by 5PM on December 11th. Each
submission must have a $5.00 entry fee and a completed submission form. Forms
are available online at http://openlens.proscenia.net/comp.htm.

The festival is held January 29, 30, and 31. This year Portland documentary
filmmaker Beth Harrington (The Women of Rockabilly) is the festival's visiting
artist. She will give two seminars on personal documentary filmmaking and making
music videos  - see http://openlens.proscenia.net/index.htm for full details.

DIVA Center
110 W. Broadway
Eugene, Oregon
Phone: 541-344-3482

Hello SOFaT members:

Just another friendly reminder to let everyone know that the Co-Op program at
Fir Street Studios (formerly Land Mind) is in full effect offering low cost
office space and discounted studio services. Come take advantage of a great
creative environment. For more information call John Foote @ 301-1908

A modest wedding/reception and DVD-burn gig came my way, but I can't do it. $200
max. In Talent, mid-afternoon.
Contact Scott directly at 778-6909, or me (Mark) for details at 944-4108.

Happy Thanksgiving, y'all!

I've written a short film based on all of the suggestions that people made for
things they would like to see incorporated into the community film project. I've
uploaded the PDF to the SOFaT Yahoo group. There were quite a few locations and
things happening that people requested, but I figure this gives us some place to
start the discussion, to decide what works and what is realistic for our
volunteer cast and crew.

Patricia

Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the sofat
group.

   File        : /CFP Fiancee Nov2009.pdf
   Uploaded by : patricia_e_snyder <totiwos@...>
   Description : Community film project script draft

You can access this file at the URL:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sofat/files/CFP%20Fiancee%20Nov2009.pdf

To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit:
http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/groups/original/members/forms/general.htmlfiles

Regards,

patricia_e_snyder <totiwos@...>

Does anyone have a single roll of 1 or 2" black gaff tape I could buy?

 

SOFaT members,

As the end of production for "The Bag" draws near (I'm script supervisor and casting director), it makes me wonder what you all are doing. Where are your projects? Anything interesting starting, ongoing or completed?

Patricia Snyder

SOFaT members,

As the end of production for "The Bag" draws near (I'm script supervisor and
casting director), it makes me wonder what you all are doing. Where are your
projects? Anything interesting starting, ongoing or completed?

Patricia Snyder

DIVA's OpenLens Festival Call For Entries

The 2010 OpenLens Festival, Eugene's only winter short film festival, is
accepting entries through December 11th. The competition is open to filmmakers
living in the counties of Benton, Coos, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Lane,
Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, and Polk.

For more details about the festival and how to enter visit divacenter.org and
click on OpenLens 2010. The OpenLens Festival is scheduled for January 29, 30,
and 31, 2010.

DIVA Center
110 W. Broadway
Eugene, Oregon
Phone: 541-344-3482

Hello SOFaT members,

Some of you I've meet, some I haven't yet, but I will be working in Grants Pass
on the 'Rogue River' film, from Nov. 27th - Dec. 22nd. I live in Ashland, so I'm
desperately trying to find a place to stay in GP during the shoot, to save
myself the almost 2hr daily commute. If you, or someone you know, has a couch,
room, or is going out of town and would like their place looked after, would you
please let me know. Even if it is for part or all of that time period, it would
be a great help. I'm very responsible and respectful. Just looking for somewhere
to sleep and shower :) Of course would be happy to pay for my costs while there.

Thank you all very much,

Danielle Eddington
541-953-6537 cell
541-488-5875 hm
Dedd.films@...