In Illinois, the industry wind is blowing toward marshalling resources to make the state more competitive for filming, as well as content creation and development. This was reflected in the formation of the Illinois Production Alliance (IPA), which SHOOT reported on last week (1/17, p. 1).
IPA founders are drumming up membership from production and post companies, talent and craft unions, support and service companies and industry-related governmental, educational and professional institutions. Among the IPA’s goals is to gain a balanced package of tax and wage incentives that would reduce production costs in Illinois.
However, said IPA co-founder Mark Egmon—who is also president of the Midwest chapter of the Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP), and executive producer of Freeman Pictures, Chicago—the group’s initiative is not cut from the same cloth as past anti-runaway production efforts. Instead of asking for help to save a floundering industry, the IPA is adopting a positive approach.
"We want to educate the financial world—banking, venture capitalists and investors—and the government about our industry and what an important growth industry it is," related Egmon. "Chicago has the second largest advertising agency base in the country. We have gaming companies like Jellyvision—there are so many aspects. We want them to look at it as an opportunity, so that they feel that they have something to grow, versus tossing money as a life preserver to an industry that sounds like it’s dying. That makes no sense."
The IPA has been forging strong connections in Chicago government and with the transition team of the new governor, Rod Blagojevich. The IPA is also working with such groups as the Mayor’s Technology Council and the Illinois Coalition, a not-for-profit partnership of top state leaders from the business, labor, government, education and research sectors dedicated to strengthening Illinois’ economy through science and leadership.
While staggering budget deficits in most states make tax incentives difficult to attain, the Illinois effort—even if it ultimately falls short in its bid for financial concessions—still figures to generate positive results, bringing different segments of the production community together. Pooling brainpower, resources and connections will strengthen the state on many fronts down the road, including in ways not initially anticipated by IPA organizers.
Though it’s easy to be cynical given the current climate, there’s much to be said for the power of cooperative spirit to promote the greater good. This was recently demonstrated in the Big Apple, where the commercial production community turned out five films that helped New York City become the U.S. candidate city to host the 2012 Summer Olympics (SHOOT, 1/10, p. 19).
The Association of Independent Creative Editors, the AICP, production companies, editorial houses, post shops, music/sound design firms and unions all pitched in, donating their time and services to help civic organization NYC2012 get the films produced for presentation to the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). The USOC then selected New York over San Francisco as America’s representative in the global competition to win Olympic hosting privileges.
Through countless conference calls and letters, AICP president/ CEO Matt Miller said that in making the films, "everyone was going to have to donate everything, not just pitch in with discounts." While soliciting and winning support, Miller emphasized that he wasn’t really asking for a favor: "[I said,] ‘Don’t do it as a favor to me—this is about the city, and the future and the chance to really do something good while doing what we do best.’"
