The Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI) has broadened the scope of its upcoming Locations 2000 Global Expo, slated for Feb. 25-27 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. For one, the event has extended its geographical reach with new exhibitors from around the world, including the film commissions of: Kobe, Japan; the Toscana region of Italy; St. Lucia, West Indies; and Western Australia. In total, the Expo will feature locations and production services from 33 countries. Among the exhibitors will be all 50 American states.
Locations 2000 will also venture into cyberspace, holding a pair of seminars regarding Web-based industry applications. On Saturday, Feb. 26, from noon to 1:30 p.m., the Expo will present a session on location scouting via the Web. To be addressed during the session are questions including: What is involved in researching potential lensing sites on the Web, taking the right digital pictures; and formatting and sending files to production house executives, directors and location professionals? What about the feasibility of digitizing color photos and slides already in a film commission library? Scheduled panelists include veteran Los Angeles-based location manager Marino Pascal, creator of the Web service Locolist, and Dr. Thea Iberall of the Entertainment Technology Center at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
Pascal is one of the founding members of the Association of Commercial Location Professionals (ACLP), an industry association of location scouts and managers. The ACLP was launched in ’98 and continues to operate via its Internet and e-mail network, which Pascal developed. Through that network, ACLP scouts and managers have been troubleshooting for each other: suggesting location alternatives whenever someone is stumped, or making colleagues aware of jobs they’ve had to turn down due to scheduling conflicts.
A second Locations 2000 seminar—"Pixilize the Punch: Digital Distribution via the Internet"—is set for Saturday, Feb. 26, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. This session will examine how to use the Internet as a tool to promote, distribute and even screen films for a targeted audience. At press time, panelists had not yet been announced.
The AFCI expects a turnout of around 4,500 industry professionals. Locations 2000 co-chairs are AFCI first VP Lonie Stimac, director of the Montana Film Office, and AFCI board member Pat Swinney Kaufman, director of the New York State Governor’s Office for Motion Picture & TV Development. Maggie Christie is the Locations 2000 event manager. AFCI president is Ward Emling, director of the Mississippi Film Office.
For the first 10 years of its existence, the annual Locations trade show was organized by the AFCI in conjunction with the American Film Marketing Association (AFMA). But in ’95, the AFCI decided to make Locations a stand-alone event, and it has since proven to be capable of generating its own global turnout. Since ’95, Locations 2000’s attendance has steadily grown, and the number of exhibitors has increased by more than 70 percent.
While they peacefully co-exist on the exhibit floor, competition among film commissioners has heightened over the past several years, due in part to growing American film commission concern over runaway production to foreign locales, particularly Canada. The strength of the U.S. dollar in Canada, which equates to a most favorable exchange rate, and Canadian tax incentives have spurred defections—most significantly, the shift of TV movie production from California to Canada.
As earlier reported, different segments of the American filmmaking community—including the Association of Independent Commercial Producers, the Screen Actors Guild, the Directors Guild of America, the Producers Guild of America, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, AFMA, the Production Equipment Rental Association and Film US, which represents 196 U.S. state and local film commissioners—have united to form the National Entertainment Coalition. Last month, that coalition met with legislators to discuss ways to stem the tide of runaway production (SHOOT, 1/28, p. 1). Among the proposals being considered are: a federal wage tax credit that would apply to certain projects (including commercials) with a production budget between $500,000 and $10 million; and a research-and-development tax credit that would help ensure that the U.S. would maintain a leading edge, high-tech facility infrastructure.
Alleyways
Additionally, American states and cities are exploring legislative avenues. A proposed California anti-runaway production bill has been resurrected. If passed, it would provide a 10 percent state tax rebate on qualified labor costs for certain film and TV projects lensed in California. The California measure has been revised to again include commercials (SHOOT, 1/28, p. 1). Lastly, Chicago is in the midst of investigating and possibly formulating some form of tax relief that would encourage and help the city to retain spot production business (see separate story, p. 1).
The field of Locations 2000 exhibitors represents such countries as the U.S., Australia, Austria, the Bahamas, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Chile, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Malta, Mexico, New Zealand, the Philippines, Romania, South Africa, Spain, Venezuela, Wales and the West Indies.
AFCI’s worldwide membership currently consists of 277 film commissions from 26 countries. The assistance they provide includes location research for screenwriters, location scouting assistance, gaining access, securing permission and streamlining permits in their jurisdictions. The AFCI is a non-profit, educational organization founded in ’75 to facilitate on-location production. Film commissioners act as a liaison between the production industry and local governments as well as economic development entities to stimulate direct and indirect economic benefits to their communities. Film commissioners can also help troubleshoot problems, from finding and suggesting alternate filming sites to addressing resident concerns that overused locations can be disruptive to their neighborhood.
Admission to Locations 2000 is free for industry professionals. For info and registration details, contact the Locations 2000 hotline at (323) 883-1655, or log onto www.afci.org.
Here’s a rundown of Locations 2000 exhibitors:
Film Commission
AFCI Members
A
Alabama
Arizona State
Arizona, Phoenix
Arizona, Wickenburg
Arizona, Yuma
Arkansas
Australia-AusFilm Commission
Australia-New South Wales,
Sydney
Australia-Northern Territory,
Darwin
Australia-Queensland,
Brisbane
Australia-South Australia,
Adelaide
Australia-Victoria, Melbourne
Australia-Western, Perth
Austria
Austria, Cine Tirol
B
Bahamas
British Virgin Islands
C
California State
California, Amador
California, Antelope Valley
California, Berkeley
California, Big Bear Lake
California, Catalina Island
California, El Dorado/Tahoe
California, Eureka Humboldt
County
California, Fresno
California, Imperial County
California, Inland Empire
California, Kern County
California, Madera County
California, Mariposa County
California, Monterey
California, Oakland
California, Orange County
California, Palmdale
California, Placer Lake Tahoe
California, Redding Shasta
County
California, Ridgecrest
California, Sacramento
California, San Diego
California, San Francisco
California, San Jose
California, San Luis Obispo
County
California, Santa Barbara
California, Santa Clarita
California, Santa Cruz
California, Santa Monica
Mountains
California, Sonoma County
California, Tri Valley
California, Tulare County
California, Tuolumne County
California, Vallejo/Solano
County
California, Ventura County
Canada, Alberta
Canada, Durham
Canada, New Brunswick
Canada, New Foundland
& Labrador
Canada, Northwest Territories
Canada, Nunarut
Canada, Okanogan
Canada, Ontario
Canada, Prince Edward Island
Canada, Prince George
Canada, Saskatchewan
Canada, Toronto
Colorado State
Colorado, Boulder County
Colorado, Colorado Springs
Colorado, Denver
Colorado, Fremont/Custer
Counties
Colorado, Southwest
Connecticut, Southeastern
F
Florida
France
G
Georgia
Georgia, Savannah
Germany, Berlin
H
Hawaii
Hawaii, Big Island
Hawaii, Honolulu
Hawaii, Kauai
Hawaii, Maui
Hong Kong
Hungary
I
Idaho
Illinois
Illinois, Chicago
Indiana
Iowa
Ireland, Screen Commission
of Ireland
Italy
Italy, Genova
J
Jamaica
K
Kansas
Kentucky
L
Louisiana
M
Maine
Malta
Maryland
Massachusetts
Mexico
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
N
Nebraska
Nebraska, Omaha
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Mexico
New York
New Zealand
North Carolina
North Carolina, Charlotte
North Carolina, Durham
North Carolina, Northeast
North Carolina, Western North
North Carolina, Wilmington
North Carolina, Winston-Salem
North Dakota
O
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
P
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh
R
Rhode Island
Rhode Island, Providence
S
South Carolina
South Dakota
T
Tennessee State
Tennessee, Memphis & Shelby
Tennessee, Nashville
Texas
U
Utah
Utah, Central
Utah, Kanab/Kane County
Utah, Moab to Monument
Valley
Utah, Northeast Territory
Utah, Northern
Utah, Park City
V
Venezuela
Vermont
Virginia
W
Wales, Mid Wales
Wales, North Wales
Wales, South Wales
Washington State
West Indies, St Lucia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Film Commission
Non-AFCI Members
South Africa, Cape Film Office
South Africa, Gauteng Film Office
Location Services
Belgium-Brussels, Locamundo
Brazil, Shooting in Brazil
California, StudioXchange.com
Germany-Berlin, Creative
Locations
Greenland-Iceland Locations
Italy, Emilia Romagna
Italy, Friuli Venezia Giulia
Italy, Lombardia
Italy, Toscana
Italy, Umbria
Jordan, International Traders
Location Service
Jordan, Jordan Tourist Board
Martinique Promotion Bureau
Mexico, Sonora
Philippine Film Commission
Philippines-Makati, RS Video &
Film Production
South Africa, Locations@Africa
South Africa, South African
Tourism Board
South Africa, Timbul Rorich
Neville
South African Consulate
Washington State Locations
Liaisons
Location Service-Guide
UK, Locations 2000
International Service Guide
Location Sites
Alaska Film Development
Program
Barbados
California, Death Valley
California, Fillmore
California, Tejon Ranch
India, Romoji Film City
Japan, City of Kobe
Kenya
Washington State, Olympic
Peninsula
Production Companies
California, 2 Much Fun
Productions
Iceland, Saga Films
Production Services
Canada, TVT
Iceland, Sage Film Production
South Africa, Africa Media
Entertainment
South Africa, National Film
& Video Foundation
Production Service-Animals
California, American Humane
Association
Production Service-Aviation
California, Aero Mock-Ups
Jet Productions
Lufthansa
South Africa, South African
Airways
Production Service-Lighting
Musco Mobile Lighting
Production Services-Lodging
Bass Hotels & Resorts
California, Riverside-Mission Inn
California, SRS World Hotels
Los Angeles, Intercontinental
Hotel
Marriott International
New York, The
Maramara-Manhattan
Oakwood Corporate Housing
The Inns at Friday Harbor
Utah, Hotel Monico
Washington-Seattle, Westcoast
Hotels
Production Service-
Marine Location
California, Los Angeles Beaches
& Harbors
Production Services-Railroad
California State Railroad Museum
California, Amtrak West
Canada, BC Rail Film Office
Colorado, American Heritage
Railways
Production Service-Security
Texas, Talon Investions &
Protective Services
Production Services-Studio
Bulgaria, Boyana Film
California, Universal Pictures
Chech Republic, Stillking Films
Chili, Tantor Films
Iceland, Panartica Productions
Iceland, Pegusus Pictures
Manila, R.S. Video & Film
Productions
Martinique, Les Films du Dorlis
Mediapro Studios, Romania
Mediterranean Studios, Malta
New Mexico, Garson Studios
North Carolina, Screen Gems
Romania, Castel Films
South Africa, Sasani Studios
Tennessee, Interactive Pictures
Production Services-
Transportation
Beverly Hills, Budget Car Rentals
New Mexico, Budget Car
& Truck Rental
North Carolina, SVE Mud-Traks
Production Service-Travel Agent
New Millennium Travel
Production Service-Union
Canada, Directors Guild
of Canada
Production Service-
Utility Location
California, Southern California
Edison
