Dawn Keezer, director of the Pittsburgh Film Office, has been re-elected to a two-year term as chairperson of Film US, a group of 196 state and local film commissioners who are lobbying to help the U.S. keep and attract more long- and shortform production. Film US is entering its third year of existence.
Keezer said that Film US’ mission is of growing importance, given the escalating runaway production problem. She pledged to keep the organization’s focus on leveling the playing field with foreign centers such as Canada and Australia that seek to lure U.S. production by offering tax incentives to subsidize labor costs.
"This is about jobs—American jobs—that are being unfairly exported overseas," stated Keezer. "We have the best crews in the world, but it’s hard to compete when your competition comes with a coupon good for ten to thirty percent off."
Keezer is optimistic that the Congressional debate on tax cuts may indicate the timing is right to revisit the concept of tax credits at the federal level which will help address the runaway issue.
"We need to educate Congress about the importance of keeping this industry at home," added Keezer. "This isn’t an L.A. story or New York story. It is the story of an industry created by American sweat, which is now being shopped to the lowest bidder. On a level playing field, there is little question we keep the work here."
As earlier reported (SHOOT, 3/2, p. 7), Film US board member Ron Ver Kuilen, director of the Illinois Film Office, noted that several members of Congress plan to play a proactive role in legislative relief. He cited Congressmen Jerry Weller (R-Ill.), Mark Foley (R-Fla.), Howard Berman (D-Calif.) and Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.). Becerra, who’s thrown his hat into Los Angeles’ mayoral race, recently said of runaway production: "This is an industry we are going to have to fight to defend. We have to compete now so productions stay here. We don’t want entertainment to be like the steel industry."
But as recently pointed out during last month’s Locations Global Expo—an event organized by the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI)—each project filmed in Canada and overseas helps to build the industry infrastructure within those foreign markets. And other financial incentives to go outside the U.S. are beyond what Congress can address, such as favorable exchange rates and the possibility of acting talent buyouts for projects shot in foreign countries.
Film US officers elected to serve under Keezer are: First vice chair Pat Swinney Kaufman, director of the New York State Governor’s Office for Motion Picture & TV Development; second vice chair Janet Lockwood, director of the Michigan Film Office; treasurer Rita McClenny, director of the Virginia Film Office; and secretary Cody G. Cluff, president of the Entertainment Industry Development Corp., the private/public sector entity that oversees the joint Los Angeles City/County Film Office.
