Group Hopes To Keep Commission Alive In Private Sector
By Emily Vines
MADISON, Wis. --In a recent move, the Wisconsin Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee voted 16-0 to eliminate funding for the state’s two-person Film Office, which cost the state approximately $125,000 last year. Now, as the proposed budget cut makes its way through the legislative process, film industry insiders including Scott Robbe, producer/director/president of MONDO Productions, Madison, are joining forces to recreate the film commission in the private sector, most likely as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.
“If we don’t aggressively work to maintain the entertainment industry in the state, we lose that revenue and tax revenue as well,” Robbe said. “So it’s basically a coalition that’s come together to help to revive the business in Wisconsin and hopefully to make it thrive.”
Thus far, the coalition’s “loose steering committee” includes George Tzougros, executive director of the Wisconsin Arts Board; Michael Graf, director/owner of Spot Filmworks, Madison; Anne Katz, executive director of Arts Wisconsin; and Scott Thom, operations assistant at the Wisconsin Film Office.
The state’s Film Office has been part of the Department of Tourism for the past 15 years. This year, the governor asked the department to submit a budget based on its highest priorities and the Film Office didn’t fare well. “The reality is our primary job is to promote travel in the state of Wisconsin,” communications director for the department Jerry Huffman said. “Film finished at the bottom of the list primarily because budget numbers kept going down, competition from other states [increased]. You’d be an idiot to make a movie here if you’re going to get ten million bucks in tax breaks to do it in Illinois. Our Jim Holperin, the secretary [of tourism], made the difficult decision to face the reality.”
Wisconsin’s government works according to a fiscal year starting July 1 and ending June 30, so the office in its current form is likely to close by the end of next month. By July 1, Robbe would like to have the new office up and running, facilitating a smooth transition.
The Department of Tourism is supporting the effort. “The metaphor I would use is we want to hand them the keys and say here you go, it’s yours now. We want to make it easy for them,” Huffman related.
The tentative name for this new group is Film Wisconsin. And at this early stage in its development, the funding strategy is to attract a core group of corporate sponsors who will receive advertising on the organization’s Web site, in production guides and at marketing events. Possible sponsors are Time Warner, The Marcus Corporation and Midwest Express.
The next meeting to discuss the restructuring of the Film Office is set for Monday, May 23 from 6-8 pm at The Eisner Museum of Advertising and Design in Milwaukee, Wis. The town-hall style meeting will be open to everyone.Brand New School Extends Reach Internationally Via Partnership With Animation Studio BRUT
Brand New School (BNS) has entered into a strategic partnership with BRUT, a Barcelona-based animation studio. This collaboration represents a significant milestone in BNS’s expansion strategy, with BRUT serving as its inaugural global outpost.
Under the leadership of executive creative director Martin Allais, who will now be represented by BNS for directorial ventures, BRUT joins BNS as part of its collective roster. This partnership combines BNS’s established reputation for innovative creative work with BRUT’s expertise in diverse artistic techniques, including 2D cel animation, stop-motion, 3D animation, and seamless integration of live action.
With Allais leading BNS Spain, Brand New School is expanding its reach to serve a growing network of global clients. This partnership incorporates BRUT’s fresh methodology of working and diverse pool of talent to create content that resonates across cultures. Located in the heart of the European market, the new BNS location will further support and enhance its work with international clients, broadening its ability to meet their unique needs. This partnership represents a thoughtful blend of creativity and expertise, designed to strengthen and grow Brand New School’s global presence.
BRUT was founded by director Allais as an experimental incubator for innovative ideas and techniques. He is also a multidisciplinary artist of Latinx heritage who brings a wealth of creative experience to the partnership. His portfolio spans commercials for global brands like Oreo, Facebook, Samsung, and Dr. Pepper, earning accolades including Cannes Lions for his work on the Samsung Holiday campaign. Recently, Allais’ animated VR experience capturing New York City’s punk scene in the ‘70s, narrated by... Read More