Keep Film In WA Facts

 

TOWN HALL MEETINGS ON MARCH 14

Attend your district’s Town Hall and get your voice heard

This weekend, Washington State Senators and Representatives are holding Town Hall Meetings to discuss important legislative matters – such as SB 6027 to increase the funding for the Motion Picture Competitiveness Program. Town Hall events are designed for constituents to ask questions and have significant discussions with their district’s elected officials.

Town Hall events in most districts are occurring this Saturday, March 14. You can find a list of the dates, times, and places here. There are several districts we have identified as critical to getting people involved in supporting SB 6027.

Washington Filmworks has partnered with film leaders to help organize groups to attend Town Hall events in key districts. Please contact your district’s coordinator if you can attend. It’s crucial to build as large of a film coalition as possible to be present at each of these Town Hall events to make a significant difference.

The important districts and their Town Hall Coordinators are:

6 – T.V. Kippes (tvk@comcast.net)
9 – Ruth Gregory (ruthmgregory@gmail.com)
11 – Ben Andrews (barakandrews@gmail.com)
26 – Rick Walters (rick@talkituptv.com)
37 – Regan MacStravic (heyregan@hotmail.com)
42 – Avielle Heath (bellinghamfilmfestival@gmail.com)
43 – Krk Nordenstrom (krknord@gmail.com)
45 – Rik Deskin (rikdeskin@gmail.com)
48 – Niall James & Mark Martino (nialljames.film@gmail.com; marmar@seanet.com)

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If you plan to attend a Town Hall event, here are some talking points you can use.

At the Town Hall, it’s important to introduce yourself and your group to your elected officials. Please remind legislators that SB 6027 will increase funding for the Motion Picture Competitiveness Program (MPCP). The bill will double the MPCP fund over the next two years and increase the fund incrementally until it reaches $10m in 2019. Important talking points regarding SB 6027 are:

  • For every $1 we invest in film, we generate $10 in economic boosts for our communities.
  • Our creative economy depends on attracting and keeping the professionals of the film industry.
  • No dollars are paid out until after projects have invested in Washington State.

Please also make sure you ask:

  • Can we count on your support of SB 6027?
  • Can we count on you to ask Senator Hill to move the bill out of the Ways & Means Committee? 
  • Can we count on representatives to support the companion bill when it’s introduced in the House?

Please report back on how the Town Hall went by sending an email to Amy@WashingtonFilmworks.org and Andrew@WashingtonFilmworks.org with comments from the elected officials we can forward to our lobbying team.

We sincerely thank you for your support and attendance – we cannot emphasize how grateful we truly are.

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About Washington Filmworks: Washington Filmworks is the non-profit 501(c)(6) organization that manages the state film office and production incentive programs. Our mission is to create economic development opportunities by building and enhancing the competitiveness, profile and sustainability of Washington’s film industry. We do this by creating possibilities for local and national filmmakers and offering comprehensive production support as well as financial incentives.

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