Last week, Washington Filmworks (WF) Executive Director, Amy Lillard, presented findings from the first Annual Report of the Washington State Film Industry at the Walla Walla Valley Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Meeting. The meeting took place at the historic Marcus Whitman Hotel and Conference Center. The presentation was followed by a panel, which featured Lillard, Rich Cowan, co-founder of North by Northwest Productions in Spokane, and David Allen Cress, Producer of the IFC hit comedy, Portlandia.

Film is the topic at the Walla Walla Valley Chamber of Commerce meeting.

Before returning to Seattle, Lillard meet with Washington State Representatives Maureen Walsh (Walla Walla 16th District) and Terry Nealey (Dayton 16th District) to share the positive economic benefits that film production can have on local economies.

A breakout group talks about the Washington State film industry with legislators.

This marks the second trip to the City of Walla Walla in 2013. In April, Lillard and Washington Filmworks’ Production Service Coordinator, Krys Karns, traveled to the area to learn more about the recently established Walla Walla Film Office, which was created by the Chamber to be more responsive to film and television production inquiries. Earlier this year, Walla Walla hosted the reality series, Showville, which filmed an episode that premiered on AMC this June.

Thanks to David Woolson, President/CEO, and the Walla Walla Valley Chamber of Commerce for welcoming Washington Filmworks back and to Casi Smith and Betsy Hadden of the Chamber for the event photos.