Filming in California
California Film Commission Shows Off Services and Incentive Programs at ShowBiz Expo
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
05/30/2002
Contact: Karen R. Constine, Director or Karen Caesar, Information Officer
Contact Phone: 323.860.2960
Los Angeles -- The California Film Commission (CFC) will showcase its wide variety of services for filmmakers at the 19th ShowBiz Expo June 1-3, 2002 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
The CFC's two landmark incentive programs, Film California First (FCF) and the State Theatrical Arts Resources (STAR) Partnership, will be highlighted at the event. Governor Gray Davis launched both programs in 2001.
"We have so much to offer the creative community, and ShowBiz is the perfect place to show it off because everyone involved in the filmmaking process, from grips to writers, visits the show," said Karen Constine, Director of the CFC.
"Our FCF and STAR programs help filmmakers save money so they can stretch their budgets and make their dollars go further. We also have loads of information to share about California's huge variety of locations, and to help us make our point, we will have large, dramatic photos showcasing our landscapes and cityscapes in a very unique light."
The concept for the CFC's new ad campaign, "We're more than the location, we're the movie," was created by new CFC Deputy Director, Melinda Farrell. She utilized visual script pages, which juxtapose original movie copy with the locations that tell the story. Designed by Murphy and Company, an LA based creative design firm, the large format imagery will be presented gallery-style for maximum visual impact. These "living screenplay" pages will spotlight California in all of its dramatic diversity.
An innovative incentive program, FCF significantly reduces below-the-line costs for filmmakers and production companies filming on public property in California, reimbursing costs for public personnel (excluding local police), permit, location and equipment fees -- up to $300,000 per production. Reimbursement caps for this program were just raised in January to $1,000 for film permit fees, $1,500 for public property use fees, and $500 for equipment.
The STAR Partnership, which has been warmly embraced by filmmakers, unlocks unused State-owned surplus properties such as hospitals, office buildings, historic homes, etc., and makes them available for filming at no or low cost.
For more information on the CFC and its many services, please stop by the California Pavilion at Locations Global Expo. You can also visit its website at www.film.ca.gov, or call 323.860.2960 or 800.858.4PIX.
The California Film Commission
Since its inception in 1985, the CFC has worked to enhance California's position as the premiere location for all motion picture and television production. A one-stop shop for filmmakers, the CFC issues permits for State-owned property and provides production and troubleshooting assistance within California.