Maine Film

Visual Media, Empowering Youth while Stimulating our Economy

2010-12-03T10:17:00.005-05:00

From the moment that I first became a dad I’ve felt that one of the most important things I could do for my kids was to empower them to find their passion. If a young person can find something positive that they are passionate about it becomes a guiding light in their lives that helps to lead them away from negative pursuits.

As a parent, it can be easy to get irritated by how much time our kids spend playing video games, watching videos on Youtube and watching TV. But what if our kids were empowered to express themselves and actually create the video games and videos that people are watching?

Project AWARE has the defined goal of “Empowering young people to lead”. One of the ways that they accomplish this enormous task is by igniting each youth’s individual passion through visual media production.

Using true story lines, developed by the young people involved in each project, a script is refined and every aspect of making a film, from preproduction to post production, is taken on by each of the young people involved in the film.

In its most recent film, Project AWARE worked with the Sanford Film Club, gum spirits productions and over 125 students from Sanford High School to produce “April’s Heart” “based on real-life stories from a suburban high school. The characters in the movie are survivors … like their real-life counterparts in the cast and crew … like the young people who dared to put their stories on paper, and like teenagers everywhere who balance their immense challenges with unbelievable strengths.”

I attended and spoke at the premiere of the film at the Curtis Lake Christian Church in Sanford. Imagine how empowering it was for each of the students involved in producing the film to have a world premiere with a red carpet, tuxedos and evening gowns. It is something that will continue to propel and empower each of them throughout their lives.

The skills they learned during the process of making the film will also stay with them.

The Sanford Film Club advisor, James Harmon, invited me to speak to the club members two weeks ago and I can tell you that many of the film club members who are considered “youth at risk” are ready for the next project and ready to pursue work on visual media productions.

One student, who had a lead role in “April’s Heart” told me that he was continually suspended from school before he work on the film and has not been suspended since. Positive passion will do that to a kid.

Positive passion is also what we need to begin to feed and build the Maine economy.

I truly believe that Project AWARE has the power to take a youth at risk and turn him or her into a future visual media producer who will help to stimulate the Maine economy and mentor the next generation of kids at risk.

I am asking you to make a donation to Project AWARE so that they can continue their invaluable work. I have committed to raising $500 for Project AWARE by December 31st and Project AWARE has an overall goal of raising $5,000 in the same time frame.

You can do a donation through the Project AWARE website at http://www.projectaware.net/donate.php or simply send me a note letting me know what you can contribute and I will take care of collecting the donation.

We can do great things in Maine as long as we continue to empower young people to lead.

Hiring Local Visual Media Producers helped to win the Gubernatorial Election in Maine

2010-11-07T08:51:00.005-05:00

In my last post I outlined who the five gubernatorial candidates hired to do their visual media production for their respective campaigns. Of the top three, Mitchell and Cutler hired out of state production companies and LePage stayed with local visual media producers.

As we now know, LePage won. Was this a win for local visual media producers? Only time will tell.

We can assume that Governor Elect LePage understands the impact of visual media production from his work as the general manager of Marden’s. Is there anyone in Maine who doesn’t know the Marden’s Lady (http://www.birdiegoogins.com/)?

On his YouTube channel his most popular video received over 20,000 views.
In short, local visual media production helped Governor Elect LePage win the election.

Visual media production can also help Maine win the battle for a healthier economic environment.

Maine currently has several terrific visual/new media programs at the Maine Media Workshops, The University of Maine and Southern Maine Community College. Most universities, colleges and community colleges in Maine offer some type of visual media training.

So what happens when those students graduate from these programs? In Maine, the opportunities are slim.

Maine has the geographic beauty and trained, hardworking visual media producers to attract more visual media production. Maine doesn’t have the infrastructure or the tax incentives to attract more visual media production.

How do we begin to fix this problem?

I would encourage Governor Elect Lepage to have someone on his staff reach into the Maine visual media community and collect intelligence and ideas on how we can build the visual media economy in Maine.

Two good places to start are the Film Commission and the Maine Film and Video Association. Go to them and ask them how we can improve the visual media economy in Maine, what they need in support to make their ideas work and what they are willing to do to implement their ideas.

I would also encourage Governor Elect LePage to reach out to the visual media students for their ideas. We can get them fired up and inspire them to work and live in Maine if they know that opportunities exist.

I’m also willing to put my time and effort into growing the Maine Visual Media economy. Contact me anytime Governor Elect Lepage, if you’d like my involvement cbonsey1@maine.rr.com .

Political campaigns should"buy local" for visual media production

2010-10-05T07:36:00.005-04:00

In today’s economic environment in Maine, the economic impact of film production is imperceptible because of factors beyond our immediate control.

What does have an impact is visual media production.

Back in the 80’s and 90’s many Maine visual media production companies were supported by companies producing corporate videos, infomercials, national commercials and local commercials with substantial budgets.

Today that has all changed. Technology and the internet have made the production and distribution of visual media available to everyone. Companies no longer have the same advantages of the past where expensive equipment and relationships gave them the advantage they needed to run profitable companies.

The process has made the production companies that have survived, leaner and more creative in their visual media endeavors.

This fall we are in the middle of a heated gubernatorial campaign. What also heats up during campaigns is the production of visual media. Like a farmer who tends his crops all year waiting for the fall harvest to make his money, political campaigns invest in visual media that becomes part of the local producers harvest.

Back in August I contacted all the candidates running for Governor and asked them who they hired for the visual media production.

When I called the Moody for Governor Headquarters, Jason answered the phone and explained to me that Black Fly Media is doing their visual media production. Nice. This is a great local company. Please click on the link to get more information and consider them for you local production needs.

John Morris from the Lepage for Governor Campaign called back and told me that Sunderland Weston in Bangor was producing their visual media and that they had a consultant in Portland hiring local producers. He assured me that everything they are producing is done locally.

David Loughran from the Mitchell for Governor Campaign wrote back to me, “We are using The Campaign Group (http://www.campaigngroup.tv/index.html) to do our television ads. It is the same firm the campaign used in the primary. Their experience in political campaigns and their expertise in the creative arena are both impressive.”

The Campaign Group has offices in Philadelphia and California.

In addition, the Mitchell campaign has hired gum spirits productions to do some local production. They do terrific work.

Abby Cutler from the Cutler for Governor Campaign wrote,

” As for our production companies, we use Devine Mulvey (based in D.C.) for our T.V. spots. At least five of their crew is from Maine, including their PAs. They also make a point of buying all crew lunches and breakfasts from local companies.”

“We've also used Sally Levi (formerly at Lone Wolf, now a freelancer) to shoot a couple of gubernatorial forums and some outros, and Michael Babyak, who has shot some interviews for us and also does some editing for the campaign.”

Abby also took the time to meet with me at the Cutler campaign headquarters.

Kevin Scott called me back and I had a nice conversation with him. He hadn’t hired anyone for visual media production. I’d suggest we find someone to produce a safe driving video for him.

Of the five candidates two buy local, two import and buy local and one doesn’t have the funds to produce visual media.

What I would like to see in the next election is everyone buying 100% local. For example, I did some research and, as of the end of August, the Cutler campaign had paid over $70,000 to Devine Mulvey. While they are hiring local crew, most of that money goes out of state.

The same is true for the Mitchell campaign.

I know that there are resources right here in Maine for all Maine political campaign visual media production. Please be aware of that as you watch future campaign commercials.

Oh, and you’ll never see visual media littered on the side of the road after a campaign!

"Dear candidate, are you using a Maine production company for your television ads?"

2010-08-24T10:10:00.004-04:00

Dear Candidate,

Maine is filled with creative, talented and driven visual media producers. I hope that your current campaign was produced by a local Maine company.

If you used a local Maine company thank you. It is great when campaign funds go directly to stimulate the local economy.

If you used an out of state company we'd like to know your reasoning.

For local production resources I would suggest contacting the Maine Film and Video Association . They can help to direct you to a local visual media company that will fit your needs.

My Note to All The Maine Gubernatorial Candidates

2010-08-23T17:40:00.001-04:00

From: Cameron Bonsey [mailto:cbonsey1@maine.rr.com]
Sent: Monday, August 23, 2010 4:09 PM
To: 'david@libbymitchellforgovernor.com'; 'press@lepage2010.com'; 'ted@cutler2010.com'; 'info@moodygov.com'; 'kevin@mainesbestchoice.com'
Subject: Questions in Regard to the Importance of Visual Media Production for the State of Maine

To all,

My name is Cameron Bonsey and I publish a blog www.mainefilm.blogspot.com

The blog is also published as a newsletter and goes out to about 3,500 Maine business owners, lawmakers and film makers. In addition, when the subject is relevant to them, it goes to producers at companies like Warner Brothers and Sony.

My mission statement is:

“I created The Maine Film blog because I believe that film production can become an important part of Maine's "everyday" economy. I will post information that educates and inspires the people who come to this blog. This is an important segment of Maine's future economic growth and I want to facilitate its success.”

I would like feedback from each campaign in regard to how important visual media is to the Maine economy from both an economic and marketing perspective. Do you feel that we should invest in more infrastructure to support visual media? Should Maine increase its current visual media incentives to be competitive with the over 40 states that have better incentives? Should Maine develop a specialty incentive program to pursue particular films that promote Maine in a positive way? Do you have other ideas that could help to increase visual media production in Maine and job opportunities for Maine citizens?

I look forward to your responses and you can also reach me by phone at 807-7406.

Yours truly,

Cameron Bonsey
www.mainefilm.blogspot.com
www.realsimpleinspiration.blogspot.com

My Note to Governor Baldacci

2010-08-18T13:59:00.006-04:00

This past Monday I ran into Governor Baldacci at Amato's and I had a nice conversation with him. I have copied my follow up note to him below and I hope it helps to reinforce the importance of visual media production in Maine.

Dear Governor Baldacci,

Thank you for your time at Amato’s today. As I mentioned to you, Coast of Maine Organic Products, Inc received a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) about 9 months ago. We have used that money to expand our Marion Township facility and hire another full time employee.

We have wonderful, hardworking and ingenious employees in Marion. They are a big reason that our organically certified gardening soils are distributed to over 700 retail locations throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and the Mid-West. Our beautiful bags brand Maine wherever they are sold.

I have a deep love and respect for Maine and its citizens and I am proud that our company is an important employer in a depressed county.

I am determined to tell our story of several Maine companies working together to create organically certified products that promote the best of Maine.

You will get a sense of what I am saying if you take 7 minutes to watch our most recent video. In addition to promoting a product that we make for Master Nursery garden centers we were also able to promote Pineland Farms All-Natural Beef in Fort Fairfield and Gordon Kelley’s Peat bog in Cherryfield, Maine.

http://www.youtube.com/cameronbonsey#p/a/u/0/Lp0UMTdmJLU

We are shooting a lot of beautiful video and we’ll be putting together several broadcast quality videos in the future. It there is anything the Department of Tourism needs from us we’d be happy to oblige.

Yours truly,

Cameron Bonsey

The Maine International Film Festival

2010-07-08T10:37:00.005-04:00

The 13th Annual Maine International Film Festival opens tomorrow and will run until July 18th.

This festival attracts consumers from all over the Northeast and beyond and showcases more than 100 American independent, international and Maine-made films.

A large part of the focus of this blog is to educate the reader in regard to the economic impact of visual media production. It is clear from the reaction of the local Waterville community that MIFF has a deep and well defined economic impact.

Shannon Haines, who has done a terrific job as the Festival Director, tells me that “Last year we had just over 10,000 admissions over the 10 days. We have never done an economic impact study (mostly because we can’t do it in-house and can’t afford to hire someone), but we know that MIFF creates a big boost, especially for the Downtown. “

David Gulak of Barrels Community Market certainly agrees, “MIFF brings a level of evening energy to downtown that helps build a healthy nightlife and late-night traffic for businesses. We definitely notice an increase in the quantity and diversity of people coming through the market. Plus, they are often very inquisitive and looking to learn about the community and spend some local dollars in a meaningful way. From an employee standpoint, it's also cool to take alternate breaks to go see great movies during the work week.

Billy Dangler of The Pleasant Street Inn says, “During the festival the inn is usually totally booked and very active as people come and go. The festival has always been a great venue from an economic point of view for most of the community."

Miff receives a tremendous amount of support from the Maine Film Office, including a $50,000 grant from the Maine Department of Tourism in 2006. The money is well spent as MIFF continues to grow in reputation and attendance helping to brand and market the State of Maine.

This year MIFF has included the "Making it in Maine Day" on Saturday, July 17th. Part of the festivities will include the "Making it in Maine" Reception, 5:00-6:30pm, The REM Forum, The Center, 93 Main Street, Waterville. Hosted by Maine Public Broadcasting Network and Maine Film & Video Association with support and participation from the Maine Film Office and the Maine Arts Commission. You will be able hear from MPBN about Maine based programming opportunities, meet representatives of the Maine Film Office, Maine Film & Video Association, and Maine Arts Commission, and network with filmmakers who truly are Making it in Maine.

I would encourage any Maine based visual media producer to attend this event, mingle and find out what the Maine Film Office and the Maine Film Commission have for plans to improve and increase opportunities for visual media production in Maine.

Blessed with Obsession

2010-06-22T12:36:00.005-04:00

“I have been either blessed or cursed with the capacity to pursue a single goal for six years.” This line comes from an email that I received from Ryan Bennett as he wrote about his first feature film Ramblin’ Round that will begin shooting in Maine around the middle of July.

The line connected with me because the ability to pursue a single goal is something that we can all relate too. We constantly watch athletes pursue single goals and I think that we forget that writers, artists and filmmakers have to achieve the same type of focus in order to succeed.

I have spoken with Ryan on the phone and exchanged several emails with him. In our communication I’ve been struck by this twenty-four-year-old’s intellect, enthusiasm and drive.

From his high school education at Maine Central Institute where he was a three sport athlete and captain of both the football and basketball teams for two years, to his film education at the Vancouver Film School and his work for Gosch Productions/Fun Little Movies in Burbank, California and Company 3 in New York, Ryan’s drive to produce his own film flourished.

In 2009 Ryan wrote, produced and directed the short film version of Ramblin’ Round that ultimately won the Maine Individual Artist Fellowship Award for the Performing Arts. Using that $13,000 grant as seed money, Ryan has been able to attract over $250k of in-kind support from Company 3, Sound One, Kodak and Deluxe.

Ramblin’ Round has also been selected to be part of Panavision’s New Filmmaker Program, which includes a camera package worth $240k.

He has formed American Whirlwind Pictures, LLC and with the support of the Finance Authority of Maine they are able to offer investors a 40% tax credit.

The combination of state grant, tax credit, investors and donations from family and friends increase the positive chances for Ramblin’ Round.

Ryan is bringing in actors and crew from relationships he has developed around the country and hiring local crew and local actors. There is an open casting call June 26th and 27th in Bangor. Follow the link for more information.

Success at anything in life is never guaranteed but just a like a great athlete, Ryan has followed a rigorous routine and surrounded himself with the best teammates to help assure the success of Ramblin’ Round and American Whirlwind Pictures, LLC.

Their success will also benefit the State of Maine and the visual media community.

I plan on following their process just like I follow the Red Sox. I’ll be cheering from the stands and trying not to drink too much beer.

Changing the Personality of the Film Office and Film Commission

2010-06-07T12:16:00.002-04:00

In my last post I encouraged the Maine Film Commission and the Film Office to meet with the Maine visual media community through a Maine Film and Video Association meeting. This will take time to set up and individual schedules will prevent some film commission members from attending regardless of advance notice.

So how do we facilitate immediate communication that will lead to the visual media community understanding the goals and efforts of the film commission and the film office?

One simple step would be to list biographies of the film commissioners on the film office website along with their personal goals for the film office and the film commission.

For years I’ve implored the film office to do a consistent enewsletter to keep the film community involved and educated. I’ve seen a few but I haven’t received one for over a year and I can’t seem to find a place to sign up for one on the Film Office website.

Facebook and Twitter are used by virtually everyone in the visual media community. I did a search but I couldn’t find anything for the Maine film office or the Film Commission. Other film offices have had facebook pages for a long time. There is no cost and they allow for multiple lines of instantaneous communication that help to create a better sense of community.

A YouTube channel for the film office where local visual media professionals could help provide content would also develop sharing and camaraderie and promote the skills of Maine visual media producers.

Cleaning up the film office website database needs to be done. To my knowledge the professional database has not been updated since the $20,000 website went online back in 2006. If we are truly going to connect the visual media community, accurate contact information is imperative.

On the film office website information on festivals and competitions list three film festivals and no competitions. If you are tuned into the visual media community you know there are many more festivals and competitions in Maine and they all need support from the film office and film commission.

The Maine Film office is the only publicly funded visual media office in Maine. Here is their mission statement:
“The Maine Film Office is a division of the Maine Office of Tourism and the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development. The film office helps bring film, television and other media projects to Maine; works to expand and improve Maine's in-state production industry; and helps all Maine made media productions succeed.”

The only way to make this statement a reality is to use the 21st century tools that are at their finger tips and change the personality of the film office and film commission.

My hope is that the five new members and the six existing members of the film commission will push to make these things happen to benefit of all Maine citizens.

Bringing the Film Commission and Visual Media Community Together

2010-05-24T06:18:00.002-04:00

The positive energy and the number of visual media projects being produced in Maine continues to grow. Fortunately, the Film Commission also continues to grow and is now, after a long period of time, fully appointed with 11 members.

My last post talked about my enthusiasm and hope that Dr. Owen Smith, Chair, New Media Department, University of Maine Orono, would bring energy and direction to the film commission. I know Owen and have met with him so I have a sense of who he is as a person and his commitment and skills within the visual media world.

I don’t know a lot about the other new members. On the film office website it lists each members name and their employment information. There is no biographical information and no statement by each member letting us know the things they would each like to accomplish to improve the visual media economy in Maine.

It would be wonderful to have a Film Commission roundtable meeting where members of the visual media community could come and ask questions, mingle with the film commissioners and get a sense who they are and what they want to accomplish as film commissioners.

This might be a great opportunity for the Maine Film and Video Association to host a meeting with this type of setting. It would enhance the communication between the Film Commission and the Maine visual media community.

Let’s have that meeting. As the communication grows, the willingness to listen to ideas, share the work load and help each other will grow.

I would like to help coordinate it and I’ll certainly bring along my questions, ideas and willingness to get involved.

Thanks to the Past, the Future is Bright in Maine

2010-05-03T11:34:00.002-04:00

Two big, positive things happened for the Maine Visual Media community this past week. Owen Smith was named to the Maine Film Commission and the producers of the movie "Wyeth," have met with the Governor and several state agencies to talk about the potential of having a significant portion of the film shot in Maine.

Owen Smith is chair of the University of Maine’s New Media Department, and already vice chair of the Maine State Arts Commission. I met with Owen, Renee Kelley and Deb Neuman back in September to discuss the idea of combining the UMAINE system with the film office and film commission.

Owen has accomplished a lot as one of the driving forces behind the New Media Department and he understands the complexities and intricacies that come with visual media production. He also has immediate access to young people with a thirst to learn and get involved. This will be the most important component of his selection to the Film Commission.

The second big positive thing for Maine is the Wyeth movie. I believe that this movie will be shot in Maine for several reasons.

One reason is the work that has been done in the past.

During the 2005 and 2006 legislative session there was a tremendous amount of work done to put our current percentage of incentives in place.

In 2008 “ LD 2319” was introduced to allow higher film incentives for a single, Maine based and produced film titled “Tumbledown” written by Desi Van Til and it would have been directed by Sean Mewshaw. It momentarily passed and then was defeated after a few behind the doors discussions.

In the spring of 2009 the producer, Mark Sennett and the director, Mick Garris of the Stephen King movie “Bags of Bones” came to Maine to meet with the Governor and his staff and several legislators in the hope that “LD 1449” would pass and allow BoB to be shot in Maine. It passed the House and Senate and stalled at the appropriations table.

These events allowed for continued awareness of the potential economic and marketing impact that visual media production can have on every citizen in Maine.

Another reason I believe that the Wyeth movie will be shot in Maine is the involvement of Donna McNeil and the Maine Arts Commission. Donna is a passionate advocate for the arts in Maine and a hard worker who will make sure that all the follow-up and relationship building is done to give this film its best chance of success.

The Maine Arts Commission is also involved in another, smaller and just as important, film project titled “Ramblin' Round”. Ryan Bennet, who wrote the script, will act as producer and director. He won the 2010 Maine Performing Arts Fellowship.

Ryan grew up in Pittsfield , Maine and he is a talented and driven young man who is using his arts fellowship to help finance the feature length film project and establish a Maine based production company.

With the help of the Maine Visual Media community, Donna McNeil, the Maine Arts Commission and a few visionary investors Ryan will shoot “Ramblin’ Round” in Maine in July.

There are several other small film projects currently shooting or about to shoot in Maine. You’ll be hearing about them soon.

Let’s cheer and support Owen, Donna and Ryan as it will benefit all of us in the future.

New Incentives for Maine Visual Media Producers

2010-04-09T07:53:00.003-04:00

If you are a film or video maker and you have a project that plans to spend at least $75,000 on production expenses in Maine, then you may qualify for the The Maine Visual Media Incentive.

Go to http://maineartscommission.blogspot.com to find out more.

Teaching Youth, while instilling Passion and Empowering them to lead.

2010-03-14T13:57:00.002-04:00

Connecting with students is one of the most important elements of successful teaching. In today’s world with information, peer pressure and parental pressure constantly presented to young people it is easy to understand how many can be overwhelmed and overlooked.

It is a visual media world with youtube, twitter, facebook, video games and everything else that is available on the internet. Young people spend hours every day viewing and using some sort of visual media.

So what if you were able to take a subject that was important to a local group of high school students and show them how to turn it into a story and then produce a high quality movie based on their own script?

It’s a powerful process that can ignite and entrust youth to be leaders in their own community.

Project AWARE has done this in Maine communities and the results have been inspiring. I personally attended the premiere of their latest film, "Influenced" and I was fascinated by the stories that the teenagers told and how empowered all of them were by the process of making the film.

This is education at its best.

I would like to see this process happen in as many Maine communities as possible. In the next two weeks there will be two assemblies at Falmouth High School where students will go through a brief workshop and view the movie, "Influenced". The intent is to help create “ a community where young people are leaders, and are addressing issues of concern in their lives from their perspective and in their voice…. a place where their voices, thoughts, concerns, and solutions are welcomed and heard… and from that place, youth-led action is taken. “

On Monday March 22- 6-8pm in the FHS Music Room there will be a parent night where the workshop and “Influenced” will be presented to parents.

From that point forward there is the opportunity for Falmouth students to create their own film and express themselves in regard to issues that impact them and their community.

All of this comes outside of the local education budget. If you would like to donate to the Falmouth Presentations please send checks to”
Falmouth High School,
In the memo line write "Enrichment Program"
74 Woodville Rd
Falmouth, Maine 04015

If you would like to donate directly to Project AWARE please send checks to:

Project AWARE, Inc.
PO Box 1244,
Saco, ME 04072

Maine Films to Receive Industry Review

2010-03-05T11:12:00.005-05:00

Getting professional feedback on a film project, as it is in progress, is important and not easy to do. The Maine Film and Video Association has arranged for five Maine films to be reviewed by six industry experts and they’d like you to come along and enjoy the process.

The five films are:

Morgan Myers' “No Apologies: The Education of Gary Reed Meyer” : http://www.noapologiesmovie.com/

Ben Kahn's “Felon”: http://www.nomadpictures.net/Clip%20Player%20HTMLs/Felon_1.html

Daniel Stephens and Brooke Brewer's “Designing Change”: http://blip.tv/file/3005835 password: design

Huey “In Good Time: The Piano Jazz of Marian McPartland”

David Berez and Gregory Roscoes’ “Raw Faith”

The Industry Experts:

Sara Archambault - Program Manager, LEF Foundation New England

Cynthia Fenneman - President and CEO, American Public Television

Ben Fowlie - Founder/Director, Camden International Film Festival

Tom Koch - VP, PBS International

Mary Lampson - Film Editor (Independent Lens, American Masters) now based in Maine

Louise Rosen – moderator, international sales agent, Vice Chair of the Maine Film & Video Association

Location: Maine Studios, 235 Presumpscot St., Portland, ME

Communication is the key

2010-02-21T08:01:00.003-05:00

I met with a filmmaker about two weeks ago. They had some questions in regard to the visual media landscape in Maine and simply wanted to get a sense of good contacts and people they can hire for the films they have planned to shoot in Maine.

During our discussion I learned that they had tried to contact the Maine Film Office in the past and never received any follow up. Now, to be fair, this is one person’s experience.

It is also my experience and an experience that many visual media professionals have relayed to me.

I have addressed this issue with everyone in charge at the Department of Economic and Community Development, the Governor’s office and I have written to and met with dozens of legislators in regard to the topic. The mantra is always the same, “State employees are under siege and staffing is limited.”

Once I explain to them that the follow up I am talking about is basic answers to basic questions that could be addressed in a quick email or phone call and that it is a staff issue, not a financial issue the next response is “Be careful, the Governor’s office might just shut down the Film Office. “

Of course this line of thought makes no sense to me. The State of Maine needs a Film Office, a Film Office that is proactive and totally involved in the visual media community.

There are several organizations in Maine doing wonderful things with limited staff and limited funding. The Film Office budget is over $200,000 and as part the Tourism Department they have access to a large staff.

To illustrate the lack of follow up I have decided to post a string of unedited email exchanges that I have had, since July 31st 2009, with the film office staff and the Governor’s office staff in regard to the film office budget and the process of applying to become a film commissioner. You can find these exchanges by clicking on the following links “Trying to find out the Film Office budget” and “Applying to become a Film Commissioner”

I invite you to give me feedback. If my approach is offsetting or inappropriate to you please let me know. I am willing to hear that feedback and make changes.

If you feel that these emails indicate a lack of follow up on the side of the Film Office and the Governor’s office please let them know.

It looks like the state will soon approve new film tax credits that will help indigenous visual media producers fund their projects.

What we need now is a Film Office that reaches out to those film makers and brings them together with insightful communication, follow up and the use free tools like Facebook, Twitter and a regular enewsletter.

As always, I am willing to do my part to help.

One Idea to Stimulate the Maine Visual Media Economy

2010-01-31T19:50:00.001-05:00

I finally did it. After more than 2 years as the Director of Marketing for Coast of Maine Organic Products, I was able to convince our founder, Carlos Quijano, to hire a professional videographer to shoot some training videos for our high end, organic soil line.

Carlos has done a brilliant job of marketing Coast of Maine products with beautiful images of our bags and wonderful relationships with the independent garden centers that carry our products.

I’ve spent the last 2 years shooting some amateur videos and streaming them from youtube with links through our website. My point with Carlos was that in today’s world we need to make our products come alive and use the videos to deepen our relationships with the independent garden centers that we work with.

In addition to marketing “Coast of Maine” I was also able to take a small step in helping to stimulate the local Maine Visual Media Economy. I hired Brett Plymale who was the videographer for the HGTV series, "People, Places & Plants" and director, editor, videographer and jack of all trades for “A Chemical Reaction”

Like everyone in the visual media business in Maine, Brett is working hard to create work and work with others to make a days pay. Thankfully, I was able to work with Brett so that he would have a couple of days pay.

So how can I help Brett get more work and continue my mission of making Maine a better place to work in the visual media industry? Simple. As the Marketing Director for Coast of Maine I have constant contact with thousands of garden centers and hundreds of companies throughout Maine and across the United States. I am constantly talking about visual media to them and now I have some simple, professional training videos that they will be watching and I’ll be encouraging them to contact Brett and other Maine visual media producers because I believe that Maine has the talent to compete with visual media producers across the country.

This also spurned an idea.

Many of Maine’s most successful companies hired visual media talent from outside of Maine. Why? Because, the visual media industry doesn’t do a good enough job of constantly marketing itself to the companies that could ultimately hire them.

I plan on doing everything in my power to change that. Here is a small but vital start:

The Hire Local Maine Visual Media Talent Facebook page. I have started to create the page and I invite all of you to participate. I created events from different organizations in Maine and please don’t hesitate to voice your positive ideas.

I will use the page to refer companies too, that are considering producing visual media.

With some input from other talented Maine visual media producers maybe we can all market each other to produced a few extra days of work and stimulate the visual media economy.

My Letter to the Maine Joint Standing Committee on Taxation

2010-01-18T22:47:00.000-05:00

From: Cameron Bonsey [mailto:cbonsey1@maine.rr.com]
Sent: Monday, January 18, 2010 9:46 AM
To: Joe Perry (SenJoe.Perry@legislature.maine); 'Lawrence Bliss'; 'SenRichard.Nass@legislature.maine.gov'; 'trwatson@street-law.com'; 'RepDon.Pilon@legislature.maine.gov'; 'RepMarkBryant@yahoo.com'; 'lmvalentino54@yahoo.com'; 'pgcrockett@yahoo.com'; 'RepLarry.Sirois@legislature.maine.gov'; 'elsie.flemings@gmail.com'; 'kathydhchase@hotmail.com'; 'L Gary Knight'; 'Brian Langley'
Subject: Film Incentives

To the Taxation Committee ,

To those of you who don’t know me my name is Cameron Bonsey. I have been a visual media advocate for the State of Maine since I first wrote to Angus King in 2002 asking for more proactive communication from the State Funded Film office.

I worked very hard on the first round of incentives that passed in 2006. I was very pleased with the work that Tom Watson did in regard to incentives this past spring. His follow up and work ethic are outstanding.

As you look at incentives for the future it is important to look at how the current incentives have worked for Maine.

I was very diligent back in 2007 in trying to simply get the information from the film office on projects that had qualified for incentives . It took months of writing and follow up ( I was told that the request came under the “Freedom of Information Act”)and finally I received a bunch of pages taped together obviously printed from some excel spreadsheet. What I simply wanted to know, as someone who had worked to pass the incentives, was “did they work?”

This December I found out through Jennifer Rooks, the host of Maine Watch, that Linda Valentino was taking over the push for incentives and that Lea Girardin, the Director of the Film Office, was delivering new language to her. I requested that information and I did receive it. In addition I again asked for the projects that had qualified and I took the time to build an excel spreadsheet based on the paperwork that I had received in 2007 so that Lea would know exactly what I was looking for.

As a result of that information here is a summary of how those numbers breakdown:

53 projects the applied for the tax credit. The projects were submitted by 5 companies. In alphabetical order those companies are Blair Schmidt productions, Compass Light, L.L. Bean Inc, Lonewolf Documentary Group and Post Office Editorial.

The totals for those projects were: Total direct spend $10,962,014, total direct spend in Maine $8,295,865, total certified wage $2,938,225, non-Mainer wages $73,196.25 , Mainer wages $2,865,029. Based on these numbers the tax credit liability totals $351,123 .

L.L. Bean received over $134,000 in tax credits. It is a great company that promotes Maine but did that credit lead them to shoot more projects in Maine? Did they put that money directly into stimulating the economic visual media landscape?

Since the last incentives passed we have spent approximately (06 through 09) $800,000 in operating the film office and another $350,000 in incentives for a total of $1,150,000 and an average of $287,500 per year. Can we use these numbers to negotiate grants or funding to go directly to some deserving Maine based projects?

The first thing that we need to look at is “Are we doing the most with the resources that we currently have at hand?”

I hear the mantra over and over again that the film office doesn’t have the resources. This simply isn’t true. I can provide you with a list of states that do more with less.

I have tried since 7-31-09 to get a complete breakdown of the film office budget. In New Hampshire I can click on a link and see the entire breakdown of how their film office budget is being spent.

Open and proactive communication is the key to the success of most private business. In working with the media industry it is even more important because the industry is built on communication.

I asked the film office for years to do a blog. I finally did one myself. When I post something I also use it as a newsletter and distribute it to others that I feel might have an interest. Most of you have received at least one email from me with a blog post.

We also need some video promoting Maine. In 2005 I convinced George Mitchell to do a video promoting Maine to other producers. At the time he was the Chairman of the Board for Disney. We shot the raw footage at the channel 6 studios. The film office and the film commission turned it down. With a little editing and adding some beautiful Maine locations it would have been a powerful piece. George was amazing.

I also produced a video promoting Maine with Roy Finch in 2008. Roy shot the film WAKE in Bath in 2002. The link will bring you to an article in MovieMaker Magazine (Published by Maine native Tim Rhys) explaining why Roy shot in Maine. The video that we shot was very basic and concise. At the end I promoted the Film Office, The Maine Film and Video Association, Maine and Company and the Portland Media Artists. I sent the link to the FO and the Department of Tourism. I received a call from the Department of Tourism saying that they would like to stream it from the FO website if I could reedit the piece and take off the endorsement of those other organizations. I said no. Those organizations are important to promoting Maine media and bringing business to Maine. I have no idea why anyone would want to delete them from the list.

The film office spent $20,000 on its website during the 2005/06 fiscal year. The structure of the website is good. The updating of information is bad. The listing of media professionals has needed to be updated for a very long time. In a meeting that Barney Martin and I hosted for the MFVA and other media professionals back in December of 2008, Barney spoke to Lea in regard to “evergreening” the information. It is now 2010 and any producer interested in hiring Maine crew to work on a project is going to get information that is 4 or 5 years old. This is not fair to the media professionals that the FO is supposed to be promoting.

I see that I have already written too much and yet, there is so much more to tell. I love Maine. I know how hard the media industry is to survive in, especially in today’s climate. I don’t work in the media industry anymore but I have traveled the state speaking to municipalities and economic development groups, mentored young people interested in the business, published a blog, produced two videos promoting Maine, along with Barney Martin I brought the “Bag of Bones” director and producer to Maine to meet with the Governor and I have developed relationships with producers around the country who want to shoot in Maine and more importantly with producers in Maine who want to shoot their projects in Maine.

What has been the cost to the taxpayers of Maine? “$0”.

The taxpayers of Maine deserve a Film Office that makes the most of the resources at hand. My direct, analytical experience tells me that the resources are not being used properly. If we are going to do what is best for every citizen in Maine we need to make sure that the system is working properly before we simply put new tax incentives in place.

I would be happy to talk to any of you at any time if you feel my voice has value. You can reach me at 807-7406.

I appreciate the fact that each of you have taken the time to give back to the State of Maine. Have a wonderful day and know that your efforts do make a difference.

Yours truly,

Cameron Bonsey

Influenced

2009-12-17T08:31:00.003-05:00

“There have been just a few times in my lifetime when I have felt so inspired and moved by people or an event that I am certain that it will remain with me for the rest of my life ……… AND remind me that anything is possible.”

This is how Carl Lakari, co-founder of Project AWARE, began his speech at the premier of the film “Influenced”.

“The vision of Project AWARE is a community where young people are leaders, and are addressing issues of concern in their lives from their perspective and in their voice…. a place where their voices, thoughts, concerns, and solutions are welcomed and heard… and from that place, youth-led action is taken.”

By the time Carl spoke I had listened to Alyssa McCourt, the 16 year old President of Project AWARE, Megan Hanson, sophomore at Seton Hall University and Project AWARE Summer Film Institute Leader, Josephine Cooper sophomore at Thornton Academy, Co-Creator, Producer, Writer, Director and Lead Actor and 13 year old Aleah Graham,Co-Creator, Producer and lead actor of “Influenced” speak in regard to their experiences with Project AWARE and the making of “Influenced”

Those four intelligent, articulate and driven teenagers let me know why Carl feels that “anything is possible”

The movie is wonderful. It has a professional look and feel because members of the Maine Film Community like Karen True of FiKari Productions and Jim Cole and Aaron Duffy of Gum Spirits Productions volunteered their time. They gave their deep knowledge and skills in mentoring more than one hundred young men and women who will remember the experience forever. The positive energy, working as a group to complete a project and the empowerment of seeing their work impact others gives each of these young men and women a boost of self-esteem that will help them over and over again as they live their lives.

“I have spent years talking and writing to business leaders, legislators, economic development groups and municipalities in regard to the economic and marketing impact that media production does and can have on the State of Maine. I am humbled by the emotional and empowering impact that media production and mentoring have had on everyone involved in the Project AWARE Program”

That was the opening paragraph of my brief speech. Joining me onstage was my dear friend and fellow Maine Film Advocate, Barney Martin.

Barney began his portion of the speech by saying, “So how do we ensure that other projects like “Influenced” become a reality? How do we put the film industry on the map as a significant player in Maine’s economy?”

In the case of visual media projects like “Influenced” the answer is not visual media tax incentives.

Part of the answer lies in continuing to develop a sense of community and sharing that groups like The Maine Film and Video Association and The Maine Studios are helping to create.

Part of the answer lies in developing grant programs and helping groups like Project AWARE apply for them.

And part of the answer lies in having a State Funded Film Office that is proactive and involved.

The next “Project AWARE” film will bring together youth from the community of Sanford. James Harmon will lead the project. James is funded at the Sanford high School by the Sanford Safe Schools Healthy Students initiative and he is the advisor and supporter of Sanford students interested in the Sanford movie including kids from his Reconnecting Youth classes and the Sanford Film Club – which he advises. Gum Spirits Productions will take on a leadership role again.

What Project AWARE is creating is a sustainable business model that empowers youth and let’s us all know that “anything is possible”.

Take note Maine Visual Media Industry. We can do this too!

The MFVA, Maine Studios and the 48 Hour Film Project coming together to promote Maine Media production

2009-12-04T10:42:00.003-05:00

The next meeting of the Maine Film & Video Association is 5:00PM Saturday, December 5, 2009 at the new Maine Studios, 235 Presumpscot St., Portland, ME, and features screenings of six of the 2009 entries into the 48 Hour Film Project including two of the top three winners with filmmakers presenting.

It is great that these organizations are working together. The Maine Film & Video Association is an established organization that works to bring media professionals together, the Maine Studios is a new and much needed asset to the Maine Media community while the 48 Hour Film Project has created a wonderful sense of excitement and collaboration among Maine filmmakers.

I would encourage all of you to attend this event, exchange ideas and grab some energy to help the Maine film community continue to move forward in 2010.

Maine Film Commission

2009-11-16T12:51:00.001-05:00

Today I faxed my application for gubernatorial appointment to Joe Boucher, Director of Boards and Commissions, Office of the Governor.

My hope is to be appointed to the Maine Film Commission and I would encourage those of you who are Maine residents, interested in helping to grow Maine’s media production economy to also apply.

According to Lea Girardin, the Director of the Maine Film Office, as of September 3rd, 2009 there were 6 members of the Maine Film Commission.

Member Title
Debra Lord Cooke SAG/AFTRA actor
Her term expires this November, she has served three terms.

Tom Craig Independent Film Producer
His term expires 11/2010, he has served one term.

Stephanie V. Hart President, The Shamrock Group LLC
Her term expires this November , she has served one term

Brenda Jepson Media Production Educator, Independent Filmmaker
Her term expires this November, she has served two terms

Donna McNeil,Ex Officio Director, Maine Arts Commission
As an Ex Officio member her term does not expire.

Representative Hannah Pingree, Ex Officio Maine Legislature
Hannah Pingree resigned when she assumed the duties of Speaker of the House.

Clare Tully Entertainment Law, Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson
Her term expires this November, she has served one term.

According to the rules of the Maine Film Commision Part 3, Section 1 “The Commission shall consist of 11 members appointed by the governor. “

If everyone whose term expires in November is reappointed, there is still a need for 5 new members.

To apply contact:
Joe Boucher
Director of Boards and Commissions
Office of the Governor
1 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
207-287-3531 (P)
207-287-1034 (F)
joe.boucher@maine.gov

Please don’t hesitate to apply. We need your voice.

The Camden International Film Festival

2009-09-25T10:20:00.002-04:00

Building a sense of community in today’s fast paced world is difficult to do. Sharing ideas, creating common goals, while getting support for individual ideas and goals, is part of creating that sense of community and trust.

If you are a media producer, your energy is probably wrapped up in trying to push your own project to completion. Along the way, you may need to reach inside your local media community and ask for help.

In an effort to create that sense of community by connecting industry leaders with the independent media producers the Camden International Film Festival will present the Points North Documentary Film Forum on October 2nd at 2 pm at the Theater at Union Hall, #2 Central Street, Rockport, ME (map). Union Hall is part of the Maine Media Workshops campus.

The afternoon will consist of two sections: A New World: Non-fiction Film Funding, Trends, and Players with a round table of industry veterans and funders presenting the current funding process, trends and players. This will be followed by The Survivor's Guide – a panel of filmmakers discussing "sustainable" filmmaking, DIY distribution and offering tips on how to make a living as a filmmaker in this unique economic climate. Panelists will include top doc filmmakers drawn from this year's festival as well as some CIFF alumni.

Sponsored in part by the LEF Foundation and Maine Media Workshops, Points North provides attendees an opportunity to connect with industry leaders in an environment conducive to discussion.

“The Camden International Film Festival (CIFF) is committed to supporting and generating interest in independent documentary films. The annual festival presents a snapshot of the cultural landscape through the year’s best non-fiction storytelling, connecting filmmakers with eager audiences and industry representatives to discuss documentary film as an art form, a catalyst for change and as an outlet for the independent voice. “

I encourage you to take part in the workshop and take time to support the 5th annual Camden Film Festival. For more information visit: http://www.camdenfilmfest.org

Making the Most of Maine's Resources

2009-08-06T23:27:00.001-04:00

In my last post I wrote about “Mentoring Ali”, a young woman from Falmouth, Maine who developed her own “film” degree at Williams College and wants to pursue a career behind the camera. The outpouring of positive feedback and advice was terrific and I was able to pass along wonderful technical advice from professionals who currently work in media production to powerful words of encouragement from people who are inspired by Ali’s willingness to simply “go for it”.

So how do we reach out to others in Ali’s 18-34 group that continue to leave the state of Maine at an alarming rate?

How about the University of Maine working with or taking over the film office? A curriculum could be developed, a professor could over see it, students could bring the film office communication into the 21st century with streaming video, a website that is proactive, facebook, Twitter, MySpace, we’d have “built in” location scouts in 7 different locations around the state, education credits could be earned by students working on local independent films and we’d actually be tapping into young people in a creative and powerful way. They would be learning at the same time that they are bringing business to Maine.

This isn’t an original idea. The State of Missouri has combined forces with Missouri University and the results have been terrific.

Steve Wyatt is the Associate Dean for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development for the University of Missouri’s College of Engineering who serves as the Statewide Business Development Program Director for University Extension writes, “The university partnership with the state has been great. The partnership allows the Film Office to take advantage of the strengths of the University and the state. Since the move, we have nearly tripled tax credits for the industry, increased office budget, increased awareness, and increased private support. This year we landed a movie with George Clooney entitled Up in the Air which is scheduled to be released late fall or early winter.”

There is a lot to do to make this happen. I’ve started the process by reaching out to the key people. If you are interested in getting involved or have ideas send me an email. I plan on doing everything I can to help young people like Ali live and express their creativity in Maine.

Mentoring Ali

2009-07-19T17:54:00.001-04:00

At the end of June I received an email from Pam Tozier, the mother of a young, intelligent passionate woman named Ali. Pam has been receiving my email blog posts since I started my blog and she wanted to know if I could meet with Ali and give her some advice about the film industry.

Having a grandmother and mother who were teachers and a sister who is a teacher has impacted the way that I work with others and I try my best to mentor anyone who approaches me with an interest in film.

My response to Pam was, ”I would be happy to talk to Ali anytime.” After exchanging a few emails and having Ali send me an ardent, well written letter about her passion for film and how she created her own film major within the Literary Studies department at Williams College I knew meeting with her would be worth the time and the effort.

We met for an hour and half at a local coffee shop and talked about many different aspects of the film industry. Ali is living in Boston, working two jobs and doing her best to follow her dreams. She ultimately wants to live in Maine and work behind the camera in film production. She knows that working in film production is very difficult and that living in Maine and making a living in film production is almost impossible.

As I listened to Ali talk I kept thinking “She is exactly the type of person that Maine needs.” Her plan is to move to Los Angeles, build relationships within the industry and learn as much as she can. She would love to bring those relationships and her knowledge back to Maine to live and work. I would love to see her achieve that goal.

I have connected Ali with other people that I know in the industry and encouraged her to simply go for it. I’ve found that it is amazing what I few encouraging words and advice can do for someone.

Mentoring can be that simple.

The Maine Film Office and the Maine Film Commission with support of the Maine Office of Business Development, the Maine Film and Video Association and IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts) Local 481 developed a mentoring program titled Maine Media Mentorship (M3) Program. A driving force in creating the program was Randy Visser, a former member of the Maine Film Commission and a founder of the Southern Maine Community College's Communications & New Media Department.

The film office website devotes valuable media space to promoting the program on the home page of their website. When you click the link it simply states that the program has been closed due to budget cuts and they hope to reopen the program in mid 2009. The instructions say to contact Lea Girardin for more information so I sent Lea an email stating,” Can you send me a write up of the program and what your funding needs are? I’d like to bring some attention to it.”

Lea responded by writing that cost for the pilot program was $5,000 and with cuts in staffing and budget within the Film Office they could no longer administer the program.

I asked Lea how the money would be used and she referred me to Randy Visser and stated that the pilot program was set up to mentor 10 people and that each person that applied would also have to pay a $100 application fee to offset the costs of the program.

Randy’s response was “You'll have to talk with Lea about this program. I left the film commission last year and the program was put on hold. Take care.”

Two days later I received an email from Lea saying, “M3 never got beyond the planning stage.”

So we don’t have an official program that can be implemented to mentor bright, creative, passionate young people like Ali. What we do have are people in the industry who are willing to give their time, energy and knowledge to anyone with interest in the media business. I just happen to be one of them.

I am willing to give you or anyone you know any knowledge and encouragement I can. It won’t cost you anything. My only request is that you do the same when someone approaches you and maybe we can all have a positive impact on truly building a media industry in Maine that Ali can come home to.

We'll Keep Running

2009-06-10T14:50:00.011-04:00

I received an email from the Maine Film office today. The opening line was:

“Thank you all for showing your support and offering testimony for this bill designed to increase media productions in Maine. Although Governor Baldacci was in favor of LD 1449 it died on the Appropriations table, due to lack of funds, around 5:15 PM last night.”

I already knew what had occurred but the announcement seemed to flat and depressing.

The process we went through was never flat and depressing. It was sometimes excruciating and exasperating but the fact that so many people came together to try and pass the incentives was invigorating.

The sponsor of LD 1449, Tom Watson, did everything in his power to make this bill a reality. A wonderful group came to testify in front of the Taxation Committee on April 27th which helped the bill pass through that committee with unanimous support.

LD 1449 passed through the House and Senate on Monday and then came to a screeching halt in the Appropriations Committee because there was no money left to fund the fiscal note that was needed to finance the bill.

The bill didn’t pass and now is the time to keep moving toward a changing Maine Media landscape. We’ll have to construct it differently and at a slower pace but we will construct a new and vital industry.

Keep your eye on folks like Eric Matheson as he tries to build a soundstage in South Portland, Lonewolf Productions as the they continue their award winning work and try to achieve theatrical distribution for their documentary “The Rivals” and Paul Tukey and Brett Plymale as the continue the outstanding response to their documentary "Hudson: A Chemical Reaction."

We won’t have a feature film dropping millions of dollars into the Maine economy to help with this transition but as an old runner who has lost many races at the end of a long season I know it is time to rest, examine strategic mistakes and then train that much harder and smarter to achieve to ultimate goal.

We can make the media production industry a vital, sustainable and vigorous segment of Maine’s every economy.

Memorial Day and Beyond

2009-05-26T12:20:00.005-04:00

I was driving through Kennebunkport on Memorial Day as the parade was about to begin. It was great to see the spectators finding their spots on the side of the road as the veterans in their uniforms, the band members with their musical instruments, the boy scouts with their yellow bandanas around their necks and the young baton twirlers in their blue velvet dresses excitedly got ready for the parade.

It made me feel good to see everyone come together to celebrate and recognize those who fought and died for our country.

Regardless of political leanings everyone can come together for this purpose.

As we move forward with LD 1449 (HP 1005) "An Act To Expand Tax Incentives for Visual Media Productions" the same type of collective response is occurring.

The media industry, with encouragement from the Maine Film and Video Association and Portland Media Artists, now has a common goal that everyone can come together and support.

The legislature continues the furtherance of LD 1449 as it passed through the taxation committee with unanimous support back on May 16th.

And local chambers of commerce and municipalities continue to express interest and backing for LD 1449.

Barney Martin and I went on a road trip on May 11th to do a presentation at the Alamo Theatre in Bucksport hosted by the Bucksport Chamber of Commerce. Dick Kane, President of the MFVA was in the audience and available for questions. He also brought along some helpful handouts that were originally prepared by the Film Office staff. If you’d like to read about the presentation please click on the link below:

Lights! Camera! Tax breaks!
By Steve Fuller
The Republican Journal Reporter

http://waldo.villagesoup.com/Government/story.cfm?storyID=159426

On May 13th I received an email from Tom Porter of MPBN saying that he had just interviewed Ben Kahn and Michael Panenka about their short film "A Brief Case of Love:", which they took to Cannes during the week of May 17th. You can access the interview, in which they talk about the importance of promoting Maine on their trip at:

http://www.mpbn.net/News/MaineNews/tabid/181/ctl/ViewItem/mid/1858/ItemId/10512/Default.aspx
And on May 9th I had the pleasure of attending the premier episode of the new monthly television show “Behind The Artist,” at the Marriott Sable Oaks in South Portland. The show is produced by Scott Jordan and 207 Entertainment www.207ent.net and will air every Saturday at 10:30pm on WPME Time Warner Channel 17.

My fellow film advocate and friend Barney Martin was the subject of the first episode and I hope there are many more episodes to follow.

There are many great Maine independent media projects occurring in our wonderful state. We need to continue to support and promote them as we work to increase tax incentives that will also allow major feature film and visual media projects to be shot in Maine

As we move past Memorial Day into the summer of 2009 I have great hope that LD 1449 will pass and we will all be able to celebrate legislation that will have a positive impact on every citizen, business and municipality in Maine.

Support for 1449 "An Act To Expand Tax Incentives for Visual Media Productions".

2009-04-30T21:04:00.001-04:00

I haven’t had time to sit down and write about the wonderful group that showed up for the testimony for LD1449"An Act To Expand Tax Incentives for Visual Media Productions".

The room was full of between 40 and 50 supporters. 22 people testified in support of the bill and no one testified against the bill.

The reaction from the taxation committee was very positive and they were all patient while listening to the testimony. We took over 2 hours of their time in testimony and each of them asked great questions.

The taxation committee understands the benefits. The issue will come in setting money aside to finance the incentives. Money will not be spent by the state until money has come into the state from media production, however that money still has to be set aside in the budgeting process under the current budgeting laws.

This means that a fiscal note will have to be created for the 5 million dollar post- production, investment the state will have to make. This process makes it look like the bill is taking money away from other programs when it will actually create future revenue that will help to increase funding to other programs.

As representative Sirois said at one point during the meeting “75% of something is better than 100% of nothing”

I believe that we are headed in the right direction and the next 2 weeks will be crucial. May 4th is the work session for the taxation committee. I encourage all of you to contact you local representative and senator. It will make and difference and hopefully we can all be involved in bringing more money, creativity and marketing to the state we love.

First Public Hearing on Film Bill LD1449 MONDAY 4/27 1PM Augusta, Room 127 State House

2009-04-17T13:35:00.000-04:00

First Public Hearing on Film Bill LD1449 MONDAY 4/27 1PM Augusta, Room 127 State House

The incentives bill is ready for its first public hearing and I would like to invite you to attend. The public hearing is set for Monday April 27th at 1PM in room 127 at the State House in Augusta.

Barney and I continue our advocacy. I spoke at the Maine Film and Video Association meeting last night and Barney and I made an appearance on the Ray and Ted show at 95.5 FM this morning.

Because the show is no longer aired on Fox I asked my friend and filmmaker Brett Plymale to use my old school JVC video camera to record the piece. He did a great job. Thank you Brett. You can view the segment at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zda6SrLbQWA&feature=channel_page

In addition the Mainebiz television show which airs on NBC channels 2 and 6 in Maine at 10 am this Sunday will focus on Visual Media Incentives and their possible impact on the State of Maine.

Host Alan Hinsey interviews actor Jonathan Frakes, DECD Commissioner John Richardson, Maine Independent filmmaker Dana Packard and yours truly. Alan says the show is great and we’d love to have you all tune in.

For those of you who are receiving this by email you can click on the attached .wmv and watch the promo.

Barney and I will continue to keep you updated and we’d love to hear from all of you.

Have a great weekend!

Celebrating Maine

2009-03-31T09:53:00.002-04:00

As we continue our push to bring more media productions to Maine and increase media incentives it is important that we reach out to production companies and let them know that Maine is working “step by step” to become a more film and business friendly state.

Barney Martin and I brought Mick Garris and Mark Sennet, the director and producer of the Stephen King film, “Bag of Bones” to Maine to meet with the Governor, his staff and other legislators to talk about increasing incentives for media production that takes place in Maine. A few days after Mick and Mark left I saw an article saying that Warner Brothers had plans to remake the miniseries “It”, another Stephen King story.

I have contact information for several executives at Warner Brothers so I wrote to them. Two weeks later I received the following email from Steve Papazian President, Worldwide Physical Production, Warner Bros. Pictures.

“Cameron,

Thank you for your communication and update on the potential of Maine film incentives .Having filmed the majority of “Message in a Bottle” in Bath, Warner Bros is quite familiar with Maine location opportunities.

Film incentives have become an important component in our financial model budgeting process. Domestic and Worldwide film incentives remain extremely competitive.

Please continue to keep us advised as to your progress.

All the very best to you and Barney,

Steve “

Like everyone that I talk to who has ever visited Maine, Steve has a high regard for our beautiful state and its citizens based on his experience. If the economics work, Warner Brothers would certainly consider Maine.

I believe that we will make the economics work. There is a great sense of camaraderie and openness cemented by today’s communication technology and our shared love of Maine.

I hear the naysayers but I don’t listen to them. Like I tell my kids, “Believe in yourself, stay positive and do what you think is right to attain your personal goals and enhance your local community.”

That is what Barney and I will continue to do and we invite all of you to join us. Please visit the Maine Film Advocates Facebook page and join us as we celebrate Maine.

"Bag of Bones"

2009-03-18T14:50:00.001-04:00

“Bag of Bones”

Those of you who have been kind enough to read my blog (www.mainefilm.blogspot.com) over the course of the last year and a half know that my mission statement is:

“I created The Maine Film blog because I believe that film production can become an important part of Maine's "everyday" economy. I will post information that educates and inspires the people who come to this blog. This is an important segment of Maine's future economic growth and I want to facilitate its success.”

Facilitating that success has never been easy. I first wrote to Angus King in 2002 to ask the State and the Film Office to be more proactive in attracting potential producers. I always felt that more could be done so; I went out and did what I thought the state should be doing. Along the way I teamed up with my friend Barney Martin, who possesses more natural energy than “The Storm of the Century”, and we began an odyssey that would make Homer proud.

I’ll make this brief and spare you the details of working with Barney for the last four and a half years. Just know that there were many moments of “Misery” as I tried to be stable, proactive and kind while Barney went into “Maximum Overdrive”.

This balance of personalities and mutual respect allowed Barney and I to build one relationship after another even in moments of “Desperation” when we each felt like a “Bag of Bones”

So far our crowning achievement has been to bring Mick Garris and Mark Sennet, the director and producer of “Bag of Bones” to Maine to meet with the Governor and key legislators in an effort to pass additional film incentives that will allow the film to be shot in Maine.

We also dragged Mark and Mick to every media outlet we could during a fourteen hour day that turned us all into “Sleepwalkers”. You can find all the links at www.mainefilm.blogspot.com and those of you that enjoy Facebook can find the information at the Maine Film Advocates page.

Please read the information and decide for yourself if media production is a good thing for Maine. We’d love to hear from you and have your join the cause if you don’t want Maine’s economy to get any “Thinner”.

P.S. Look for Barney and me tonight on WGME 13 Live at 5:30!

Editorial wrong about filmmakers' attitudes

2009-03-11T05:08:00.003-04:00

Editorial wrong about filmmakers' attitudes
http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/view/columns/6043264.html

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Cameron Bonsey 03/10/2009

Today's Top Headlines
from the Kennebec Journal

All of today's: News | Sports
from the Kennebec Journal

After spending three days with Mark Sennet and Mick Garris, the producer and director of the Stephen King film "Bag of Bones," which they would like to make in Maine, I was surprised to read the editorial on March 5: "Filmmakers brought their big-city attitude to the wrong state."

The editorial took the stance that Sennet and Garris were big-city wheeler dealers with cocky attitudes. It made me laugh but then made me sad that the author was trying to take a slant that will simply encourage negative assumptions in regard to the entire process.

I am a lifelong Mainer, as is my friend Barney Martin. We have rich family histories in Rumford and Surry. We happen to share a common interest in the film industry and in being the best parents that we can be.

On the night that Sennet flew in from Portugal, Barney and I picked him up at his hotel in Portland. The filmmaker's rooms and other travel expenses were donated by local businesses because the state film office and Department of Economic and Community Development have no budgets to bring producers to Maine.

Sennet was pleasant, polite and very funny. What impressed me the most was the way that he related to Martin's four children, Sydney, Colby, Peter and Jersey, when we arrived at Martin's home Sunday night.

Ten-year-old Colby immediately took a liking to Mark and started showing him horse pictures that she had drawn. Then she took him by the hand and ran upstairs to visit her goldfish. Sennet was completely in the moment with her and treated her like she was his daughter. This was my favorite moment with him.

When we met with Gov. John Baldacci, Garris made it very clear that he loves to work with students who have a passion for film and that he would be thrilled to set up an internship program for the film.

At our press conference later that day, a young man who goes to school with my son approached me to ask me if he could give me his headshot and resume to give to Garris. I assured him that if he e-mailed everything to me that I would do my best to make sure that Garris saw his information.

The young man thanked me and then I watched him walk over and sit next to the director. He asked Garris a question and they were off. Even in the middle of a long, intense day of non-stop press appointments and meetings starting at 8 a.m., Garris took the time to look the young man in the eye and answer his questions with patience, kindness and encouragement. This was my favorite moment with him.

I believe that Mainers are smart, independent and perceptive. If each of us can simply process information without some type of "old school" prejudice, we can come together and make the right decision for Maine.

Let's give the governor and legislators the information and the time they need to assess if building a high-paying industry that infuses millions into a local economy, emotionally lifts the spirits of an entire community and markets Maine for years to come, is worth implementing tax incentives that simply allow Maine to compete with neighboring states -- not try to be "Hollywood East."

With time and objective information, I believe they will make the right decision.

Cameron Bonsey is a Maine film advocate. He publishes a blog www.mainefilm.blogspot.com and has worked alongside Barney Martin since 2004 to bring media production to Maine.

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micilio of Palermo, ME
Mar 10, 2009 7:13 AM
The KJ's negative slant on most of these things will eventually lead to the end of once great newspaper. Their view on these filmmakers and the idea behind it was something I would expect from a sixth grader not educated adults.report abuse

James Moore of Brunswick, ME
Mar 10, 2009 12:53 AM
My take on the filmmakers' offer was that they were being up front and candid about the realities of the situation. The KJ's article was, I thought, somewhat snotty. Aside from the KJ's judgemental tone, rejecting the advantages to Mainers of accepting their offer for the silly reason advanced by the KJ strikes me as just as dumb as those Repub legislators who'd reject Obama's federal aid to their states because they don't like Obama.

But then, of course, the filmmakers weren't offering anything that would help the KJ.report abuse
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Growing Momentum to Bolster Film Incentives in Maine (click to follow link to NEFILM)

2009-01-25T10:40:00.003-05:00

Growing Momentum to Bolster Film Incentives in Maine
Thu, 01/01/2009 - 01:00 – erin
Posted in January 2009 Local Industry Maine Massachusetts New England Reports
Blogger and film advocate Cameron Bonsey gives a personal take on the roadblocks and opportunities to attracting more film production to Maine.

By Cameron Bonsey

Maine hasn’t had a major film production since Empire Falls dropped 13.6 million into its economy in 2003, stimulating and invigorating small Maine towns like Waterville and Skowhegan.

In 2006, with the work of the Maine Film Office, the Film Commission and film industry advocates Barney Martin and myself, Maine passed its current modest incentives. Those incentives proved to be too small to make a difference and have had no impact in bringing additional productions to Maine.

Martin and I never slowed in our advocacy for film. Martin was appointed to the Film Commision by Governor Baldacci because of his yeoman’s work on the first round of incentives. But he left the commission in frustration after almost a year because he felt there was a lack of urgency and follow through in approaching potential productions for Maine and working to pass further incentives.

I started my own blog promoting Maine and the Maine film community as well as producing a video promoting Maine. My posts are now delivered to legislators, business leaders, film production companies, and everyday citizens of Maine.

In addition, Martin and I have begun a road tour of local Chambers of Commerce and municipalities to help them reach into their communities and become more film friendly.

Over the course of the last few years Martin and I have frequently spoken our minds in regard to what the Film Office and Film Commission could do to proactively promote Maine, film, and film incentives. This willingness to not only speak openly in regard to what needs to be done but also to go out and do what we felt the film office and film commission should be doing caused some acrimony.

To help bring both sides together and create a union to reach out to the Maine community as a whole Martin and I arranged a meeting on December 10th at the Maple Room in Lewiston. Inviting the Film Office, Film Commission, the Maine Film and Video Association, members of Portland Media Artists, legislators, and municipal leaders to a warm, enticing, open room designed for intimately listening to world class artists perform was integral to creating an air of openness, kindness and an exchange of ideas.

To read the entire article click the title to be redirected to www.newenglandfilm.com

A Fisherman tends his nets before he goes after the next movie for Maine

2008-12-27T11:56:00.002-05:00

I spend a tremendous amount of time reaching out to people in the media business, telling the story of Maine and why Maine is wonderful place to produce a media project.

Getting a response is rare and when you do get a response you need to protect that contact and make sure that you develop a healthy relationship with them without sending too much information and, in a sense, over fishing the contact.

I rambled around my house the night after Christmas. My two youngest children were visiting their mom and my oldest was visiting friends. With a little time to myself I grabbed a beer and sat down with my computer and began the monotonous process of checking contact information for media industry decision makers and sending notes to each one.

It reminded me of how my mom used to force me to write thank you notes after Christmas each year. Who wants to do that? It is one of those things that you dread doing and then feel much better after it is done.

In the title of each email I wrote: “A little guy from Maine looking for advice” In the body of each email I wrote “I am a film advocate for the State of Maine (www.mainefilm.blogspot.com) We are trying to pass additional media incentives and I am wondering if your company offers any type of assistance for this type of advocacy.”

I sent the emails one by one. I deleted the ones that were undeliverable while I saved the deliverable addresses in my blog contact list.

This small time internet phishing is very much like the process that the hardworking fishermen of Maine do and have done for hundreds of years. I was tending my nets, looking for holes, mending them, navigating to where I thought the fish would be and throwing the nets overboard to see what I could catch.

I went to bed after midnight and I let my emails to the trawling. In the morning I had an email from an important member of the motion picture industry. We exchanged emails and set up a conference call. His organization is willing to mentor me and others in Maine as we sail through the rough economic waters ahead and try to have a positive impact on every citizen, business and town in Maine.

It feels good to use the same work ethic that Maine fisherman use everyday as I try to be a part of making a non-traditional industry a tradition in Maine.

Franklin County Decides to become Film Friendly

2008-11-19T15:33:00.005-05:00

On Thursday night November 13th I had the pleasure of speaking to the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce at their annual member meeting held at the University of Maine at Farmington.

I had been invited to speak by Matt Wotton, the chamber President, after I had sent an email suggesting that the Chamber support the passage of additional film incentive legislation during the 2009 legislative session.

It had been about 10 years since I last visited the Farmington area and the local development has changed dramatically over that time. I was expecting an audience of maybe 40 or 50 people and I was surprised to walk into a full banquet room at the North Dining Hall at UMF.

I was a little nervous because I didn’t have a set speech prepared. So I headed for the cash bar, bought a Maine made Shipyard ale and walked around the banquet room introducing myself and getting a sense of the people in attendance.

It reminded me of the stories my dad would tell of town meetings and grange hall get-togethers’ in his hometown of Surry, Maine. There was a lot of camaraderie and I could tell that everyone there really cared about Franklin County.

I was seated at a table toward the front. Everyone at the table was kind and interesting and when I introduced myself and told them that I would be speaking about film and film incentives they all had a positive, interesting story to tell.

As I was introduced to speak, my nerves dissipated. After all, I was speaking to my new, old friends. My story was simple as I spoke about the current economy and how I was there to deliver some good news.

I told how my friend Paul Tukey had approached me after I bought a small casting agency and asked me to help him produce a television show called People Places & Plants. We shot the pilot and then I contacted over 500 television station and got very used to the answer “no”. Those “no’s” caused me to dig deeper and keep calling, emailing and writing like some possessed character from a Stephen King novel. Eventually we were picked up by twenty-three broadcast stations around the country and the show was broadcast to thirty-five million homes.

As we produced 46 shows we made sure that we highlighted Maine in nineteen, five and half minute segments showing some wonderful Maine businesses, landscapes and people that make Maine unique and special.

At the end of two years of losing money we decided not to produce any more new shows. Because of the relationships I had built within the industry during those years we were able to sell the show to HGTV where it was broadcast to ninety-one million homes for a year and a half.

We broke even on the show and the State of Maine enjoyed a tourism marketing boost worth 1.8 million dollars during the three and half years that the show was on the air.

I talked about the movie “Tumbledown” that was written about Franklin County by Desi Van Til and how a film like that can drop millions into a local economy impacting restaurants, motels, resorts, lumberyards and virtually every local business in the short term and how movies like “Empire Falls” and “Peyton Place” continue to have a marketing impact on towns like Camden, Skowhegan and Waterville long after the movies have been produced.

Using the Franklin County Chamber’s website as a good example I talked about how counties and municipalities can make themselves more film friendly and I encouraged everyone to talk to their local legislator and senator and ask them to support further film incentives because they can have an immediate economic impact with no upfront investment.

I guess I did a pretty good job because many people approached me after the banquet and gave me their cards and had many questions. A few days ago a received an email from Matt Wotton that contained the following quote:

“I know it will take a great deal of work to make Maine into a state that would encourage directors and producers to bring there products here, but I for one would like to see it happen. Lorna (The Executive Director) and I have spoken and we want the Chamber to start this ball rolling and see what may happen. I'd like to see a major movie filmed in Western Maine within the next 2 years. Who knows if this is a realistic goal, but I only know one way to find out.”
I have a tendency to set goals that aren’t realistic. It makes life interesting. The Franklin County Chamber has given me the energy to pursue an idea that my unrealistic, friend Barney Martin had a few years ago. I’d like to speak to every chamber in Maine, get them excited in regard to the positive economic impact that film incentives can have on every citizen, business and town in Maine and help them become more film friendly. I believe that we can build a nice network of film advocates in all 16 counties that are ready and willing to take a producer by the hand and show them what makes Maine and their local county special.

I’ll start with the Franklin County Chamber and if you know some local chamber that would like to have Barney and I come and speak just let us know. We’ll do our comedy routine and make you laugh while we do something good for the State of Maine and its economy.

FILMMAKERS' ROUNDTABLE

2008-09-15T14:17:00.001-04:00

FILMMAKERS' ROUNDTABLE TO
DISCUSS FILM TAX INCENTIVES

WHAT: Filmmakers' Roundtable to Discuss Maine Film Tax Incentives Legislation

WHEN: Saturday, September 27, 2008 10:30AM

WHERE: Farnsworth Art Museum Auditorium,
16 Museum St.
Rockland, Maine

WHO : All interested parties are invited to attend. Free admission.
WHY: Tax breaks to attract film productions have created an economic boom for the media industry as well as other industries in those states which pass such incentives. In 2006 the Maine legislature passed the Maine Attraction Film Incentives bill which called for the return of 10% of a production's budget to the company. Maine is now competing with other states which return up to 40% -- a prime reason why Maine hasn't seen a major production since Empire Falls in 2003. This group is meeting to find ways to support a stronger film tax incentives bill that will benefit Maine's media industry as well as the Maine economy as a whole.

SPONSORS : The Maine Film & Video Association, the Portland Media Artists, and the Camden International Film Festival are co-sponsoring this event

Rockland, ME The Filmmakers Roundtable meeting will be held on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 10:30-11:30 at the Farnsworth Art Museum auditorium as part of the Camden International Film Festival. Maine's media industry leaders will be in attendance to work towards a solution to how Maine can become more competitive against other New England states which are profiting from stronger tax incentives. Louise Rosen, board member of the Maine Film & Video Association, will moderate. The discussion will continue over lunch at the Black Bull on 420 Main Street, Rockland.

www.mainefilm.com
www.camdenfilmfest.org

"There is abundant economic research that suggests that a production can dramatically benefit tourism for many years after its initial release." Economic Impact study on Maine's film industry conducted by EcoNorthwest, June 2008

"With total production costs of $28.5 million, Empire Falls was a major project. Spending in Maine accounted for nearly half of the total cost." Economic Impact study on Maine's film industry conducted by EcoNorthwest, June 2008

The Maine Film Coalition announces a casting call for the most dynamic State Senator and State Representative

2008-08-14T10:23:00.001-04:00

August 14th, 2008

The Maine Film Coalition announced today that it will be casting for the most dynamic, honest and creative Maine State Senator and Maine State Representation to lead the process of drafting new media incentives.

The individuals who are cast for these parts must be open to new ideas, be honest, non-partisan, smart, funny, willing to laugh at themselves, willing to attend several industry rallies and star in several videos promoting Maine as a film location and all around good place to live.

Casting will begin the week of August 18th with locations throughout the state.

If you are interested please send your resume by email to: cbonsey1@maine.rr.com or bmartin1@maine.rr.com

For further information you can also contact The Maine Film Coalition by phone at 207-807-7406.

Youtubing Down the Maine Media Promotional Slope

2008-07-19T12:31:00.005-04:00

I started the Maine Film Blog almost a year ago. As I look back on my posts they reinforce my original goals. The feedback has been wonderful and the communication from people outside of the film industry lets me know that I am having the type of impact that I originally intended.

For a long time I have wanted the Film Office to post streaming video from their website. They have chosen not to do this and I believe they are missing out on an opportunity to promote Maine and communicate to potential filmmakers in a way that will truly connect with the way that filmmakers think and view the world.

A few years ago the New Hampshire Film Office resurrected an Orson Welles narrated video highlighting New Hampshire. It is a beautifully shot and narrated piece. Lead by the New Hampshire Film Office, a group came together and volunteered their time to reedit and shoot new video to bring the piece into today’s production standards. The video has been viewed by almost 8000 people and potential filmmakers.

I have also been posting goofy home videos on youtube for awhile and it is a wonderful way to connect and share experiences with family and friends and bring everyone closer together in today’s hectic world.

Last month I decided to write a script for a youtube video. As we celebrated my niece’s birthday at our family camp on Crescent Lake in Raymond, I asked my sister to videotape me walking along our neighbor’s dock inviting filmmakers to Maine and asking Maine citizens to educate themselves in regard to the positive economic and marketing benefits that film tax incentives can bring to every citizen, business and town in Maine.

My sister did a good job with the videotaping but when I got home to download the video the sound and picture quality were terrible. I uploaded it to youtube and forgot about it.

A few days later I received an email from Roy Finch. Roy and his wife Susan Landau Finch own “Wildwell Films” and they produced and directed the independent film “Wake”. Most of the film was shot at Roy, Susie and Roy’s mom’s house in Bath in 2003. The movie starred Gale Harold, Blake Gibbons, Martin Landau and Maine actor John Philbrick.

Somehow, through the pixilated images and crappy sound, Roy understood and liked what I had to say and he offered to shoot and direct a new piece using the same script. I was thrilled to think that someone of Roy’s skill, experience and talent would be willing to invest their time for free to help me produce a professional quality video promoting Maine and film production in Maine.

Roy spent many idyllic summers in Maine on Moosehead Lake as a kid and he has several projects written for Maine that he would love to produce in Maine. He was more than willing to use his equipment, bring in his close friend Joe DiGiorgi to handle the sound, shoot other locations, take photos and collect photos from friends because he wants more films and media production to take place in Maine.

That is the simple point of this post. If we simply take the time to reach out with honesty and enthusiasm to promote an industry that can truly help all Maine citizens live a better life, people will not only take the time to read what we have to say, they will actually come together to collectively deliver a positive, proactive message.

After a few weeks of emails and working on schedules Roy, Joe and I got together twice to shoot. The first time was at Town Landing in Falmouth but there was just too much traffic. The second time we met at Roy’s house and drove over to Merrymeeting Bay where we spent 2 hours on a beautiful Saturday morning shooting the bulk of the video needed for the piece.

I invite you to spend a minute and forty seconds watching the results of our collective efforts at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iGOSJP6wMA

Afterwards, imagine what we all could accomplish, with no cost to the State of Maine, if all the organizations that work to promote Maine like The Maine Chamber, The Maine Tourism Department, The Maine Innkeepers Association etc., got together and had a competition to see who could produce the best youtube video promoting Maine. We could make it a year long competition and the video with the most views would be the winner. If each organization put out a couple of hundred dollars we could even have a cash prize or maybe the winner could earn a part in Roy’s next Maine based film!

Whatever your background is you have a distinct reason for living in or visiting Maine. Don’t be afraid to grab your own video camera and tells us all why you love Maine. I’ll even help you out and stream it from my youtube account at:

www.youtube.com/mainefilm

How a film brought fame to Camden

2008-06-29T15:00:00.001-04:00

Email to Maine Citizens
From: Cameron Bonsey [mailto:cameron@safelawns.org]
Sent: Sunday, June 10, 2007 1:17 PM
To: 'cameron@safelawns.org'
Subject: How a film brought fame to Camden

I read the June 9th Portland Press Herald Article “How a film brought fame to Camden” with great interest. Film and television production in Maine can have a tremendous economic impact and Peyton Place is a perfect “home town” example. 50 years after its release people are still traveling to Camden so see where the film was made. This phenomenon is known as set-jetting and is never accurately calculated into economic figures for film and television production.

I have copied 2 quotes from the article that highlight these points. All of you on my list including legislators, business people, producers, cast members, actors, film commission members and Maine citizens who are concerned with the future of the Maine economy can take a look at the past to see that we should all be coming together to do everything we can to insure that more great films are shot in Maine.

After the movie was released, tourists flocked to Camden in search of the places where "Peyton Place" had been filmed. A half-century later they're still coming, and Camden has pricey real estate and high incomes.

"If there was a seminal event that changed the mind-set of the people here, this was it," Bregy said. "Having a major motion picture made here made people think this must be a unique place."

Maine is a unique place and we need to promote and market it to the best of our combined abilities.

A Downeast Idea

2008-06-29T14:17:00.000-04:00

From: Cameron Bonsey [mailto:cameron@safelawns.org]
Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2007 12:57 PM
To: 'editorial@downeast.com'
Subject: Talk of Maine/Stealing the Show

I read the May 2007 “The Talk of Maine” section of Downeast magazine with great interest. The piece was written by Joshua F. Moore and it was titled “Stealing the Show”. In short, it highlighted past film projects that have been produced in Maine, their positive economic impact, the current film incentives that Maine has in place and how they are not enough to compete with the film incentives that have been passed in other New England states and states across the country.

The current incentives would never have been passed without the immense efforts of citizens outside of the film office and film commission. Barney Martin, an actor and performer from Scarborough Maine, invested hundred’s of hours in research and relationship building with legislators to educate them on the benefits of film production. Without his efforts, and the efforts of other citizens, Maine would be bereft of film incentives.

So here is the sobering and empowering news in regard to film and television production in the state of Maine. It will only get done when individuals, like Mr. Martin, have the belief in Maine, its locations, its people, their creativity and the heart and soul to pull it all together.

Four of those people were mentioned in the “Stealing the Show” article. Stephen King, Richard Russo, Todd Field and Patrick Dempsey have all had a positive impact on Maine television and film production.

Imagine bringing all their talents together under a non-profit designed as a sustainable organization to employ and educate Maine residents in the media production industry. Any profits from any production would be returned to the non-profit to invest in future productions and education.

The first project could bring the intellectual collaboration of Stephen King and Richard Russo, the creativity and directorial talents of Todd Field and the celebrity and acting ability of Patrick Dempsey together in the first production that could be titled, “The Shining Empire Falls”.

With that type of star power, funding for pre-production, production, post production, distribution and marketing would be assured. The goodwill and excitement would be immense and an entity would be born that would continue to grow and help expand and improve the standard of living for citizens throughout the state of Maine.

You may say that I have an imagination bigger that Mr. King’s and Mr. Russo’s combined but I don’t think so. It will just take a bunch of heart, soul and drive……I think I’ll give Mr. Martin a call.

Yours truly,

Cameron Bonsey

Falmouth, Maine

A King Sized Idea

2008-06-29T14:12:00.002-04:00

I've been trying to get this idea off the ground for a few years. I thought you'd appreciate the thought process.

From: Cameron Bonsey [mailto:cameron@safelawns.org]
Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 8:27 AM
To: 'Marsha DeFilippo'; 'Dale Duff'
Subject: Maine Film non-profit

Dear Marsha,

Thank you for the follow up and letting me know that Mr. King has other issues directly before him right now. I am not in a hurry and I want to make sure that I respect Mr. King’s time.

The idea of this non-profit is to set up a sustainable organization to employ and educate Maine residents in the media production industry. Any profits from any production would be returned to the non-profit to invest in future productions and education.

In a recent article in the LA Daily Times by Greg Hernandez and Lisa Friedman it was noted that movie making in the U.S. provides 1.3 million jobs, $60.4 billion in revenue and $10 billion in state and federal taxes. The article starts with the quote, “With filming taking place in almost every state in the U.S….”

The unfortunate part of this story is that Maine is not one of those States. I believe that we can change that.

Because of Stephen King’s success, respect and fame, a non-profit with the rights to one of his stories, and the mission to employ Maine citizens in the theatrical production of said story, would attract the money and talent needed for pre-production, production, post-production, marketing and distribution.

“Horror is the most profitable film genre around. Each new film can almost be guaranteed a large slice of the teenage-boy market, the last demographic devoted to spending Friday nights at the movies,” writes Richard Corliss in an October 2006 article on www.time.com .

A Stephen King story produced in Maine would attract not only the very best talent from Maine (there is a deep pool) but some tremendous, established Hollywood talent with extremely strong ties to Maine.

With an experienced producer and the tremendous goodwill that would develop through this non-profit the movie could be shot inexpensively, by Hollywood standards, and maintain a very high quality.

Mr. King has certainly done more than his share in giving back to the state. By donating the rights to one of his current or future stories to this non-profit he would be helping to establish a new portion of the Maine economy that would continue to grow and help to expand and improve the standard of living for citizens throughout the state of Maine.

At some point, when it is convenient for Mr. King, I would like to meet with him face to face to further explain this concept and hopefully convince him of the value and potential that it represents.

Funding the Maine Film Office, How does Maine Compare?

2008-06-15T17:09:00.006-04:00

On December 29th 2007 I shared the stage at the Bangor Film festival with the Assistant Director of the Maine Film Office, Greg Gadberry. Greg had been invited to speak because of his position in the film office. The brothers who started the film festival, Josh and Seth Gass, had invited me to speak because they had read my blog.

Greg introduced himself by saying “ My name is Greg Gadbury. I am the assistant director of the Maine film office, which is not the smallest division of state government but its real close. There are two of us and a group of volunteers and a budget that would probably embarrass most high school marching bands. Umm..”

I interjected and said “That’s two hundred thousand, right?

Greg responded by saying “That’s …well that’s.. no actually a hundred and ninety seven thousand dollars. Two people and thirty thousand dollars operational funds. That’s a little bit less than some film offices have for marketing alone. So needless to say we’re.. like a lot of things in Maine.. tourism other things.. umm..in terms of funding we’re in the fourties in comparison to other states.”

I have posted this clip on YouTube and I would encourage you to click on the link and listen to it yourself:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=caiMnwhcT5w

As Greg introduced the idea of Maine in comparison to other states it is fair to actually list the budgets of film offices with state populations that are comparable to Maine’s. Here is the list by state, population ranking and population:

Nebraska, 38th, 1,711,263
Idaho, 39th, 1,293,953
Maine, 40th, 1,274,923
New Hampshire, 41st 1,235,986

I contacted each state film office and ask them for their budget information. Here are their responses

Nebraska

From: Laurie
Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2007 12:52 PM
Subject: Re: Maine Film Office

Cameron. Feel fortunate! The Nebraska Film Office budget is $37,000. This includes salary, Locations, Cineposium and our direct marketing post card campaign, sent out 4x year.

Best,
Laurie Richards

Idaho
From: Peg Owens
Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2007 9:52 AM
Subject: RE: Film office size and budget

Hi Cameron,

Our budget is about $200,000 – divided roughly in half for salaries/benefits and marketing. We have two people – actually 1.5 because I manage the film program and several areas in tourism while Kat is dedicated just to the film office.
Peg Owens
Idaho Tourism
Idaho Film Office

New Hampshire

From: Matthew Newton [mailto:mnewton@library.state.nh.us]
Sent: Wednesday, July 18, 2007 8:08 AM
Subject: RE: Film office size and budget

Cameron:

Not sure our data will help you any - my total budget is $100K. I am currently the only employee in the office. Half of my budget is used for salary and benefits. I apply quite a bit of Yankee ingenuity in utilizing the other half for promotion, expenses, etc.

Matthew W. Newton
State of New Hampshire
Film & Television Office
Web: www.nh.gov/film

In regard to population base, it is clear that Maine is at the top in funding its film office. They are also at the top in regard to the percentage of the funding that goes directly to salaries and benefits and at the bottom in regard to percentage of funding used for marketing.

I would like to see Maine at the top in regard to creative use of the funding that is available. Like New Hampshire, let’s use some “Yankee ingenuity” and really start marketing Maine as a film production destination.

“Building Media Leadership in Maine”

2008-05-27T20:31:00.000-04:00

On May 4th I had the honor of being the master of ceremony for the premier of the Maine based Dibacco brothers film “Willows Way”. It was an opportunity to celebrate the film’s international distribution and at the same time celebrate film in Maine.

With a beautiful ballroom at the Wyndam Hotel in South Portland, smelling like movie theater popcorn and a crowd of over 300 enthusiastic attendees, I had the opportunity to talk about the same thing that I write about in this blog. The importance of media, media production and media distribution to the State of Maine, it’s economy, it’s ability to market itself and most importantly the benefit to all Maine citizens.

It also gave me an opportunity to pull out my tuxedo and interact with the crowd instead of sitting behind my computer and writing.

Just before I was about to step out and address the crowd, I listened to the mix of songs that played as the still production photos from “Willows Way” flashed on the screen displaying the moments of laughter, intensity and creativity that are common in the process of most media production. As “We Are Family” slowly faded I nervously stepped to the center of the room in front of the big screen.

I am certainly not a professional emcee and I haven’t received a call from the Screen Actors Guild to host the 2009 Academy Awards. What I do possess is a passion and conviction in my personal belief that media production is good for Maine and we need to do everything in our power to create a culture that attracts and inspires media producers to create their projects within the boundaries of Maine.

So there I was standing in the middle of the banquet room with 300 enthusiastic audience members staring at me waiting to be entertained. As I usually do, I said the first thing that came to my heart and mind, “We are family. That is what it is like to be part of a film crew. You are about to witness the work of a family on the screen behind me. We are also a part of a bigger family that is the film production community in the State of Maine. If you like what you see here today and would like to see it happen again and again in Maine, then I am asking each and every one of you to contact your legislator and your senator and ask them to vote for further film incentives in 2009.” I stopped and held my breath for a moment as the crowd responded with applause.

It is easy to achieve applause and agreement in that situation. In order to actually pass further incentives we will need to improve our structural and individual film industry leadership.

Currently there is a state run and funded film office, an advisory film commission, a non-profit association that was formed in conjunction with the film office in the 90’s called the Maine Film and Video Association and Portland Media Artists, an independent group that shares information with an online forum and meets informally in the Portland area.

If you could take the energy generated by these groups and funnel it into one voice you would generate more power than any group of offshore, wind powered turbines ever could.

It would make sense that the Film Office would be that voice. Unfortunately, the current system and staffing doesn’t allow for that voice to come forward.

When the Blethen newspapers published a misleading article in regard to LD2319, a bill authorizing a tax credit for the Maine based film “Tumbledown”, Barney Martin, a dogmatic film industry advocate, immediately wrote to the film office imploring them to contact the newspaper and request specific corrections. No retraction occurred.

During the legislative process in working on the bill there was no voice from the film office because they simply couldn’t speak .The Baldacci administration had not publicly endorsed or opposed the bill.

Under the current structure, the Film Office cannot advocate for the media industry unless the particular administration that is in place at the time is willing to truly advocate for the media industry. This type of structure does not give the media industry a true voice.

If you visit the Film Office website you’ll find this statement “The film office helps bring film, television and other media projects to Maine; works to expand and improve Maine's in-state production industry; and helps all Maine made media productions succeed.”

“Tumbledown” is a project that wanted to come to Maine, would expand and improve the in-state production industry and could have used the film office’s help in succeeding in those goals.

If we go back to the idea that “We Are Family” then the media industry needs to have a family meeting. As my parents and sisters will tell you I never have a problem presenting my ideas in a family meeting.

If we can put a meeting like this together I’ll be happy to voice my first idea. “Privatize the film office and truly give a focused, passionate and powerful voice to the talented Maine media artists and all citizens of the state of Maine.”

I’ll even wear my tuxedo and pop the popcorn.

The Home Town Discount

2008-04-28T20:34:00.004-04:00

I read April 15th Portland Press Herald article titled “Filmmakers ask state for $800,000” with great interest and great chagrin. The timing of the article, with the state legislature and the senate in the middle of cutting important state programs in order to balance the budget and the misleading title, were frustrating for those of us who believe that media production can have a positive, powerful impact on the State of Maine’s economy and Maine’s ability to market itself in tough economic times.

“Filmmakers offer State $400,000 Home Team Discount “, would have been an appropriate title for the article. Just like my favorite third baseman, Mike Lowell of the Boston Red Sox who signed for 37.5 million over 3 years to play for the Sox instead of 50 million over 4 years to play for the Philly’s, the filmmakers were offering Maine a home team discount.

With film incentives in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island ranging from 25% to 30% the additional cost to investors in the film would increase up to another $400,000 to shoot in Maine. Why would any investor spend another $400,000 on a project when shooting it in Maine doesn’t add any return on investment value?

The answer is simple. Desi Van Til, who wrote the script, titled “Tumbledown”, grew up in Franklin County and the story takes place there. From an emotional and artistically accurate standpoint it is important to her and her husband, Sean Mewshaw, that the film is shot in Maine.

Filmmakers are emotional, passionate people who will sacrifice money for their art and their beliefs. They will go to great lengths to court their investors and then fight like hell to make sure their project is geographically and historically accurate.

In this case Desi and Sean were simply trying to bring the financial numbers close enough so that they would have a shot at success when they made the pitch to their investors to have the film produced in Maine.

Rep. Janet Mills, D-Farmington, sponsored legislation that would reimburse 20% of the film’s expenses.

While the Red Sox felt that they needed to offer Mike Lowell a contract that was 75% of what the Philly’s were offering, Desi and Sean felt that getting Maine’s incentives to 67% of what Connecticut could offer was enough to get their investors to agree to a home town discount.

The bill made it through the legislature with the help of some intense viral marketing and education by film advocate Barney Martin who sent email after email making sure that all the legislators and senators had the best chance to understand what they were voting on.

When the bill went before the senate, Senator Paula Benoit from Phippsburg made an impassioned plea, “The film industry is waiting right on the cusp – they’re right on the edge. They keep coming into the state. They get a little piece of work here or there, but nothing that they can really call a film industry in Maine. And I’m not sure why the film commission wasn’t down here lobbying quite frankly. I’m very disappointed in them. I think they should have been right here working with us on this and helping us understand if this group went to them first, why they were not here working on it with us….and why they were turned away if they did do that. It’s my understanding that they tried to go through the avenues that we have available and they were either not returned their calls, they were ignored…”

Initially the bill passed the senate by a 24 to 9 vote. Sean and Desi momentarily thought they had their shot at bringing “Tumbledown” to Maine. Then the lobbying from Senator Libby Mitchell of Vasselboro began and the bill was brought back to be voted on again. This time it was defeated 21-12.

What brought Mike Lowell Back to the Red Sox was the camaraderie and the leadership provided by the coach and the management.

Right now, as Senator Benoit pointed out in her speech, the film industry has no official leadership in Maine. Until there is true leadership, bills like these will continue to fail and projects that have the potential to impact Maine in an economically uplifting way will continue
to be shot where they can save the most money with Maine having no chance to enjoy “The Home Team Discount.”

Next blog subject: “Building Media Leadership in Maine”

From Republican to Democrat, Maine is ready for “The Next Generation” of Film Incentives

2008-03-16T18:33:00.004-04:00

I watched the January 31st broadcast of the Fox Morning News with great interest. Jonathan Frakes, Cmdr. William Riker on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and a Belfast resident, was being interviewed by Ray Richardson in regard to the potential positive impact that additional film incentives can have on the struggling Maine economy.

During the interview Ted Talbot points out that Ray Richardson endorsed Chandler Woodcock for Governor, Jonathan jokingly stands up like he is going to leave and yells “Are you kidding me?” At the same time Ray points out that Jonathan was raised as an Adlai Stevenson, liberal Democrat. They both laugh and get back to talking about film incentives and how they can have a positive impact on everyone in the State of Maine regardless of your political leanings.

I encourage all of you to follow the link below and watch the 4 part interview. It is interesting, funny and informative:

http://www.myfoxmaine.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=24DE6AC8FB677F12D6855C173984FC5E?contentId=5640198&version=3&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1

Secondly, I have enclosed a link to an interview with Stephen Bowen, of the Maine Heritage Policy Center and a former legislator, who explains the state budgeting difficulty in passing further film incentives and his thoughts that the Film Office and the Department of Economic Commerce and Development are not effective. He feels that the DECD should be completely cut from the state’s budget:

http://www.myfoxmaine.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=022747221791F0E14CA76A3EBE701C74?contentId=5873096&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1

In 2007 one hundred and two film, television and photo projects were produced or partially produced in Maine. None of them were large enough to qualify for our current incentives and they would not be large enough for the potential future incentives that are designed to bring large scale projects to Maine.

If we lose the Film Office and the DECD what will the impact be in attracting these small to mid-level projects?

An interview I did with Scott Paddor from the Scripps show “If These Walls Could Talk” that shot in Maine in 2007, gives us a sense of what the impact would be. “A handful of newspapers and local chambers did play a big role connecting us with the historic homes we filmed,” wrote Scott. “Those include The Bangor Daily News, The Gray Newspaper as well as the Camden Chamber, Freeport Chamber, and Yarmouth Chamber.”

I asked him “Did the Maine Film office assist your efforts and to what degree?” he wrote back, “No, but the newspapers and chambers I mentioned assisted us in finding homes to film.”

As Scott points out, it was the communities and the local businesses that made his project successful. This is an empowering statement because we all can impact the economy in a positive way when it comes to attracting film and television productions.

I encourage each of you to talk to your legislator. I would also be pleased to talk with anyone who would like to get involved in the effort to pass additional film incentives. You can simply email me at cbonsey1@maine.rr.com

If we all work together on “The Next Generation” of film incentives we can have a profound, positive impact on the State of Maine’s economy in the mist of tough economic times.

That is the type of legacy we could be proud of leaving to our children.

Senator Mitchell and One Smart Young Lady help to Promote Maine

2008-01-08T09:39:00.000-05:00

On Sunday night January 6th I sat and did something that 15 million other people around the United States were doing at the same time. I watched an inspiring story about a Maine family that was filmed in Maine.

At the same time that ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition was telling the wonderful story of the Ray-Smith family of Milbridge, Maine, approximately 30 million viewers were also watching CBS’s 60 Minutes as Roger Clemens denied the allegations of steroid use that were part of the Mitchell report prepared by Maine’s legendary Senator, George Mitchell.

A total of 45 million people tuned into two of the three major networks to watch stories that were generated by Maine’s greatest asset…its people.

As I watched Extreme Makeover I was proud of the way that the people of Milbridge and the surrounding communities came together to help in building the Ray-Smith family’s new home. I was impressed by Brittany Ray, her husband Ron Smith, and the way that they have worked together to overcome the enormous challenges that life has thrown at their family over the years.

To me, the biggest star of the show was Brittany and Ron’s 11 year old daughter, Bayley Ray-Smith. Several times during the show Bayley was shown giving her impressions and thoughts on the things that have happen to the family over the years and how the process of getting a new house would impact her and her two autistic brothers. She was articulate, intelligent and thoughtful and it made me think of what a positive light her personality was shining on the entire State of Maine as those 15 million viewers watched.

It also made me think of another articulate, intelligent and thoughtful Mainer whose work was being challenged at the same time on 60 Minutes. George Mitchell may be Maine’s single, most important human asset.

When a group of us were working in 2005 and 2006 to help the Maine Film Office and the Film Commission pass the first round of film incentives, I wrote to Senator Mitchell asking him to endorse the incentives and to write a letter that we could pass along to all state senators and legislators. To my surprise his response was swift and we had the letter in our hands in no time. It became an important piece of the pie in getting the incentives passed.

In May of 2006 during a meeting with the film office and the film commission in which we were discussing ways to promote the newly passed incentives to potential producers who might consider shooting their film in Maine I suggested getting a celebrity, like Senator Mitchell, to shoot a video that could be streamed from the film office website welcoming producers to Maine and would briefly highlight everything that Maine has to offer a production company.

At the time Senator Mitchell was also the Chairman of the Board of the Walt Disney Company. It seemed to make perfect sense to me that he would be a great person to approach for this project. He encompasses everything positive about Maine from honesty and integrity to hard work, creativity, incredible relationships and a great sense of humor. These are attributes that every producer is looking for when producing a film.

Without prior film commission approval I approached Senator Mitchell with a script I had written and again he said yes. When I informed the film commission and the film office that Senator Mitchell had agreed to shoot the piece they turned it down. They felt that streaming the video from their new $20,000 website would be too costly, that the piece would not fit within their larger marketing plan, that there were other people like Paul Newman and Glenn Close that would be a better fit and that potential producers might be confused by Senator Mitchell’s presence because he was an important executive at Disney, a company that hadn’t shot a film in Maine.

Well, I didn’t agree. Having streamed video from websites before I knew the cost would be pennies, I couldn’t understand how it could have a negative impact on any marketing plan and having Senator Mitchell streaming from the film office website would bring more awareness of Maine to the other executives at Disney -- giving us a better shot at getting one of those multimillion dollar Disney projects.

So in October of 2006 I went with my friend, Barney Martin, to pick up Senator Mitchell from a fundraiser in Cape Elizabeth and we brought him to the WSCH studios to shoot the piece. He was exhausted after spending several days in Europe on a business trip. What was amazing to me was that as soon as the cameras started to roll he came alive and simply nailed it.

I gave a dvd to the film office and almost a year and half after shooting the piece it sits on a shelf somewhere at the state offices. So far there is no Glenn Close or Paul Newman video.

So now I have another thought, how about Bayley Ray-Smith welcoming producers to Maine? She certainly is smart enough, hardworking enough and 15 million people around the country are already familiar with her.

I think I’ll give her a call. The worst thing that can happen is that the film office and film commission will say no and I’ll know that I did my best to help promote Maine as a wonderful place, with imaginative, hardworking to people to shoot any film.

A Kingsized Economic Impact

2007-11-28T20:10:00.000-05:00

I went to the movies over the Thanksgiving weekend. My girlfriend wanted to see “Fred Claus” but her son and my kids wanted to see Stephen King's “The Mist” We decided to see “The Mist”. If you are going to pay $8.00 per person to see a movie it might as well partially benefit a Maine legend and natural resource.

We walked in a little late but I could immediately feel my stomach tighten, my blood pressure rise and my pulse quicken. Oh, it wasn’t the suspense and horror of the movie that had me squirming in my seat. It was the thought that Louisiana was being passed off as Maine right before my eyes through movie magic and that the $17,000,000 budget for the movie was sucked out of Maine and blanketed Louisiana like “The Mist” because Louisiana has better incentives and infrastructure for film production.

Because most Stephen King stories are based in Maine I started thinking, “What would the economic impact have been to Maine if every Stephen King movie had been shot here?” After a little research I’ve come to the conclusion that Mr. King is one of the states most important, renewable economic resources.

I found 72 Movies based on Stephen King stories at:http://www.horrorking.com/movies1.html

Of those 72 movies I found the budget estimates for 38 of them. I totaled that the budgets for all 38 films. This came to $605,200,000. I then used that average of $15,926,316 per film to estimate the total budget for the remaining 34. That total came to $541,494,737. Combining both amounts gives us a total budget, for all Stephen King based films, of $1,146,694,737.

You have to kind of stop and catch your breath at this point to be able to think clearly when the numbers get this big, like the protagonist stopping to collect himself in a King movie.

The Association of Film Commissioners International estimates that on a medium sized feature film 1/3 to ½ the budget is directly spent on the local economy. The percentage increases when a state has more facilities and trained professionals to support film production. Maine does not have a sophisticated film infrastructure so I used the lower figure of .33 to estimate that, minus the money from King films that were shot in Maine, the state has missed out on $378,409,263 in direct spending on the Maine economy from Stephen King based films.

As I write this I am imaging people all over the State of Maine reading this information and literally having their heads explode because we have missed out on a huge economic opportunity created from the mind of one man.

Mr. King has done everything he can to help the State of Maine realize its economic potential from film and television production. I hope we can all agree that the state would certainly benefit from this type of economic activity and that the next Stephen King is ready to leave the State of Maine if the economy doesn’t improve.

I think I’ll propose my story idea to Mr. King’s office and maybe we’ll be able to film real Mainers, in Maine with their heads exploding as they read my blog. At least it will be good for the economy!

*Below is a chart of films based on Stephen King stories with there release dates and estimated budgets.

Film Year Budget
The Mist 2007 $17,000,000
1408 2007 $25,000,000
Apt Pupil 1998 $4,300,000
Bag of Bones 2006 Estimated
Boogeyman, The 1995 $20,000,000
Carrie 1976 $1,800,000
Cat's Eye 1985 $6,000,000
Children of the Corn 1984 $3,000,000
Children of the Corn II: 1993 Estimated
Children of the Corn III 1994 Estimated
Children Of The Corn IV: 1996 Estimated
Children Of The Corn V: 1998 Estimated
Children Of The Corn 666: 1999 Estimated
Children Of The Corn: Revelation 2001 Estimated
Christine 1983 $4,000,000
Creepshow 1982 $6,500,000
Creepshow 2 1987 Estimated
Cujo 1983 $5,000,000
Dark Half, The 1993 $15,000,000
Dead Zone, The 1983 $10,000,000
Desperation 2005 $7,500,000
Dolan's Cadillac Estimated
Dolores Claiborne 1994 Estimated
Dreamcatcher 2003 $68,000,000
Firestarter 1984 $15,000,000
Firestarter: Rekindled (Miniseries)2002 $10,000,000
Ghosts 1997 Estimated
Golden Years 1990 Estimated
Green Mile, The 1999 $60,000,000
Hearts in Atlantis 2001 $31,000,000
It 1990 Estimated
Langoliers, The (Shot in Maine) 1995 Estimated
Lawnmower Man, The 1992 $10,000,000
Mangler, The 1995 Estimated
Maximum Overdrive 1986 $10,000,000
Misery 1990 $20,000,000
Needful Things 1993 Estimated
Night Flier 1997 $4,300,000
Paranoid (1990) 1990 Estimated
Paranoid (2001) 2001 Estimated
Pet Sematary (Shot in Maine) 1989 $11,500,000
Pet Sematary II 1992 Estimated
Quicksilver Highway 1997 $4,300,000
Rage, The: Carrie 2 1999 $21,000,000
Return to Salem's Lot 1987 $12,000,000
Revelations of 'Becka Paulson, Th 2000 Estimated
Rose Madder scrapped Estimated
Rose Red 2002 Estimated
Running Man, The 1987 $27,000,000
Secret Window 2004 $40,000,000
Salem's Lot 1979 $4,000,000
Shawshank Redemption, The 1994 $25,000,000
Shining, The 1980 $19,000,000
Shining, The 1997 $23,000,000
Silver Bullet 1985 $7,000,000
Sleepwalkers 1992 Estimated
Sometimes They Come Back 1991 $3,000,000
Sometimes They Come Back.. Again 1996 $3,000,000
Sometimes They Come Back..For More 1998 Estimated
Stand By Me 1986 $8,000,000
Stand, The 1994 Estimated
Storm of the Century 1999 $30,000,000
Strawberry Spring 2001 Estimated
Stud City 2000 Estimated
Tales from the Darkside: The Movie 1990 Estimated
Thinner (Shot in Maine) 1996 $14,000,000
This Is Horror From the Archives
of Stephen King's World Of Horror 1994 Estimated
This Is Horror II From the Archives
of Stephen King's World Of Horror 1994 Estimated
Tommyknockers, The 1993 Estimated
Trucks 1997 Estimated
Woman in the Room, The 1983 Estimated
World of Horror 1989 Estimated
Total of 38 films with budgets $605,200,000
Average Budget $15,926,316
34 Films multiplied by $15,926,316 ave. $541,494,737
Total Budget for all 72 King Films $1,146,694,737
Direct Spend on local economies $378,409,263

A Foster Care System for Maine Film

2007-11-08T08:48:00.000-05:00

Victoria Rowell was born in May of 1959 as a ward of the State of Maine. Her unmarried, aristocratic and mentally ill mother was incapable of taking care of her and her unknown black father was simply not around. This beginning, in and of itself, has been the demise of many children born into the system of state appointed care.

For Vickie it was actually the first of a series of events that on the surface seemed tragic and in the end proved to be lucky turning points that would ultimately converge to enrich her life in a way that very few of us are fortunate to experience.

Today at 48, Victoria Rowell is an award winning actress and author who credits the deep love and commitment of the foster women who raised her for building her self-esteem, so that she could not only tolerate her foster care life, but revel in it and excel because of it.

As I spoke with Victoria in November of 2007 it was clear that, even over the phone, I was talking to a passionate, intelligent woman with great focus that has a deep drive to tell her life story so that other children in the same situation can dream and believe in themselves.

The promotional tour for her award winning book “The Women Who Raised Me” has kept her on the road for almost 200 days since the book’s release in April of 2007. The results have been amazing as over 100,000 copies have been sold. “The Women Who Raised Me” is also published in Japan, France, the United Kingdom, Germany and Austria and a paperback version set for release in the spring of 2008 guarantee that her inspirational story will be told again and again around the globe.

Home Box Office is currently considering the book to option the movie rights.

Sounds like this would be a great movie to shoot in Maine, hire Maine people and tell a wonderful Maine story. Unfortunately, as much as Victoria would love to see that happen, she will have little control over where the film is shot. If HBO chooses to option the story they will have complete control over where the film is shot and the construction of the story.

Because Maine can be replicated through movie magic in states that have passed deeper incentives, even Victoria’s drive and passion to have the potential film shot in Maine will have a limited impact.

When Victoria was born a group of concerned citizens came together over the course of her life to advocate for her. Today there is a group of Maine citizens advocating for the film industry in Maine and ultimately for Victoria and her story. They are negotiating for additional film incentives so that we can ensure that beautiful, empowering stories like “The Women Who Raised Me” can be filmed over and over again in Maine, employing Maine citizens in well paying jobs and branding Maine as the wonderful place that it is to live and raise a family.

I would challenge you to purchase of copy of “The Women Who Raised Me”, read it and ask yourself if this story embodies the independent and supportive spirit of Maine people. Then think about what a tragedy it would be if the film version is shot in another state. Hopefully, this process will prompt you to call or write your state senator and legislator encouraging them to vote for additional film incentives.

If we all chip in we can accomplish the same thing that Victoria Rowell’s foster parents accomplished with their love and devotion to Victoria.

We can all become the foster parents of film in Maine and help to build the self- esteem and economic stability of every citizen in Maine.

Maine Needs an Extreme Makeover!

2007-09-28T14:48:00.000-04:00

Daisy Wight received the call out of the blue. The gentleman on the other end asked all kinds of questions in regard to Broughman Builders and their capabilities. Daisy thought it was just another sales call with someone trying to sell her some type of service.

The gentleman at the other end of phone was the Associate Producer of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”, and when he finally informed Daisy who he was she almost fell over. Come to find out he already knew a lot about Broughman Builders and their reputation for quality construction and great work ethic. He knew from his research that Broughman Builders was the right company to help bring a community together to rebuild a home for a deserving family, in less than a week.

The Associate Producer let Daisy know that she had 24 hours to make the phone calls and decide whether or not to get involved with the project. Daisy knew when she hung up the phone that she and her husband, Mike, wanted to get involved and 4 hours later she had made the contacts with her friends, business associates, suppliers and business competitors. They were all ready and willing to donate their time, knowledge and product to make the next “Extreme Make Over: Home Edition.”

Here is the beauty of film and television production. Motivated, caring people are brought together for a short period of time, with each taking on a specific task. Each of them is dependent on the other to complete their task and the timeline is short and intense. On a well run production the result is great bonding and camaraderie. That is exactly what happened with “Extreme Make Over: Home Edition”

The Ray-Smith family of Milbridge received a direct benefit when “Extreme Maker: Home Edition” chose their family to receive a new home. The entire State of Maine will receive a less direct but still powerful benefit, worth more than the $700,000 the new Ray-Smith home is valued at, when the show airs on ABC later this year. The State could never budget for this type of marketing.

I believe that reaching out and solidifying relationships with producers who have shot in Maine is integral to Maine’s future media production success. So, I did a little research and found the contact information for Diane Korman, the Senior Producer for “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”

Diane was kind enough to respond to the questions I asked. Her answers were terrific and hopefully, they will help us to understand how we can bring more productions to Maine and help to build another sustainable portion of the Maine economy.

What did you enjoy most about producing a show in Maine?

Meeting the community and joining with them to recognize a local hero was the best part of producing Extreme Makeover: Home Edition in Maine.

Everyday neighbors worked together, sacrificing their time to help a stranger. Like Cary Weston of Sutherland Weston, who didn’t sleep for a week to help with both media and pr and project manage the build. It is that kind of dedication that makes this show possible.

Were you able to find and access the necessary local help to produce the show?

Over 850 volunteers came out to help make this project possible. The Chamber of Commerce provided invaluable help in bringing the local resources together. For example, Wal-mart provided 8 pallets of water, gave $8,500 in designer gift cards, and stocked the house full of groceries

Would you, as a producer of any show or film, come back to Maine to shoot again? Why or Why not?

The Ray-Smith show marks our second time shooting in Maine, and if this show is picked-up for a sixth season, we certainly would come back to help another deserving family.

Did the Maine Film office assist your efforts and to what degree?

Because we were shooting on private property we did not require much assistance from the film office. However, they did provide us with excellent iconic locations to shoot the EMHE Bus driving by like the scenic lighthouses.

Will the show qualify for Maine’s current incentives and does your production look at the incentives each state offers in making a decision in regard to shooting in a particular state based on the incentives they offer?

Unlike most film shoots, our TV show follows the nomination of deserving families, and secondly looks at locations and the obstacles or incentives they provide.

In your opinion what is the best thing that the State of Maine can do to attract more film and television production in the future?

In traveling the 50 States, I have seen many types of incentives to attract Hollywood productions and I believe an aggressive economic development policy, which provides security, first-responders and user-friendly permitting is the key to attracting more entertainment business to the state of Maine.

Economic Inspiration

2007-09-12T14:39:00.000-04:00

Maine offers many great opportunities and a wonderful setting for raising a family.
Unfortunately, Maine has not developed into a great setting for economic opportunities. I am hoping that this blog can become a part of helping to create change that will improve the economic environment in Maine.

Film and television production can become a clean, sustainable and consistent part of the Maine economy. As evidence of this we only have to look to our brethren New England States.

Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut all have passed film production incentive plans that are among the most progressive in the United States and 2.5 to 3 times more than the incentives that Maine passed in the spring of 2006.

Those states are reaping millions in economic reward. Just to back this statement up, here is a link to a recent article on Massachusetts and its new incentive plan: http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2007/07/21/hollywood_will_be_makin_it_in_massachusetts/

There will be people who argue that additional film incentives will cost the state money. The simple fact is that money from film production that comes into the state ignites the economy first before any money is returned to the film project. If no films come to Maine to shoot we haven’t lost a penny. If we do not have additional incentives, Maine will lose out on most of the possible film projects that express interest in shooting here because even though Maine has some incredible, distinct locations, they can be replicated or faked through movie magic in states with the best incentives.

Any feature film we do get will come when someone like Richard Russo (Empire Falls) or Todd Field (In the Bedroom) who has a deep commitment to Maine, reaches down and fights to bring the film project here. Thank you to both of you.

I think we all can understand the immediate positive economic impact of film production relating to employment and sales of goods, lodging and food. The magic of film is how it keeps giving back to the economy long after the production crew has left town.

50 years ago Peyton Place was shot in Camden. In the June 9th Portland Press Herald there was article celebrating the 50th anniversary. It contained the following quotes:

"After the movie was released, tourists flocked to Camden in search of the places where "Peyton Place" had been filmed. A half-century later they're still coming, and Camden has pricey real estate and high incomes.

"If there was a seminal event that changed the mind-set of the people here, this was it," Bregy said. "Having a major motion picture made here made people think this must be a unique place."

There are still people coming to Camden because Peyton place was shot there.

The most recent feature film shot in Maine was the award winning Empire Falls.

Kerry Pomelow , who purchased the “Empire Grill” in Skowhegan with her business partner Tom Miller after the film was shot, says that she estimates that 30% of her overall business comes from people curious about the grill because they saw the movie “Empire Falls”.

These are real, down home Maine examples of economic development because of film production. There are hundreds of these same examples from these two great films and from other films that have shot in Maine. The true, positive economic impact can’t be accurately calculated because the information can’t be tracked but the results are real and they escalate into millions of dollars that Maine never would have seen if those films did not shoot here.

Every citizen in Maine will benefit if we are able to pass the additional film incentives and bring more film production to Maine.

In the meantime we need to reach out to Maine’s in-state residents and invite them to get involved. At the same time we need to aggressively market Maine as a beautiful state to live and produce movies in.

That is the simple point of this blog. I invite you to post your opinion and please invite your friends. We can make great things happen!