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September 29, 2005
City Plans to Create Filmmakers Commission
From today's Times Free Press
by Herman Wang Staff Writer
Chattanooga is a long way from Hollywood, but local officials are hoping to bring some Tinseltown to the Scenic City.
Mayor Ron Littlefield said Wednesday the city is establishing a film commission to foster area talent and provide assistance to filmmakers looking to shoot movies and television shows here. The film commission will be a collaboration with the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce and the Chattanooga Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.
"We realize we’re not going to be Hollywood, but we do have some things to offer," Mr. Littlefield said. "We’re coming at it from the angle that we’re going to have fun with this, even though we’re probably not going to have a huge film industry here."
Officials said volunteers will staff the commission.
The mayor said proposals to establish a local film commission have been considered on and off since the 1980s. He hopes to get the commission up and running by January.
Besides the state Film, Music and Entertainment Commission, two other film commissions exist in Tennessee: the East Tennessee Film Commission based in Knoxville and the Shelby County Film Commission in Memphis.
"Considering the city’s location for films, I think it’s a good idea," Mr. Littlefield said. "We have people in our arts community who are more connected with the film industry now."
The city’s Education, Arts and Culture Department will oversee the local film commission. To start with, the board will be given an office and a Web site, said department administrator Missy Crutchfield, who has film and television experience.
The commission eventually may help organize film festivals, she said.
"Chattanooga’s just such a wonderful city for filming, and for people who are considering locations here, we want to have a place to find information and contacts," Ms. Crutchfield said.
Rex Knowles, executive director of the theatre program at Chattanooga State Technical Community College, said he welcomes the creation of the film commission.
"I think it’s well worth the energy to investigate the possibility," Mr. Knowles said. "Can you earn a living only by doing film in Chattanooga? No, you can’t, but there are jobs here. The commission would help maximize that possibility. It’d be great to have a list of loca- tions, crews, talent, available actors and then get the word out to say, ‘Hey, this is what we’re doing here.’" The move comes as the Tennessee Film Advisory Committee explores the possibility of augmenting the state’s tax incentive program to filmmakers. The committee held the second of three public meetings on the issue in Nashville on Wednesday.
Committee members and industry officials have said greater tax breaks are needed to help the state compete in attracting feature films and television shows. The next public meeting is Oct. 12 in Memphis.
Thoughts, anyone?
News | By colrus | 09:14 AM
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Comments
It's good news, but I hope everyone realizes that there will be [understatement] steep competition [/understatement] from places like Vancouver, BC -- or even New Delhi.
What are Chattanooga's niche opportunities?
Posted by: joe public at September 29, 2005 10:17 AM
I want to start a group dedicated to "bring everyone together" in the local filmmaking community too. Maybe they should have searched the web for "chattanooga+film." Anyhoo, maybe something positive will come from it, who knows..
Posted by: cmwillis at September 30, 2005 10:48 AM
