FuelFilm

As someone who knows the importance of fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in our beloved Memphis, I'm posting as we close out the year to ask for your support to expand Start Co.'s impact in the Memphis community in 2024.

Why does Start Co. matter?

We are more than just an organization; we are the architects of Memphis' future. We empower local organizations, entrepreneurs, and innovators and help transform our community with jobs, economic growth, and a culture of innovation in Memphis. We work tirelessly to ensure a brighter future for all.

But, we can't do it alone. Your support is invaluable. Head here to easily contribute:

Join Me in Shaping Memphis' Future A Campaign for Enhancing the Work of Start Co. in 2024

Hey check out Memphis filmmaker Torrean Johnson's new film project and consider supporting a LOCAL MEMPHIS filmmaker!

Click the link to support and share an upcoming short film about a father that is contemplating ways to talk to his 15-year-old daughter about a s*x life that he didn’t know she! Help us reach our $15k goal! bit.ly/3Id24Of


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TONIGHT! TONIGHT! TONIGHT! Write Club (WC) is excited to announce Charlene Little as our November guest writer! Join us Wednesday, November 10th at 6:15 pm for the reading of Charlene’s screenplay “Bitchin.”

Logline: When a perfectionist college student discovers her werewolf roots, she must embrace her gruesome faults to pursue self-acceptance.

Reserve online seating at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/write-club-november-table-read-feat-charlene-little-tickets-202220094747

TONIGHT! TONIGHT! TONIGHT! Write Club (WC) is excited to announce Charlene Little as our November guest writer!

Join us Wednesday, November 10th at 6:15 pm for the reading of Charlene’s screenplay “Bitchin.”

Logline: When a perfectionist college student discovers her werewolf roots, she must embrace her gruesome faults to pursue self-acceptance.

Reserve online seating at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/write-club-november-table-read-feat-charlene-little-tickets-202220094747

From our friends at the TEA and Film Com:
LEGISLATIVE SUCCESS – TN ENTERTAINMENT BILL

In case you have not already heard from local sources, as of this morning HB0141/SB0736 has successfully passed both the Senate and House floors. The bill will now make its way to Governor Lee’s desk to be signed into law. Since this is Governor Lee’s bill, he is expected to sign it.

The law will go into effect July 1st, 2021 and will be managed and administered by the Tennessee Entertainment Commission, Department of Economic and Community Development and the Department of Revenue -- many thanks to them for the initiative and all the work on this bill.

This legislation adds an additional resource to attract multimedia productions and projects to the State of Tennessee. Specifically, the bill creates a point-of-purchase sales and use tax exemption on the purchase of tangible personal property and taxable services used in qualified productions, as well as a franchise and excise tax credit of up to 50% of all labor and talent expenditures. This bill will directly impact Features, Episodic Television (Scripted & Non-Scripted), Animation, Video Game Development, Audio + Visual Post-Production/VFX & Media Music Scoring being done throughout the State.

Details of the bill can be viewed athttps://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/112/Bill/HB0141.pdf

The passing of the TN Entertainment Bill affirms that legislative actions that impact the advancement of our State’s entertainment industry and creative class are important to Tennesseans statewide.

YOUR FINAL SUPPORT:

It is important that Tennesseeans in all aspects of our industry take a few minutes to email their legislator and thank them for their support. You can use this link https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/Apps/fmlv3/districts.aspx to find your legislator – just enter your zip code.

Also, please send a special thanks to the bill sponsors and committee chairpersons [listed below] who supported and carried this bill for the entertainment industry through the General Assembly. Your communications can be as simple as putting in the subject heading “Thank you for supporting TN entertainment jobs and voting for HB0141/SB0736” -- this appreciation will also be beneficial for future bills impacting our industry in upcoming legislative sessions:

o Leader Sen. Jack Johnson [email protected]
o Leader Rep. William Lamberth [email protected]
o Rep. Ryan Williams [email protected]
o Rep. Ron Gant [email protected]
o Rep. Debra Moody [email protected]
o Rep. John Gillespie [email protected]
o Rep. Terri Weaver [email protected]
o Rep. John Ray Clemmons [email protected]
o Rep. Patsy Hazelwood [email protected]
o Rep. Karen Camper [email protected]
o Sen. Bo Watson [email protected]
o Rep. Scott Cepicky [email protected]
o Rep. Darren Jernigan [email protected]
o Sen. Jeff Yarbro [email protected]


Well done to one and all, Tennessee.

District Maps - TN General Assembly

Updates:

Your letters from counties across the state of Tennessee have made a critical difference in both the House and Senate for HB0141/SB0736, supporting Features, Episodic Television (scripted & non-scripted), Music Scoring, Animation, Video Game Development, Postproduction and VFX.

Following yesterday’s 87-1 favorable House vote, this morning the bill got 11-0 support in the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee. There will be a full floor vote in the Senate next week. Support for the legislation is already strong in the Senate, so waiting on determination as to the most appropriate nature of letters that might be sent.

Stay tuned.

Filmmaker and actors! As promised, here's a map of current film incentives by state and a link to a guide to more info!

Please stay alert for more news concerning new legislative efforts to get more film incentives passed for Tennessee!

https://www.castandcrew.com/solutions/accounting-financial/incentives-map/

Tennessee Production Incentives - IN DANGER - PLEASE TAKE ACTION!!!

Your immediate statewide help is needed to communicate with three key House legislators whose critical support we need on the House floor this evening, as early as 5pm, when the full House votes on the current bill to support creation of jobs and business opportunities in Features, Episodic Television, Music Scoring, Animation, Video Game Development, Post-Production and VFX.

Please Support Tennessee Entertainment Jobs by voting for HB0141/SB0736
*****************************************************************
Please email the following state reps:

[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

Please put this in your subject line:

"Please Support Tennessee Entertainment Jobs by voting for HB0141/SB0736"

Please send an email to the above state reps.
EXAMPLE Template:

Dear Representatives,

As a producer/filmmaker in the entertainment industry in TN,
I respectfully request your support for HB0141/SB0736. HB0141/SB0736 will create a sales tax exemption and tax credit for qualified film/TV productions, audio + visual post production activities as well as video game development and animation, with support from Governor Lee’s Office, the TN Department of Economic and Community Development (ECD), and the TN Entertainment Commission. I believe this bill will add significant value to the entertainment industry across Tennessee.

(Include your personal & professional experience here)

Tennessee maintains a unique and competitive advantage with a strong workforce and significant vendor & talent resources. We’re also one of a few states that have an established creative class that is globally recognized. Tennessee’s entertainment sector employs thousands of Tennesseans living in 62+ counties throughout the State with High Quality Jobs. These are trade jobs that have transferable skills and support thousands of small businesses Statewide.Thank you for your service to the people of Tennessee and support of HB0141/SB0736.

Thank you!

Filmmaker and actors! As promised, here's a map of current film incentives by state and a link to a guide to more info!

Please stay alert for more news concerning new legislative efforts to get more film incentives passed for Tennessee!

https://www.castandcrew.com/solutions/accounting-financial/incentives-map/

Write Club (WC) is excited to announce Bri Williams as our February guest writer! Join us Wednesday, February 10th at 6:15 pm for the reading of Bri Williams' short screenplay, Late One Night.

For details, visit: http://bit.ly/3nR9KeL
For an invite, visit: http://bit.ly/35PWssX

Write Club (WC) is excited to announce Bri Williams as our February guest writer! Join us Wednesday, February 10th at 6:15 pm for the reading of Bri Williams' short screenplay, One Late Night.

For details, visit: http://bit.ly/3nR9KeL
For an invite, visit: http://bit.ly/35PWssX

From Memphis filmmaker Jim Weter!

And now the news you've all been waiting for: We our proud to announce that our film The Last Earth Girl will be coming to Amazon Prime on Dec. 26th!!!
It's been a long road and we've had to deal with one of the hardest years for film festivals this past year, but despite it all, we've made it and won a few awards along the way!
Huge thanks to everyone involved on the film from the cast and crew to all the supporters who came together to help us finish it!
We'll also have BD and DVD versions of the film available soon but don't have an exact date on those yet.
Plus this next week, we'll be sending out the winter edition of our filmmaking newsletter! In it, I'll be showing off the BD and DVD cover designs as I have them now, talking about how you can help get the word out about the film, and sharing news about our future projects. If you haven't signed up yet, visit our site at:
www.cellardoorcinema.com

www.cellardoorcinema.com

Starting To-DAY! Hosted by a good friend and colleague, register and participate in this FREE and informative summit!
Join New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT) for their second annual Creative Workforce Summit: Documentary Makers, Industry and Funders in Conversation, October 20-23rd from 4-6 PM EST.
This four-day free virtual program consists of keynote speakers, panels, and film screenings, and will bring together some of the most unique and diverse voices of women working in the entertainment industry to establish forward-moving strategies to create change and mobilize support and leadership for the future. Keynotes by Abigail Disney, Marcia Smith, Laverne Berry, and Sheila Nevins – plus renowned journalists and panelists in conversation.
Topics include:
Documenting the Vote
Unionizing Nonfiction Labor
Authorship: Our stories, directed, produced and written by us (women + BIPOC creators)
Executive Function (funders and decision makers)
Register now at www.nywift.org/summit
The NYWIFT Summit takes place with support provided by the Ford Foundation and the NEA Foundation as well as a curated film screening and panel series produced in partnership with International Documentary Association.

2020 NYWIFT Creative Workforce Documentary Summit   Join NYWIFT for our second annual Creative Workforce Summit: Documentary Makers, Industry and Funders in Conversation. This four-day free virtual program consists of keynote speakers, panels, and film screenings, and will bring together some of the most unique and...

Registered yet? Film-Com is right around the corner!
Make plans to attend and participate! Saturday, October 10th, 2020

*Nine Days of film & television industry events!
*Eleven Incubator Awards given!
*Over eighty (80+) industry professionals with pragmatic, professional insight to share with YOU!

Saturday, October 10th - through Saturday 18th , 2020
> volunteer-p💙wered, industry approved!
http://Filmolution2020.com / http://Film-Com.com

Film-Com | No Zoo - Just Business Film-Com is a MUST for any serious filmmaker seeking funding or distribution. Film-Com puts you face to face with the industry’s movers and shakers. It was our first time giving an “official pitch” to a room full of industry execs and we had interest from a major studio before we were even don...

COMING SOON!!! Saturday, October 10th, 2020
Nine Days of film & television industry events! Eleven Incubator Awards given! And over eighty (80+) industry professionals with pragmatic, professional insight to share with YOU!

Begins Saturday, October 10th - through Saturday 18th , 2020
> volunteer-p💙wered, industry approved!
http://Filmolution2020.com / http://Film-Com.com

Film-Com | No Zoo - Just Business Film-Com is a MUST for any serious filmmaker seeking funding or distribution. Film-Com puts you face to face with the industry’s movers and shakers. It was our first time giving an “official pitch” to a room full of industry execs and we had interest from a major studio before we were even don...

From our friends at Write Club Memphis!

Meet our July guest writer: Timberly Hope.

Timberly Hope is an accomplished writer who was first published at the age of 12. She started with poems, inspired by her mother's writings, and moved into news and commercials while at the University of Memphis earning a degree in journalism. Hope began writing for the city's largest daily paper in her senior year and became a full-time reporter after graduation. When she left the news industry, she decided to return to her first love--acting. Timberly was thrust onto the stage as an infant and built a solid theatre resume through college. Recognizing a lack diversity in the industry, she started writing stories she felt weren't included in Hollywood's traditional landscape. She wrote, produced, directed and starred in her first stage play "Darling" in November 2018. She previously brought her short film scripts “Waiting" and “Talk Too Much” to Write Club and is excited for readers to experience “Fox Meadows.”

Join Write Club this Wednesday, July 22nd at 6:30 PM for Timberly's Zoom guest writer event. For those interested in attending, email us at [email protected]

From our friends at Api Photographers Inc.
Today Friday, June 12th from 10 til 2 & Saturday June 13th from 9 til 4, API will have everything from gels, backdrops & props to old photographic/film/video hardware & accessories for sale – just wear a mask & make an offer. We’re clearing the place out – too much stuff! But, you might find some things you need or like whether for use or for décor! Come on by & take a look! And, PLEASE share with anyone you think might have an interest.

API photographers, Inc.
3111 Stonebrook Circle
Memphis, TN 38116

(901) 396-8650 office
(901) 396-2288 fax

http://apicine.com

Memphis video production company | Memphis videographers, film, producers Memphis video production company - videographers, soundstage studio, green screen studio rental and video services for corporate, marketing, website, training videos & trade shows.

Our 'one from the vaults' recommendation:
Edge of Darkness
After two years under German rule, a small Norwegian fishing village rises up and revolts against the occupying N***s.

Director: Lewis Milestone
Writers: Robert Rossen (screenplay), William Woods (novel)
Stars: Errol Flynn, Ann Sheridan, Walter Huston |

https://youtu.be/PwthE7g9FW0

Edge of Darkness (1943) Trailer http://thedukemitchell.uk/ for more weird videos plus strange film nights in London. VHS trailer for the 1943 World War 2 thriller Edge Of Darkness, directed...

You don't even have to have a Big Kahuna burger, but I wouldn't ask him about where he got his watch! Quentin Tarantino reviews some of his favorite films.

Tarantino is Writing Reviews of Some of His Favorite Films (and They're Glorious) Quentin Tarantino always has strong opinions. And he's releasing them online.

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.

---Winston Churchill

https://youtu.be/y9DNl9QD0fQ

Dunkirk Darkest Hour Fan Edit - "We Shall Fight" (Finest Hour) This is the ending of Finest Hour, a fan edit/supercut of Dunkirk and Darkest Hour. I combined Winston Churchill's "we shall fight" speech with the ending of...

Be a HERO! Wash YOUR HANDS! Check on your neighbors, offer to a kind word, stay in touch via phone, text and messenger!

Superman • Main Theme • John Williams https://youtu.be/78N2SP6JFaI

Superman • Main Theme • John Williams Soundtrack/theme music from the 1978 Richard Donner film "Superman" with Christopher Reeve, Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, Ned Beatty, Margot Kidder, Valerie P...

‪The film industry responds to the Covid-19 crisis! Costume Designers Guild Sewing Masks for Health Care Facilities https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behind-screen/costume-designers-guild-sewing-masks-health-care-facilities-1285811 ‬

Costume Designers Guild Sewing Masks for Health Care Facilities The initiative addresses the enormous shortage of protective gear that doctors and nurses rely upon as they treat individuals with coronavirus symptoms.

From our friends at the TEA: TN Entertainment Alliance / TEA Bulletin 2/18/2020

SUBJECT
LETTERS TO GOVERNOR'S ADMINISTRATION

Statewide Advocacy Campaign for Film, Television and Entertainment Industries - 2020 TN legislative Session

CONTEXT
This budget cycle, Governor Lee has [thus far] called for an additional $2 million on top of the recurring $2 million administered by the TN Entertainment Commission, or $4 million total.

The current letter-writing push is for professionals in all aspects of the business across the State of TN to let the Governor's key Administration personnel understand the importance of restoring annual incentives to the previous annual average of $8-to-10 million, which will provide substantially more leverage for the TN Entertainment Commission to bring more television series, feature film projects and related music opportunities to all corners of the state. There are other letter-writing campaigns occurring this year from different parts of the State, so if you’ve already done so, great. If not, here are details re current letter campaign:

YOUR LETTER TO GOVERNOR'S ADMINISTRATION
At bottom of this page are e-dresses to whom letters should be sent [there are only several e-dresses, so simpler than to legislators]. While it may be easier to e-mail an entire group at one time, that can look like a form of spam -- it's much more effective to e-mail one Administration person one at a time.

As in past years with TEA letter campaigns, below is basic recommended structure [with updated info] for letters -- by all means, make unique to your voice:

> Subject Line: Please Support TN Film, Television & Entertainment Industries
> Header inside body of text:
Please Support Increased Funding for TN Film, Television, Music & Entertainment Business in East, West and Middle Tennessee
> Intro yourself, profession, how this work supports your family, and whatever else you feel is important -- personalize it
> Key points of logic that can be included:
* There are over 17,000 professionals working in the entertainment industry in the State of Tennessee – these are high quality jobs, many with skill sets that are applicable or transferable to other industries
* The entertainment industry support thousands of small businesses, impacting 62 counties statewide, both for individuals and vendors
* Those working in the Tennessee entertainment industry have families, house payments, kids to send to college, and are trying to earn a livable wage like any Tennessean working in any other sector -- many other industries have received state incentives
* There are over 50 higher education programs related to entertainment across the State of Tennessee, largely subsidized by TN parents, and in many cases by the State, itself, regarding vocational training – but if there is a lack of work for many of these students once they graduate, they are forced to take the education and skills that we have paid for and move to another state – so if there are insufficient businesses opportunities, we are using our money to fund our future professionals to take their expertise to competing states
* The entertainment industries drive huge tourism dollars to the State of Tennessee -- imagine what TN tourism would be WITHOUT entertainment
* Tourism-driving projects yield tourist sales tax revenues back to the State of TN that are larger than the cost of the incentives needed to make those projects happen – i.e., the entertainment projects more than pay for themselves from the point of view of State cash flow
* The projects also generate sales tax revenues back to the State of TN from purchase of goods and services while the projects are in production
* Those employed by the projects ultimately pay sales tax revenues on goods and services they buy throughout the year as residents of the State of TN, as a result of earnings from those projects
* Our industries help drive the Tennessee Hospitality and Tourism industry, which employs 189,000 people across the state, generates $22 billion in annual economic impact, and most significantly yields over $1.8 billion in tax revenues back to the state's coffers, i.e. our entertainment industries have been Paying It Forward for decades to build the Hospitality and Tourism industries, long before film incentives ever existed, and if we're helping to generate over $1.8 billion per year in Hospitality and Tourism tax revenues that can be used by the State to fund any area, then our industries certainly warrant increased, recurring support from the State of Tennessee
* The most effective period in the history of Tennessee Film, Television and Entertainment was when our state had $8-to-10 million annually for the purposes of recruiting and developing projects for long-term, sustainable employment of Tennesseans and long-term growth of businesses ancillary to film and television
* Television series provide steady employment for many Tennesseans and positively impact ancillary businesses for years -- make clear that producers of any prospective new television series often require assurances of 4 to 5 years of support from any state in order to bring those series to that state, and such assurances are not possible unless the available incentives are both substantial enough and recurring, i.e. sustainable for the duration of the series
> As always, in tone be appreciative of the Governor's and Administration’s support for our industries.

Here's who to send your letter to, and please send one at a time, rather than cc'ing them all on the same letter:

Stuart McWhorter, Commissioner Finance & Administration - [email protected]

Butch Eley, Chief Operating Officer - [email protected]

Lang Wiseman, Deputy to the Governor - [email protected]

Blake Harris, Chief of Staff - [email protected]

Bob Rolfe, Commissioner TN ECD - [email protected]

Bob Raines, Executive Director TN Entertainment Commission - [email protected]

Brandon Gibson, Senior Advisor - [email protected]

Chris Walker, Director of Communications - [email protected]

Tony Niknejad, Senior Policy Director - [email protected]

NOTE 1: The Tennessee Entertainment Alliance is working in parallel with other entertainment entities around the state that may also have letter-writing initiatives, where there is bound to be some cross-over. Cross-over does not matter. The only thing that matters is that we write letters during key phases of the legislative session in support of increased incentives to be administered by the Tennessee Entertainment Commission on behalf of our collective industries.

NOTE 2: Source for Hospitality and Tourism data -- 2019 Annual Report / Research highlights at https://industry.tnvacation.com/industry/research

Stay tuned for further TEA-blasts and updates.

http://tennesseeentertainmentalliance.org/

* * * Support your state & local entertainment commissions, organizations, schools, festivals, companies, professionals and aspiring independents. * * *

Research | Tennessee Vacation Industry

From our friends at Oxford Film Festival: For Martin Luther King Jr Day, the Oxford Film Festival and Southern Foodways Alliance will host a free screening from 2-4 pm at the Powerhouse.

The films include two films from the Counter Histories series at SFA as well as the community screening of "Moving Spirits: History of the Enslaved & Civil Rights: Through Movement, Dance & Song" by Jennifer Mizenko and Rhondalyn Peairs. The series, set for Monday, January 20, will be free to everyone. Concessions will be available for purchase. A Q&A with the filmmakers will also occur after the films.

About Counter Histories: The series profiles the lunch counter sit-ins of the 1960s, connects the protests and demonstrations of today and yesterday, and equips viewers to ask questions about the role of civil disobedience in the face of systemic racism and injustice.

Nashville -- Wyatt Williams and Dustin Chambers

Jackson -- Kate Medley and Mimi Schiffman

https://oxffyearly.eventive.org/schedule/5e18a7fdbbeb930182f1ab92?utm_source=sendinblue&utm_campaign=January_2020_ENews&utm_medium=email

MLK Day Screening Series For Martin Luther King Jr Day, the Oxford Film Festival and Southern Foodways Alliance will host a free screening from 2-4 pm at the Powerhouse. The films include two films from the Counter Histories series at SFA as well as the community screening of "Moving Spirits: History of the Enslaved & Civil...

Filmmaker and actors! As promised, here's a map of current film incentives by state and a link to a guide to more info!

Please stay alert for more news concerning new legislative efforts to get more film incentives passed for Tennessee!

https://www.castandcrew.com/solutions/accounting-financial/incentives-map/