Thank you Delegate Reid and Esteemed Committee Members for this opportunity to speak as an IATSE 487 Union member and as a Virginia Crew Member.
I have been able to work on over 18 productions here in Virginia in the last 14 years. The enormous roster of local, small businesses that have provided exemplary services, equipment and goods to the film industry rivals any larger film hub.
Working as a Coordinator in the Art Department, I have formed relationships with over half of the 1400 + vendors needed for a show. They stay late, come in early and will do anything they can to ensure our shooting day runs smoothly. In essence, they make the Commonwealth Film Crew look good. In return, we make sure to spend as much money with them as possible. As a Virginian filmmaker, born and bred, I understand that the production company arrives here with the money and that my job is to ensure that the bulk of that budget stays in the state.
We have cultivated services that were only available in LA and NY and now have print shops that can photograph and print 16'x30' backdrops. We contract a craftsman in Powhatan who specializes in 3D printing, CNC routing and sculptures from styrofoam. We have a female, minority owned printshop that embroiders and silkscreens costumes and props.
To build sets we use over 3 separate lumber mills. Graphics and signage? We tap 5 local businesses to accomplish just one show. The Set Decorating department hits every backroad and antiques mall from Bristol to Fredericksburg, the Eastern shore and back. Our Propmaster relies on local food vendors for camera ready meals, custom jewelry pieces and historical collections.
While filming on location, the prep and shooting crews work 12-16 hour days. In this time, they break at local coffee shops, enjoy restaurants, and shop in various independently owned businesses.
Anecdotally, I can share the stories of companies on the verge of bankruptcy that were revived by Lincoln. Swagger and Atlantis helping a company expand 2x their size. Their employees, 4 out of 5 of them, purchasing their 1st home with the proceeds of the 200% boost in workload.
Ultimately, the economic impacts for Small Businesses are :
The dollars spent by the crew to create the world and then to film that world
The dollars spent by cast and out of town crew in food, lodging, tourism
(businesses frequented by movie stars see a significant uptick in sales due to social media exposure)
The dollars spent by local crew in home purchases, cars, goods, schools, food and most important, paying taxes
Again I thank you for the opportunity to express how important the relationship is between film and small businesses. I am available at any time to delve deeper or answer any questions you may have about the industry and our part in it.
Thank you Delegate Reid and Esteemed Committee Members for this opportunity to speak as an IATSE 487 Union member and as a Virginia Crew Member. I have been able to work on over 18 productions here in Virginia in the last 14 years. The enormous roster of local, small businesses that have provided exemplary services, equipment and goods to the film industry rivals any larger film hub. Working as a Coordinator in the Art Department, I have formed relationships with over half of the 1400 + vendors needed for a show. They stay late, come in early and will do anything they can to ensure our shooting day runs smoothly. In essence, they make the Commonwealth Film Crew look good. In return, we make sure to spend as much money with them as possible. As a Virginian filmmaker, born and bred, I understand that the production company arrives here with the money and that my job is to ensure that the bulk of that budget stays in the state. We have cultivated services that were only available in LA and NY and now have print shops that can photograph and print 16'x30' backdrops. We contract a craftsman in Powhatan who specializes in 3D printing, CNC routing and sculptures from styrofoam. We have a female, minority owned printshop that embroiders and silkscreens costumes and props. To build sets we use over 3 separate lumber mills. Graphics and signage? We tap 5 local businesses to accomplish just one show. The Set Decorating department hits every backroad and antiques mall from Bristol to Fredericksburg, the Eastern shore and back. Our Propmaster relies on local food vendors for camera ready meals, custom jewelry pieces and historical collections. While filming on location, the prep and shooting crews work 12-16 hour days. In this time, they break at local coffee shops, enjoy restaurants, and shop in various independently owned businesses. Anecdotally, I can share the stories of companies on the verge of bankruptcy that were revived by Lincoln. Swagger and Atlantis helping a company expand 2x their size. Their employees, 4 out of 5 of them, purchasing their 1st home with the proceeds of the 200% boost in workload. Ultimately, the economic impacts for Small Businesses are : The dollars spent by the crew to create the world and then to film that world The dollars spent by cast and out of town crew in food, lodging, tourism (businesses frequented by movie stars see a significant uptick in sales due to social media exposure) The dollars spent by local crew in home purchases, cars, goods, schools, food and most important, paying taxes Again I thank you for the opportunity to express how important the relationship is between film and small businesses. I am available at any time to delve deeper or answer any questions you may have about the industry and our part in it.