Trying to pass a film incentive program at the Arizona state legislature has been an uphill battle for three years now. Despite the fact that we have prevailed in every committee and with every floor vote, lack of support from House and Senate leadership has created, and continues to create, an insurmountable obstacle.

Given the current political climate, passing SB1242 will be impossible. Our supporters in the legislature know this and have let us know that to continue to fight for it would be an unwinnable effort. We would end up losing more than we have to gain; consequently, we’ve decided to stop pushing a bill that is destined to fail, and to instead focus on areas where we can be effective. It’s time, for now, to explore other ways to reinvigorate this industry into the powerful economic driver it once was in this state.

Many of you want to understand why leadership at the capital doesn’t want to incentivize a proven industry. The arguments are varied, but they come down to a conviction that incentives for this industry are not a good use of tax payer dollars. And when you see full page ads like this one that ran yesterday in a regional paper in Senator Melvin’s district, you can see the mindset and the tactics of some of the opposition.

We appreciate all of your positive efforts and support, and we will keep you apprised as future plans take shape. If you want to take action, we ask that you thank Senator Melvin who has been committed to this bill until the bitter end as well as last year’s sponsor, Senator John Nelson. Also, Tucson City Councilmember Steve Kozachik has been a tireless advocate and has kept the issue in the forefront of the news for months.

Councilman Kozachik summed it up best: “We said all along that this is a jobs bill. In this economic environment, it is nothing short of irresponsible for political leadership in Phoenix to say NO to the tens of millions of dollars in clean industry that this bill would have generated.”

This short 5-minute video details the enormous economic impact which HANGOVER 3 had on Nogales, AZ in Fall of 2012.

To find out what legislative district you are in, you can enter your address here

Friends of Film in Arizona,

Even though SB1242 was not heard in the Senate Finance Committee yesterday, we have a strategy in place to keep the bill alive. In approximately two weeks, the bill will move to the House where we will run a “striker” bill. Once the striker bill moves through the House, it will return to the Senate for a floor vote.

It’s relatively early in the legislative session — which ran through the beginning of May last year – so don’t be discouraged. We believe we have the votes in both the House and the Senate to pass the bill.

Thanks to those of you who contacted Senator Yarbrough. We ask you to withhold your calls, e-mails and letters to legislators for now, but do keep talking about the Multimedia Production Tax Incentive Program which has the potential to bring hundreds of high paying jobs and millions of dollars in economic impact to Arizona.

In the meantime, take a look at this five minute video about the enormous economic impact that one Film in Nogales, Arizona had last Fall when Warner Brothers’ filmed scenes for HANGOVER 3.

Here are 10 Reasons Arizona Needs a New Film Incentive.

You can track the bill here.

To find out what legislative district you are in, you can enter your address here.

Friends of Film in Arizona,

SB1242 passed the Senate Commerce Committee this morning with 5 Ayes and 2 absent.

Off to a strong start, we want to keep up the momentum.

If you haven’t already, ask Sen. Yarbrough to please schedule SB1242 to be heard in his Senate Finance Committee next week.  Remember to keep your message positive.

Tune into the John C. Scott show today on KVOI The Voice (1030 on your AM dial) from 4pm – 5pm to hear both Councilmember Steve Kozachik and me (Shelli Hall) talking about the bill’s prospects.

Thank you for your support.

Here are 10 Reasons Arizona Needs a New Film Incentive.

You can track the bill here.

To find out what legislative district you are in, you can enter your address here.

Friends of Film in Arizona,

Tomorrow, Wednesday, February 13^th, SB1242 will be heard in the Senate Commerce Committee where we believe it has the votes to pass.

Our next objective is to have the bill heard in the Senate Finance Committee. The Finance Committee’s Chairman is Senator Steve Yarbrough, R, District 17 which is portions of Chandler, Gilbert and all of Sun Lakes. We ask that you contact him — particularly if you live in his district.

Ask Sen. Yarbrough to please schedule SB1242 to be heard in his Senate Finance Committee. Let him know what passage of the bill means to you personally and/or professionally. Keep your message positive.

Also, if you are a student or an educator, it would be enormously helpful if he could hear from you.  Note that Senator Yarbrough’s bio says:

“From 1971-1975 he served as a director in the ASU Office of Student Affairs. Since 1998 he has been the Executive Director of the Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization, a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization…Sen. Yarbrough taught business law at Mesa Community College from 1975-1977. He was a co-founder and served on the school board for Valley Christian High School from 1981-2005.”

Thank you for your efforts on behalf of the bill.

Here are 10 Reasons Arizona Needs a New Film Incentive.

You can track the bill here.

To find out what legislative district you are in, you can enter your address here.

Districts shifted and and there was an election since last year’s session, so yours may have changed.

Please look up this information now so when the bill goes for a full vote, you’ll know who you need to write and call to ask for support.

Friends of Film in Arizona,

SB1242, the Multimedia Production Tax Incentives bill, will be heard in the Senate Commerce committee next Wednesday morning, February 13th. This is good news.

We believe we have the necessary votes for it to pass, but if you’d like to contact the committee members and thank them for their support, we encourage you to do so. I also indicated which of the committee members are already SB1242 sponsors and co-sponsors.  Senator Al Melvin, Chair of the Commerce committee, is leading the charge.

SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE

Ed Ableser

Steve Gallardo

John McComish  Majority Leader (SB1242 Co-Sponsor)

Al Melvin – Chair (SB1242 Sponsor)

Robert Meza

Michele Reagan – Vice Chair

Bob Worsley (SB1242 Co-Sponsor)
This is a strong start, but we still have a long way to go…

You can track the bill here.

Here are 10 Reasons Arizona Needs a New Film Incentive.

To find out what legislative district you are in, you can enter your address here.

Our bill was officially introduced this morning to the Arizona state legislature. Its name is “Multimedia Production; Tax Incentives,” and its number is SB1242. You can read about the bill here.

Please take a moment to thank our sponsors, particularly Senator Al Melvin who is the bill’s primary sponsor.

Ultimately, SB1242’s passage will depend on Governor Jan Brewer who has the power to sign it or veto it.  She needs to hear, throughout this legislative session, why you think Arizona would benefit from the incentives. Please write to her and never underestimate the power of a personal letter.

SB1242 is primarily about bringing high wage jobs to Arizona…quickly and for the long term, but there are many valid reasons to pass this program. In fact, we’ve come up with 10 Reasons Arizona Needs a New Film Incentive. Please feel free to reference them in your correspondence.

And so the session begins…

(Reposted from message received from Shelli Hall.)

APA kicks off 2013 with our Annual Membership Meeting. This year’s event is scheduled for Thursday, January 24, beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Cox Media Studios, 17602 N. Black Canyon Highway in Phoenix.

This is your chance to meet some of the 2013 Board Members and Committee Chairs, hear their plans for the coming year, give input and ask questions. Barry Aarons lead lobbyist for the industry and Mike Kucharo President of the Arizona Film and Media Coalition and APA Board Member will present details about the industry efforts to get new production incentives passed through the Arizona legislature this year.

The evening starts off at 6:30 p.m. with appetizers and beverages provided by APA, followed by the formal meeting at 7:00 p.m., a Q&A and then networking with your fellow industry professionals.

Cost: Free for Members; $10 for guests

PLEASE RSVP to info@azproduction.com or 480-345-6464 by JAN. 21.