TO: THE MEMPHIS/MID-SOUTH FILM & TV COMMUNITY

FROM: THE MEMPHIS & SHELBY COUNTY
FILM AND TELEVISION COMMISSION –
Film Commissioner Linn Sitler
Chairman Herb O’Mell
Deputy Film Commissioner Sharon O’Guin

RE: SUPPORT NEEDED FOR PRODUCTION INCENTIVES LEGISLATION

DATE: FEBRUARY 19, 2006

As you are likely aware, since January, 2004, The Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commission has been a strong, vocal advocate to our state legislators re: the continuing, urgent need to pass competitive production incentive legislation.

We now have well-researched and well-considered recommendations for such legislation —thanks to a report recently prepared by the Film Production Advisory Committee (FPAC) of which Linn Sitler was an ex-officio member. The report is available at The Commission’s website at www.memphisfilmcomm.org

Recently, our Board voted unanimously to endorse the recommendations in this report. As you’ll see upon reading the report, the incentives proposed by FPAC encourage both out-of-state production companies working in Tennessee and also indigenous production companies shooting in the state.

You, as members of the Memphis/Mid-South production community have everything to gain — and everything to lose — by the fate of the legislation containing these recommendations.

In the weeks to come, we’ll keep you informed of the progress of the legislation filed — and what you can do to enhance the cause.

Right now, we are asking you to email a short message of support asap for The Film Production Advisory Committee’s Report on Tennessee’s Urgent Need for Competitive Production Incentive Legislation to:

phil.bredesen@state.tn.us (Governor Bredesen)
cc: dave.cooley@state.tn.us (Deputy Governor Cooley)
david.j.bennett@state.tn.us (TN Film Commissioner)
linn@memphisfilmcomm.org (Memphis/Shelby Co. Commissioner)

Additionally,with this email, we are asking for the support of the innumerable businesses and hotels in our community which benefit so greatly from production. Let’s stay “in touch and together” in the weeks to come in order to see our state come from behind to pass competitive incentive legislation THANKS!