Don’t Waste Money Wining the Film Crew

I was in your fine state recently for a dog show at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick. You have a beautiful state, with very lovely people and great restaurants. I enjoyed my 10-day stay very much.

During my stay, I read with great interest the April 20 article “Film folks eat well on state’s tab” about the Rhode Island Film & TV Office. As a former film commissioner for Ohio for approximately 20 years, I was appalled at the spending that is allowed and the very high-end rooms that were approved for travel purposes.

At no time were we in Ohio allowed to pick up any costs for meals, liquor or entertainment. (What an insult to the taxpapers of your state to spend their tax dollars on Hollywood!) When a producer, location manager or production manager came to scout locations they did not expect, not only from us but also from any film commission, that they would be “wined and dined.” They wanted us to find the best locations for their films and act as a liasion between the local community and the production company. This was their priority.

The film production people are on a mission to find the best location for their film and the most cooperative people to make their filming easy. Tax abatements are a good incentive. But, however much you wine and dine, it will not make one iota of difference if they can’t find their locations, make an agreement with the unions and get the cooperation of the state and towns.

If you check with the AFCI (Association of Film Commissioners International) you will find that what I am saying is the norm among other film commissions. Also, it was stated that your film commissioner was not the highest paid state employee, but I would venture to say he is one of the highest paid film commissioners in the United States. This is an easy fact to check.

If your state is in a budget crunch, the taxpapers should not look kindly on the kind of tax dollars that your film commissioner is spending. Shame on this office.

Ohio’s commission helped attract such films as Rain Man, The Shawshank Redemption, Air Force One and many, many other projects, including theatrical and television movies, commercials and documentaries. Not one decision of the producers to film in our state was made on the basis of entertaining them.

EVE LAPOLLA

Columbus

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