Comment

Comment by Hawaii Film Industry on April 13, 2011 at 3:18pm

Aloha HAN members:

          As you all probably already know, we are in the final push to VICTORY for SB318 which will open the flood gates for productions to come to Hawaii immediately. 

We can't celebrate or stop pushing until Governor Abercrombie signs the bill.

There has been lots of support on Maui but we still need to show an overwhelming amount of support on Oahu. 

Time to make a historic difference for your film industry. Jobs, Jobs, and more Jobs

Bill: SB318 RELATING TO BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN HAWAI’I

• I firmly believe we have a rare opportunity to bring a “new industry” to the State of Hawaii.  Our economy is based in large part upon tourism, construction, pineapple and sugar cane.  Pineapple and sugar cane appear to be on their way out and tourism is subject to natural and man-made disasters.  A film industry would be recession proof while creating jobs and opportunities for education through added film curriculum in our high school and university systems. 
• I was told that each stage built in the State of Hawai’i would inject approximately $140 million into our economy via the hiring of local labor and purchasing materials locally over a two year period.  Each movie filmed in Hawaii would also create approximately 193 local jobs immediately. 
• I was also told that last month the governor of Puerto Rico increased the amount of their existing tax credit stating that in 2010, twelve projects were filmed on the island, creating 17,528 jobs.  Their hotel occupancy went from dismal to fully occupancy with 22,671 hotel nights added.
• An April 2011 edition of Alaska Airlines Magazine reported that during the two month shooting of the film “Everybody Loves Whales”, $12 million was spent in Anchorage that benefited local Teamsters, cafes, carpenters, caterers, and many more.  During that two months hotel rooms exceeded 12,000 while more than 1,300 Alaska residents and 80 local businesses received paychecks or revenue from the production. 

Please support this bill as it will benefit the entire State of Hawaii by diversifying and stimulating our economy through generating more jobs.  This will cause a decrease in state unemployment and therefore an increase in the state income tax. Through providing opportunities for education and training of our youth it will provide long term opportunities for our children and grandchildren, the future of Hawai’i.   

SAMPLE LETTER ~ Please fill in your name and email to the following people. 

 Please send your letter to all of the following:

 

SENATE

 --Carol Fukunaga (Chair, Economic Development and Technology)  

senfukunaga@capitol.hawaii.gov    

808-586-6890 p

808-586-6899 f

 

--David Y. Ige (Chair, Ways and Means Committe)

sendige@capitol.hawaii.gov

808-586-6230 p

808-586-6231 f

 

HOUSE

  --Representative Angus McKelvey (Chair, Economic Revitalization and Business)

repmckelvey@capitol.hawaii.gov

808-586-6160 p

808-586-6161 f

 

--Representative Marcus Oshiro (Chair, Finance Committee)

repmoshiro@capitol.hawaii.gov

808-586-6200 p

808-586-6201 f

Mele Carroll
House District 13
Hawaii State Capitol, Room 405
phone: 808-586-6790
fax: 808-586-6779
repcarroll@Capitol.hawaii.gov

 

These people will be making the final vote. 

For the sake of all the HAN members that's seeking MORE opportunities, we need everyone's participation in order that we create a film industry POWERED BY YOU!

Remember, our state representatives really want to hear from you so they know that they are doing what the people of Hawaii need.

Mahalo 

The Wells Brothers

         &

HAN Administrative Staff

Comment by Hawaii Film Industry on April 13, 2011 at 11:07am

Posted today!

Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Hanohano voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.

Comment by Kiana Imperial on April 8, 2011 at 10:56am

@-Teddy and Michael- You are very welcome to the both of you on your gracious THANK YOU to all HAN members for this bill!

Comment by Tom Curtis on April 8, 2011 at 10:54am

Tax credits are very important in the Big Picture of media production. However as an art director and set designer/builder in Northern California for 25 years we learned that without infrastructure studios will only shoot in a particular area for the scenery.

Studios and especially sound stages are necessary for production and since the only major studio on Oahu is operated by the state I believe that government could also do a lot to encourage the development of alternative spaces through creative zoning and conversion of abandoned or under used buildings.

Depending on Tourism as a main industry is very risky. I believe that media production and high tech industries can grow business and (tax revenues) in Hawaii in ways that tourism will never be able to do.

Let's stop the brain drain and find ways to put local folks to work in industries of the future and not keep creating situation where they will either leave the islands or settle for unfulfilling or  unproductive occupations.

Mahalo!

Comment by Brenna A Charlebois on April 7, 2011 at 10:13am

YAY! Thank you Teddy and Michael for your continued support of SB318 and to all those that made the effort to make it to the State Capitol yesterday.  It was great to be there!   

Comment by Hawaii Film Industry on April 7, 2011 at 9:30am

Thank You HAN.

Here are the results from yesterday.

The committees on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 17 Ayes: Representative(s) M. Oshiro, M. Lee, Chong, Choy, Cullen, Har, Hashem, Ichiyama, Jordan, Kawakami, C. Lee, Morikawa, Tokioka, Yamashita, Marumoto, Riviere, Ward; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

 

Comment by Aileen "Lily R. Acain on April 6, 2011 at 7:12am

Aloha Kakaheka Wells Brothers,and Branscombe. Mahalo for being the physical presence and driving force at the capitol since day one.I have been along side with producers that have been in the process of creating shows to be filmed here,along with building our crews and businesses to be prepared for this to happen for years,and it looks like all our hard work,determination,and persistance is moving forward historically. We are excited,This Bill will happen,I have no doubt in my mind,it's logic. I've been along with Branscombe and other key people,helping to have Maui prepared for any projects that decide to shoot here. I've been talking to all existing producers,and crew and those new to Maui,and we have quite the selection now since last year. I just landed a lead role on a project that will be shooting soon,which in itself shows that the industry is here. We really need to make sure most importantly is having everyone be prepared. Again,our Oahu Film Ohana is has been busy working every project that comes in and are prepared. We need to have every film department and talent in Maui to be ready for this,and we as a large stretched out community need to be prepared in our skills and crafts to start running with what's coming in. We have submitted 100's of testimonies from my physically speaking to our tenants who are clueless to what's happening today! I had been in so many small community meetings to get everyone on board,and educated to be involved in our industry from TSA security to out of work mother's, families to all small and large businesses! I started as an Extra on Charlie's Angels,at the age of 13,and have been rounding up teens to start getting trained as extras,through inspiration from myself and my local celebrity friends who started as extras. Also whenever someone walks into our office because of the nature of the business I work in,I've been taking their names and numbers down to include them in our Maui Meet and Greet,so that they can be apart of this as a community. We have been in talks with the Hawaiian community in creating an educational program in Film,along with the MCC Media program,and Maui School of Culinart Art,as well as creating Events here to be directly involved with developing Maui to be another Film production hub.Yes,we have been showing more than the support with our Mayor,we are doing whatever we can humanly possibly do,to prepare our islands for this historical event.I'm excited to hear what the outcome will be.The testimony submission support will continue,most importantly,practice,practice,practice local actor's!
Aloha,E Malama Pono!

Comment by Brenna A Charlebois on April 5, 2011 at 7:21pm

Elizabeth, this is very well written.  Thank you for sharing the truth so poignantly..  I hope this encourages everyone to take action, write our Legislator's and make it to the Capitol tomorrow at 3....whatever it takes!  This is an incredible opportunity that will not happen again.. don't let it pass us by.  Hawaii needs this!

I will be flying in from Maui and looking forward to meeting everyone at this auspicious moment in Hawaiian history!  It's not over yet though, the Bill passes back to House and Senate for revisions and

final vote... Please KEEP WRITING IN SUPPORT OF SB318!

Comment by Hawaii Film Industry on April 5, 2011 at 7:15am

Looking forward to seeing everyone there at the state capitol building tomorrow.

Comment by Hawaii Film Industry on April 4, 2011 at 10:33pm

TESTIMONY TESTIMONY TESTIMONY TESTIMONY TESTIMONY TESTIMONY 
______________________________ ______________________________ ____
We absolutely NEED your words to be available for these legislators to become aware of the need for jobs in our local film industry here in the State of Hawaii and not elsewhere. 
Please follow the steps below and... make yourself heard. Otherwise, Future film industry jobs will slow to a trickle . Plain & simple!
Thank you,
Branscombe Richmond 
Actor 
______________________________ __________________________________
Submit testimony in ONE of the following ways:

PAPER: 2 copies to Room 306 in the State Capitol;

FAX: For comments less than 5 pages in length, transmit to 586-6001 (Oahu) or 1-800-535-3859 (for Neighbor Islanders without a computer to submit testimony through e-mail or the Web); or

WEB: For comments less than 4MB in size, transmit from the Web page at http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/emailtestimony.

Testimony submitted will be placed on the Legislative Web site after the hearing adjourns. This public posting of testimony on the Web site should be considered when including personal information in your testimony.

http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2011/Bills/SB318_HD1_.pdf See More

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