Texas Legislative Alert

BACKGROUND
HB1 (the House version of the state budget bill) was filled in mid-January, and includes a drastic proposed reduction to our industries’ crucial and successful incentive program. The Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program provides incentives for film, TV, commercials and video game production to be filmed in Texas.

The current incentives may be cut from $60 million to just $10 million during this legislative session under the cloud of a $27 billion state budget deficit.

RATIONALE AGAINST ANY CUT
Yet in the face of that, we have a great story to tell - our incentive program has generated over $610 million dollars in new in-state spending and has accounted for over 56,000 jobs for Texans. We strongly believe that cutting our program won't save Texas money, it'll cost us - both in terms of business and jobs. In fact, the Comptroller's Office recently released a study that found for every $117 in incentives granted, $1,000 in Texas production spending has been generated, reporting "Texas has proven to be successful." Our incentives are working, and putting Texans to work in Texas.

ACTION TO BE TAKEN
So what can you do? Now more than ever, we need your support. We call on all industry professionals working in film, television, commercials and video games across the state to let their state representatives know your opposition to the proposed cut in support of the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program. If possible visit with you state representatives or at least write them, You can find your proper state representative at http://www.capitol.state.tx.us. Who Represents Me is on the bottom right of the home page.

The Texas Motion Picture Alliance will have Lobby Day on for Wednesday, March 9 at the Texas Capitol in Austin to discuss this subject with state representative. Please mark your calendars and join them in representing our industries. They will announce more details soon, as TXMPA Board members are hard at work with their advocacy firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP and Lawrence Collins to navigate this especially challenging, high-stakes legislative session.

Contacts:
-Frank Kopec, AAF Dallas Legislative Chair and Executive Director, frank@aafdallas.org, 972-488-8227
-Don Stokes, Texas Motion Picture Alliance President, 214-362-0162, dstokes@postasylum.com

The 2011 ADDY Photos are In!

Photos from the 2011 ADDY Gala are now posted on the AAF-FW Facebook page. Find us at AAF-Fort Worth and tag yourself for a chance to win two free tickets to the 2012 ADDY Gala.

And, stay tuned for information on where to get your ADDY Golds and order additional awards.

Become an Advertising Education Sponsor (AES)

Nineteen area colleges will be vying for the District 10 title in the AAF National Student Advertising Competition, April 13 - 15 in Oklahoma City. Last year's winner, Texas State, went on to place second nationally. In previous years, TCU, SMU, Texas State, UT Austin, Texas Tech, Houston and San Antonio College have all taken home national championships. Teams from AAF District 10 (Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma) have won more national championships than any other district.

Become an Advertising Education Sponsor to help students.
Getting an AES membership will support District 10 schools in their efforts to win future National Advertising Competitions. They also support annual scholarships and add bright talent to this area's advertising industry. There are several levels of memberships available, including the $75 Bronze, $150 Silver, $300 Gold up to the $2,500 Business Level.

You can send your donations to:
AAF-Fort Worth
c/o AES Membership
3000 S. Hulen St., Suite 124, #218
Fort Worth, TX 76109

For more information, please contact Lindsay Hendon at lhendon@skylinedfw.com.