West Virginia Film Office
18-MONTH
WRAP-UP REPORT— FY 2003-2004
(includes period from july 14, 2003 to december
31, 2004)
The West Virginia Film
Office (WVFO), an agency housed at the WV Division of Tourism, has prepared
this "18-Month Wrap-Up" to provide
information about the activities and accomplishments of the WVFO for the period
July 14, 2003 through December 31, 2004.
The section relating to production activity is limited in detail due to
space consideration. This report is public information.
MISSION: The West Virginia Film Office recognizes the
importance of the creation of employment opportunities and positive economic
gains: by attracting motion pictures,
still photography, feature advertising, television series and movies of the
week, regional and national commercials, music videos, and other miscellaneous
production activities to mount projects in the State of West Virginia; by
creating a film friendly environment and providing complimentary support
services for production activities; and by showcasing the state's industry
workforce available for hire and state vendors able to support the needs of
production activities.
I. Film
Office Branding
·
With
assistance of graphic designer at WV Division of Tourism, designed branding logo.
·
With
assistance of graphic designer at WV Division of Tourism, designed letterhead
and business cards.
·
With
assistance of webmaster at WV Division of Tourism, created website domain (see
sec. IV below).
II. Production
Services Directory (PSD)
·
Created
219-page user-friendly resource guide for motion picture/TV/commercial
industries, showcasing – to an international audience – the state's industry
workforce available for hire and state vendors able to support the needs of
production activity. Also a useful tool
for in-state governmental and community agencies when contacted directly about
production activity.
·
Over
course of six months, researched, created, and published PSD by March 1,
2004. Instructions for becoming listed
in PSD, and Listing Forms, developed and posted on website. (The 2005 Edition will be distributed by
March 1, 2005.)
·
Distributed
500 copies of PSD between March 1 and December 31, 2004, to crews/vendors
listed in PSD; designated governmental agencies; CVBs; motion picture/TV
companies and studios, p.r. agencies, print media, etc.; and miscellaneous
individuals, agencies, and vendors upon request.
·
Available
in print form, on website in pdf file, and on website by searchable categories.
III. Film Office Newsletter
·
In
December 2003, created monthly newsletter (aka Email Blasts) to provide state's
indigenous industry professionals, as well as all interested persons (upon
request), with topical information about the state's industry activities and
other pertinent topics and related activities of interest.
·
Distributed
via Email and posted on website under Film Office News.
IV. Film Office Website
·
www.wvfilm.com
created for West Virginia Film Office.
·
Monthly
newsletters (aka Email Blasts) posted under Film Office News.
·
PSD
in two formats, instructions for listings, and listing forms posted under
Production Services Directory.
·
Developing
digital Locations Photography Library for promoting state's diverse locations
(see also sec. VIII below).
·
Developing
FAQ section and resource links, among other enhancements.
V. Professional Office
Development
·
Developed
3-year Strategic Plan for FY 2004-2006 to strengthen the structure and
stability of the WVFO and to increase motion picture, television, and other
production traffic in the state.
·
Participated
in annual educational and training conventions of the Association of Film
Commissioners International (AFCI), the only industry-recognized film
commission association in the world.
·
Member
of AFCI's Education Committee, which is responsible for programming educational
and training events.
VI. Film Office Visibility,
Marketing, and Advertising
·
Developed
statewide network of various governmental agencies, economic
development/CVB/tourism representatives, etc., to provide liaison assistance to
the WVFO.
·
Developed
2-year Marketing Plan for FY 2004-2005 to increase international visibility of
the WVFO and to increase motion picture, television, and other production
traffic in the state.
·
Received
two international awards for Marketing Excellence at annual AFCI Locations Expo
for "Branding Logo" and "Half-Page Color Advertisement"
(judges from motion picture/TV industries).
·
Placed
numerous paid advertisements in international industry trade publications (Variety,
Production Update).
·
Secured
listings on multiple industry websites and in publications perused by motion
picture/TV professionals searching for film office assistance and on-location
shooting (e.g., Hollywood Creative Directory, Film Commission Headquarters,
Markee Magazine, ProductionHub.com, ShootingOnLocation.com, TheLocationAgent.com,
and others).
·
Participated
in numerous media interviews across the state on numerous topics.
·
Participated
in interviews for national industry publications (Markee Magazine,
Production Update).
·
Speaker
at annual Governor's Conference on Tourism, 2003 (Hancock County), the
Charleston Exchange Club (Kanawha County), annual meeting of the WV
Filmmakers Guild (Braxton County), monthly meeting of WV Animators and
Videographers (Putnam County), a community meeting at the Purple Iris (Berkeley
County), monthly meeting of Convention & Visitors Bureaus (Kanawha
County), the WV Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (Kanawha
County), Elderhostel (Kanawha County), Kanawha County Commission
(presentation re condemned structures).
·
Arranged
for state premiere (January 2004) in Beckley of DreamWorks' motion picture "Win
A Date With Tad Hamilton!", which shot on location in July 2003 in
Fayette, Raleigh, and Kanawha Counties.
·
Provided
welcome package to Professor Rudolf Krejcik of FAMU Film School in Prague,
Czech Republic, who visited the campus of West Virginia State University.
·
In
exchange for exposure, partnered with the WV Filmmakers Guild to provide three
educational and industry-related workshops (Braxton County) (June 2004).
·
In
exchange for exposure, co-sponsored the Marshall Artist Series, International
Film Festival, fall and spring events (Cabell County) (September 2004
and March 2005).
·
In
exchange for exposure, co-sponsored the West Virginia International Film
Festival (Kanawha County) and presented honored guest artist Paul Dooley
(a Parkersburg native and Hollywood actor) with the Distinguished West
Virginian Award on behalf of Governor Bob Wise (November 2003); and co-sponsored
honored guest artists John Sayles and Maggie Renzi ("Matewan"
filmmakers) (November 2004).
·
In
exchange for exposure, co-sponsored the inaugural American Conservation Film
Festival (November 2003) and second annual event (November 2004) (Jefferson
County).
·
In
exchange for exposure, co-sponsored the inaugural Appalachian Film Festival (Cabell
County) (June 2004).
·
In
exchange for exposure, sponsored the West Virginia Filmmaker of the Year Award
at the annual WV Filmmakers Film Festival (Braxton County) (October 2003
and October 2004).
VII. Industry
Research
·
Developing
forms for tracking production inquiries and activities, which will eventually,
among other things, help determine the economic impact of productions shooting
on location in the state.
·
Gathered
research on other state agency film offices for comparison of structure to West
Virginia, including production activity and production incentives.
VIII. Development of Internships,
Locations Photography Library, Statewide Scouting Tours
·
Established
collaboration with West Virginia State University (home of Paradise Film
Institute) to provide interns to work with the WVFO in exchange for course
credit, with interns learning, among other things, how to scout locations and
prepare production packages as well as how motion picture/TV companies choose
filming locations.
·
With
assistance of three college interns, organized and indexed all Locations files
to determine regions of state not captured in Library and tackled subsequent
scouting assignments.
·
With
assistance of WVFO interns and photographers from the WV Division of Tourism,
scouted 38 counties for capturing additional locations for Library to assist in
attracting motion picture/TV and other productions to the state to shoot on
location. Counties scouted and
photographed: Barbour, Berkeley, Boone,
Braxton, Brooke, Cabell, Calhoun, Fayette, Gilmer, Greenbrier, Hampshire,
Hancock, Hardy, Jefferson, Kanawha, Lewis, Logan, Marshall, Mason, Mercer,
Mineral, Mingo, Monongalia, Monroe, Morgan, Nicholas, Ohio, Pendleton,
Pocahontas, Putnam, Raleigh, Randolph, Summers, Taylor, Tucker, Wayne, Webster,
Wyoming.
IX. Production Activity
Section A identifies
the total number of inquiries fielded, or production activities tracked, by the
WVFO. Section B identifies known
productions that shot in the state and utilized the services of the WVFO. Section C identifies other known
productions that shot in the state but did not utilize the services of the
WVFO. Section D identifies major
production calls to the WVFO requesting locations scouting, liaison, or other
services but did not result in on-location shooting. Numerous inquiries are not identified due to the nature of the
inquiry, e.g., a caller who has a script for which he/she is seeking
underwriting.
A. Inquiries Fielded, or
Production Activities Tracked, by the WVFO
·
Total of 187 inquiries relating to various forms of productions:
Ø
82
motion pictures, domestic and foreign (includes theatrical release films,
straight-to-video films, TV movies of the week, documentaries for TV
programming)
Ø
66
TV programming (includes cable and network series; reality, talk, and
educational shows)
Ø
29
TV news programs and local/regional/national commercials
Ø
8
still photography and feature advertising
Ø
2
music videos and concerts
·
Of 187 inquiries:
Ø
17
motion pictures shot footage in state (1 studio feature film, 4 feature
documentaries, 1 feature documentary for cable broadcast, 1 feature docudrama
for cable broadcast, 9 indigenous indie films, 1 student thesis film)
Ø
52
TV programs, TV news programs, and local/regional/national commercials shot in
state
Ø
2
still photography and feature advertising shot in state
Ø
2
music concerts/commercials/videos shot in state
Ø
Of
these 73 productions that shot footage in state, 45 productions utilized West
Virginia's industry workforce, vendors, and/or talent
·
Of 187 inquiries:
Ø
27
requested information on availability of incentives and financing
Ø
115
requested copy of Production Services Directory (PSD)
Ø
33
related to indigenous productions
Ø
77
related to West Virginia-themed stories, fiction and nonfiction
B. Identity of Productions that Shot on Location in WV
and Utilized the Services of the WVFO
1.
DreamWorks / "Win A Date With Tad Hamilton!": Shot footage in Fayetteville, Grandview, and
along the Kanawha River at the London Locks (Fayette, Raleigh, Kanawha
Counties)
2.
Suzuki/Japan / national commercial: Shot footage at the Hatfield & McCoy
Trail in Logan (Logan County)
3.
Home & Garden TV / "Building Character" series: Shot footage in Bramwell (Mercer County)
4.
The Learning Channel / "Second Chance" series: Arrived in state twice, once to shoot
footage in Hillsboro and once to shoot footage in Bluefield (Pocahontas and
Mercer Counties)
5.
ABC-TV Primetime / Diane Sawyer: Shot footage and interviewed Jessica Lynch in Parkersburg and
Palestine (Wirt and Wood Counties)
6.
Nippon Japanese TV / 2003 Highlights program: Shot footage in Palestine for story on
Jessica Lynch (Wirt County)
7.
Nippon Japanese TV / 2003 Highlights program: Shot footage in Point Pleasant for story on
Mothman (Mason County)
8.
CNBC / "Eye on Technology" program: Shot footage in Bluefield (Mercer County)
9.
American Movies Classics / "Into Character" series: Shot footage in Marmet at the Kanawha Eagle
Coal Mine (Kanawha County)
10. VH-1 / "Driven"
series: Conducted
interviews and shot footage in Charleston for a piece on WV native Jennifer
Garner (Kanawha County)
11. The Oprah
Show: Shot footage at
the New River Gorge Bridge (Fayette County)
12. Game Show
Network / "Vegas Weddings": Shot footage in Parkersburg (Wood County)
13. Ladies Home
Journal / "Habitat for Humanity": Photo shoot in Rainelle (Greenbrier
County)
14. Food
Network / "Roker on the Road": Shot footage in Fairmont (Marion County)
15. Lifetime
Network / "What Should You Do?" series: Shot footage in Waverly (Wood County)
16. CNN/Moneyline
/ "Lou Dobbs Tonight":
Shot footage in Morgantown (Monongalia County)
17. Sorry Dog
Films, WV / "The Famous Jane": Shot footage in Morgantown (Monongalia
County)
18. BBC / "Travels
With An Unfit Mother":
Shot footage in Eastern Panhandle (Morgan and Jefferson Counties)
19. Jaguar
Productions, WV / "Love Is Not An Angry Thing": Shot footage in South Charleston (Kanawha
County)
20. Sage Road
Productions, TX / Coalwood documentary: Shot footage in Coalwood (McDowell County)
21. Destiny
Images, WV / "Pioneer Credit Union" commercial: Shot footage in Charleston (Kanawha
County)
22. Toyota / commercial
for Buffalo plant: Shot
footage in Buffalo (Putnam County)
23. Friends of
Coal, WV / commercial: Shot
footage in Charleston region (Kanawha County)
24. Park Group,
Washington, DC / "CAMC" commercials: Shot footage in Charleston (Kanawha
County)
25. NBC, Los
Angeles, CA / "Lion's Den": Hired local crew to shoot footage for airing on show (Kanawha and Cabell Counties)
26. Paradise
Film Institute, Institute, WV / "Ghosts of Greenbottom: Life on a 19th
Century Plantation": Shot
footage for documentary (Cabell, Berkeley, Jefferson, and Kanawha Counties)
27. Paradise
Film Institute, Institute, WV / "Makutano": Shot footage for short narrative film (Berkeley
and Kanawha Counties)
28. Sorry Dog
Films, WV / IL / "The Alderson Mile": Shot footage in Alderson for feature
narrative film (Greenbrier County)
29. UPS,
Atlanta, GA / internal documentary: Shot footage in South Charleston at UPS plant (Kanawha County)
30. Nickelodeon,
NY / "School's Out":
Shot footage in Charleston at John Adams and Stonewall Jackson (Kanawha
County)
31. Discovery
Kids Channel, D.C. / "Mystery Hunters": Shot footage in Point Pleasant (Mason
County)
32. General
Motors, MI / "Hummer commercial": Shot footage in Hurricane (Putnam County)
33. Prudential
Securities, NY / national PSA commercial: Shot footage in Fairmont (Marion County)
34. Warner
Bros. TV, Pepsi Smash, NY / "Kid Rock concert": Shot concert footage and commercial at
Charleston Civic Center (Kanawha County)
35. Evening
Star Productions, OH / "The Appalachians": Shot footage in Harpers Ferry (Jefferson
County)
36. Borderline
Productions, NY – FX Channel / "30 Days": Shot footage in Kanawha and Putnam Counties
for reality show (executive produced by Beckley, WV native Morgan Spurlock)
37. Golf
Channel / "Pete Dye Classic": Hired WV crew during event (Harrison County)
38. Lighthouse
Productions / "14 Days in America": Shot footage and conducted interviews (Kanawha
County)
39. 20/20
Photography: Still photography
shoot for medical company (Monongalia County)
40. MMH, D.C. /
local commercials: Shot local
commercials (unknown locations; declined to provide details)
41. WV
Department of Transportation / "Bridge Building in WV": feature documentary using WV production
company (statewide locations)
42. The Food
Network, NYC / "BBQ with Bobby Flay": Shot footage at The Greenbrier and request
for B-roll footage (Greenbrier County)
43. Channel 4,
United Kingdom / Juniper TV: Shot
footage in Charleston and Huntington re presidential elections (Kanawha and
Cabell Counties)
44. Animal
Planet / Storyteller Media, Australia:
Shot footage and interviews on real wildlife and the history of the
Mothman in McClintic Wildlife Reserve (Mason County)
45. Witek &
Novak Productions, Huntington, WV / "Cam Henderson" documentary: Shooting footage around the state
46. Office Kei,
Japan / "Pee Wee Gaskins" docudrama: Shot re-creation footage at former WV
Penitentiary for television program on South Carolina's serial killer Pee Wee
Gaskins (WV stood in for SC) (Marshall County)
47. TV Globo,
Brazil: Shot footage and
interviews for a 6-part news series on the American elections (Lincoln
County)
48. BBC, NY / "What
Not To Wear" series: Shot
footage and interviews in WV (Monongalia County)
49. Aero Film,
Los Angeles / "Toyota Mfg. commercial": Shot national commercial in Lewisburg (Greenbrier
County)
50. Unknown
P.R. agency, D.C. / local commercial: Search for trained canine and animal handler for local commercial
(declined to provide name of company or other details)
51. Martha
Stewart TV Coverage:
Miscellaneous national news teams hired WV crew, including Extra,
Entertainment Tonight, CNN, and others (Greenbrier County)
52. Big World
Productions, United Kingdom / "Extreme International": Shot footage during Bridge Day and need for
additional B-roll footage (Fayette County)
53. Illuminare
Entertainment / "Spiritual Warriors Possessed": Shot footage and interviews in Huntington
for reality show for foreign distribution (Cabell County)
54. Southpaw
Entertainment, Baltimore / "Random 1" reality series: Shot footage in Charleston for a pilot
episode (Kanawha County)
55. History
Channel / "Modern Marvels": Need for B-roll and archival footage of the New River Gorge
Bridge (did not shoot on location)
56. NC School
of the Arts / Student Thesis Film:
Shot footage for film in Sutton (Braxton County)
57. Eric Lee
Film, Huntington, WV / "Lake Forest": Shooting footage for feature length film (Cabell
County)
58. Ridley
Scott Associates / national commercial for "General Electric": Hired local scout to photograph particular
looks of coal mine entrances for national commercial (did not shoot on
location) (Boone County)
C. Identity of Other Known Productions that
Shot on Location in WV
59. Food
Network / "Best Of" series: Shot footage in Lewisburg (General Lewis Inn and Food &
Friends), Fayetteville (Smokey's on the Gorge), Union (Moxie Café), Pence
Springs (Pence Springs Hotel) (Greenbrier, Fayette, Summers, and Monroe
Counties)
60. Outdoor
Channel / "The Jim Zumbo Outdoors Show": Shot footage in Monroe County for
field-testing the first new bolt-action rimfire rifle Remington Arms (Monroe
County)
61. Cartoon
Network / "Scooby Doo" commercials: Shot footage at the West Virginia
Penitentiary in Moundsville (Marshall County)
62. MTV / "Crowned" reality pilot: Shot footage in Morgantown at WVU (Monongalia
County)
63. Razor Sharp
Productions, WV / "After Life": Shot film in Cross Lanes, surrounding
regions (Kanawha County)
64. Moon &
Stars, Harrison County, WV / national music video: Shot music video (Harrison County)
65. Spike-TV / unknown
project: Shot footage in
unknown southern counties
66. Razor Sharp
Productions, WV / "Catholic Ghougirls": Shot footage for feature film (Kanawha
County)
67. Speed
Channel, NY / "Two Wheel Tuesdays": Shot footage in Shinnston and Landgraff (Harrison
and McDowell Counties)
68. Rubicon
Productions, VA / "American Gardens" for PBS: Shot footage for documentary program (Randolph
County)
69. Sci-Fi
Channel, NY: Shot footage at
Moundsville prison (Marshall County)
70. Jude Miller
Productions / "The Captives": Shot motion picture (Roane County)
71. The
Learning Channel / "Faking It": Shot footage and interviews (Monongalia
County)
72. Art
Holliday Production, St. Louis, MO / documentary on Rock and Roll Hall of
Famer "Johnnie Johnson":
Shot footage for documentary on WV native in Fairmont (Marion County)
73. Home &
Garden TV, D.C. / "Building Character" series: Shot footage at the Elkhorn Inn Bed &
Breakfast in Landgraff (McDowell County)
D. Major Production Calls Requesting
Locations Scouting, Liaison, or Other Services But Did Not Result in Shooting
on Location
1.
New Regency / "Mr. and Mrs. Smith": search for 4-lane highway tunnel with steep
ravines for one scene of film that could be shut down for a couple of weeks [found
workable location in Colorado]
2.
Zentropa Productions / "Dear Wendy": script set in small, fictional coal mining
town in WV, with entire film shot in Denmark and Germany; WVFO provided
scouting assistance to recreate town and sent dozens of props to be used in the
film [U.S. premiere will occur on January 22, 2005, at the Sundance Film
Festival]
3.
Sony Pictures / "Six Shooter": search for locations for entire film;
Hampshire and Jefferson Counties were at the top of the production team's
locations list [project on backburner because of internal production
problem]
4.
Paramount Pictures / "Mission Impossible 3": search for 4-lane highway with 1-1/2 mile
available for two months [project on hold while Tom Cruise shoots "War
of the Worlds"]
5.
DreamWorks LLC / "The Island": nationwide search for massive above or
underground facility for production [decided to use soundstages in Los
Angeles because of set requirements]
6.
Paramount Pictures / "The Longest Yard": nationwide search for prison for remake of
film; former WV Penitentiary made it to the top 3 locations [chose prison in
New Mexico; script set in west Texas]
7.
DreamWorks LLC / "War of the Worlds": search for locations for four scenes of film
[chose locations in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Virginia;
production headquartered in NY and NJ]
8.
Ron Maxwell Productions / George Washington docudrama: search for locations for two scenes of IMAX
film for Mt. Vernon, VA visitor center [chose locations in Virginia;
director resides in VA]
9.
Warner Bros.-Lawrence Kasdan Pictures / "The Risk Pool": search for locations for entire film [project
on hold while Tom Hanks shoots other project]
10. Walt Disney
Pictures / "Pirates of the Caribbean 2": wide search for 60-foot or higher waterfall
in "jungle" setting with raging water
11. Paramount
Pictures / "Dexterity":
search for locations; producer withdrew WV from consideration upon
learning no production incentives were available
12. 20th
Century Fox TV / untitled new TV drama: interested in using former WV Penitentiary [project on hold]
X. Summary of Accomplishments
Between
September 2002 and June 2003, the position of Director of the West Virginia
Film Office was vacant. Pamela Haynes
was selected to fill the position on July 14, 2003. With the full support of the WV Division of Tourism and the WV
Tourism Commission (and its Motion Picture & Television Development Committee),
the Director took immediate and successful steps to reverse the stagnancy of
the office and to quickly achieve international visibility, as follows:
Developed branding logo,
letterhead, business cards, website domain, and Film Office Newsletter; created
the Production Services Directory, which showcases West Virginia's industry
workforce available for hire and state vendors able to support the needs of
production activities; developed Strategic Plan for FY 2004-2006; developed
Marketing Plan for FY 2004-2005; developed statewide network of various
agencies and individuals to provide liaison assistance to WVFO; responded to
all production and miscellaneous inquiries; participated in professional
development activities to gain international visibility; participated in
community activities and numerous media interviews to provide understanding of
the mission of a "film office" and to help the WVFO gain statewide
visibility; maintained data on other film office structures and production activities
around the nation; enhanced Locations Photography Library.
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