DON’T DO IT, MARY!!

Don't sign a proposed bill for legislation which might change incentives given to movie companies which could cause them to boycott our state.

The Oklahoma state legislature is attempting to pass legislation that will gut the state’s nascent film industry before it really gets going. I was concerned when it passed out of senate committee with a clear majority. Can you just imagine where this will leave me, if films start exiting or not even coming to the state? Goodbye Red Carpet. This is one of those things that should probably be enlarged instead of being reduced or eliminated. Mary, just sit back and while watching the television some night in a future February, think of me thanking the good folks of Oklahoma and you personally for my Academy Award.

In the short time I’ve been around this industry (two and a half years), I have found that it brings quite a bit of money into Oklahoma. A number of movies have been filmed in our state during that period of time. However, since the news of the State possibly reducing the incentive, you can just imagine that inquiries have dried up. Once New Mexico put the word they were thinking of reducing the incentives (even though nothing has been done yet) they lost IRONMAN 111, starring Robert Downey, Jr, OBLIVION with Tom Cruise, a Quentin Tarantino movie and a television series, A LYING GAME, all because they announced the incentives were going to change. They all went to Texas. They made a special provision for THE LONE RANGER with Johnny Depp. So that one stayed.

Kansas and Missouri have both stopped their incentives and Colorado has announced an increase. So two of our neighboring states are dropping out of the business and one is stepping it up. Louisiana and Texas have strong incentives and are getting many films. I would hate to leave Oklahoma and give thanks to Louisiana or, heaven forbid, Texas for my award.

Oklahoma now gives a 35% rebate to films with an industry cap of $5,000,000. New Mexico gives 25% up to $50,000,000 cap and that may be reduced. Louisiana gives a 30% tax incentive and a 5% labor incentives for those who live in the state. I do not believe they have a cap. Thanks to tax incentives that lead the country, Louisiana has probably become the premier location for film and television production in the United States. I have had several friends who have gone to Louisiana to be in films. Even the Warner’s Brothers movie THUNDERSTRUCK with Kevin Durant is being filmed there. With just a few shots filmed here. It is kind of embarrassing.

While I imagine state politicians would love to give millions to every industry, the primary objection to film incentives is “we can’t afford to.” I would like them to consider this: We can’t afford not to. Not only are neighboring states stealing jobs, they’ve actually turning a profit. So while millions in incentives may seem costly, it is actually a very prudent investment with very immediate results.

For this fiscal year, which will end June 30, 2012, the Oklahoma rebates are responsible for more than 500 jobs (499 if you don’t count me) and $38 million in economic stimulus. Thank you film industry. And, we still have several months to go until the fiscal year end. This analysis was conducted by Oklahoma City University’s Meinders School of Business for the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department. Since the first of the year, the Oklahoma Film Commission has had to turn away 13 feature films. Five years ago the state was begging to get a project in here. Tell me that doesn’t cost the state money? You know me as a strong conservative who wants to reduce government spending. But, this is one incentive that gives back.

Film production people talk about these other states and how nice the people are to work with and amazed at the talent they have found. HELLLLLOOOO - People here are every bit as friendly, if not more so, and we are loaded with talent - both actors and crew. But, to find out how super talented the people of Oklahoma are, we need to get the movie makers here first. So, bring on the incentives.

SO, DON’T DO IT MARY!! DON’T SIGN THE BILL IF IT GETS TO YOUR DESK.

Okay – Now to get back to what this blog is all about: ME. I recently filmed a fun television commercial for Steve’s Wholesale Tools of Oklahoma City. The part filmed me going to a sales counter and asking the clerk behind the counter if he had a certain tool. I don’t know the name of the tool I want, so I make “BUZZZZZZ, OR RAT-A-TAT, OR URRRRRR” sounds to replicate the desired tool’s sound. I had to make sounds for a chainsaw, an impact wrench, and so forth. At the bottom of THIS blog, are the links to the commercials. Acting friends Cindy Hanska and Cary Hawkins were in the commercials and they too had to make sounds. A zany, talented, and without-limits advertising man, Bob Hammack, produced these spots. What a hilarious shoot, and I loved being a star.

In acting classes, my practice scenes had sometimes been delightfully ridiculous. Quite often the scenes we are given to practice (known in the industry as sides) are actually scenes from television shows that are on the air or are eventually going to be. Fun lines like this one from the upcoming remake of THE MUNSTERS. I am Grandpa, and I say to my granddaughter, Marilyn “I adore you Marilyn. I’m the one who talked your mother out of eating you.” It’s a comedy. Oh, I see, you already got that. The other scene is a new Reba McIntyre television show MALIBU COUNTRY. She says at a news conference given by her country music star husband (one of those kind where wives stand in silence behind their cheating husband), “ -----and what they are going to say about me is I left his lying cheating butt.” Joy really got into my being my reader on this one to an extent that worried me. Can you tell that acing is a big whoop to me?

Links to Steve’s Tools commercials.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gevPEQ_FOUI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xyb6ura27lE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbH3-p87IRY

It has been a good year so far. I survived an 855’ jump off the 108 story Stratosphere Hotel in Las Vegas. And yes, this was planned and yes, I did have a harness, and yes, I did pay for this privilege. While I was doing this, Joy went to an upscale mall to spend her inheritance. When I landed safely, I called to tell her I was fine. She said, “Darn!!! Do I have to take everything back"?

STUDENT FILMS – The good, the bad, and the ugly

Do you often wonder how film makers get started? Where do the creators get the ideas, equipment, actors, and costumes? Most likely they start out as film students.

Student films are created by students who have enrolled in film studies curriculum at major universities. Oklahoma City and Norman have three schools that teach this. The University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City Community College and Oklahoma City University all have this specialty. I have worked with students from each of these universities. As a beginning actor, you take these roles to help you gain experience in seeing how a film comes together. If a scene is good enough, then a beginning actor can add it to a reel that can be shown to agents.

I just finished one a few weeks ago that was filmed at OU, "Bananafish" by Ezra Gentle, a student in film studies. He wrote and directed this film. An age-old theme of boy meets girl, but told in an eight/ten minute-time span. Each page of script traditionally is a minute of finished film time. The script for this movie is 10 pages long and normally that means that movie will last about 10 minutes. So, if you’re a mathematical wizard as I am, you can figure that a major film that lasts two hours had approximately 120 pages of script.

Some of the people on this latest project were acquaintances from acting classes. Rett Terrell, a tall good looking guy whom I have the pleasure of working with in acting class was the young man. Lauren Analla, a very pretty freshman at OCU, was the young lady. My meaty role was that of an interviewer who was considering hiring the young man.

Further on in the movie, I first encounter “David” as I am leaving a stall in a men’s room at the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication located on the University of Oklahoma campus. Careless while washing his hands, David has splashed water on the front of his pants. As a developing plot, this happens just before the interview. His awkward position while trying to dry the crotch area of his pants, with an on-the-wall hand dryer, had him looking like something out of the game “Twister”. The wet pants guy looks startled as I leave the stall and I am amused and befuddled at his dilemma. Wanting to leave quickly, I start to wash my hands, but instead just rush out the door. Imagine my discomfort when I discover he is one of the guys I’m to interview.

Leaving the interview table in the conference room, I enter the lobby and address the applicants. I call out a name, “Mr. Salingur”. Restroom guy comes forward. Oops! I initiate a handshake – and he’s conflicted and reluctant to shake my hand which he knows hasn’t met soap and water since the bathroom incident. He follows me into the conference room where he is to be interviewed. On either side of me are Mike Waugh and Kurt Harris who do the interview. Also at the table is “Claire”, the girl he (David) had just met that morning (remember the boy meets girl theme). He pays more attention to her than he does to the interview process. He asks a question that causes us to pause. I form a huddle with my co-interviewers. I detail what happened and graphically point to my pants to let them know of the water on the front of his trousers. We tell him he is not right for the job. The plot and the way it plays out should be really cute.

Very professionally, we received a call sheet. This is the first student film that I have ever seen a call sheet. I understand the need for a call sheet as it makes a lot of sense. It chronicles what scene we will be filming at what time and where. It also shows what actors and crew are expected. The crew’s time is normally earlier than the actors. But, it is a very efficient way to run a movie shoot and I am surprised that I had not seen one before. I was favorably impressed with the attention and expertise of Ezra and associate producer Britni Harris. To my glee, I finally was in a film with older actors. Not near as old as me though. Mike Waugh I had worked with in a St. Anthony Hospital spot and Kurt Harris was Britni Harris’ father. She corralled him into doing the movie since he was bringing some items from their home in Tulsa to her after the Christmas break. Others involved were Ragan Butler, another producer and Jeremy Clardy was the 1st AD (assistant director). I had met Jeremy on an earlier student film in December filmed at an art gallery in Norman. Michelle DeLong, an OKC casting agent, helped with the casting and pre-production. Not having asked others for permission, I’m reluctant to put their names in this blog. They were all very proficient during our three-day shoot in Norman – can’t wait to see it.

The movie I filmed at the art gallery was written and directed by a film student at OCCC, but was more discombobulated. That’s a big word drawn from my vast vocabulary. We had to wait three hours for the “star”, an OCU student, to deign to appear (Guess he thought he was a big deal). Then because of his lateness we barely had time to shoot the scenes there before the gallery had to close at 11:00pm. Helpfully, the gallery personnel stayed open for another hour. That is, after I made a donation to the gallery. The next scheduled shooting day was put off several days which was a little annoying. The self-proclaimed star was just not being considerate of others. I asked their names for this blog and no one seemed eager to have the situation in print. I can understand. The student was required to have this film completed and delivered to his professor by December 12. I have not heard a word since then even though I messaged him through Facebook. So it goes without saying that I have not seen it. In fact, of the five student films in which I have been an actor I have only seen one. That’s on the down side of the law of averages. Editing a movie takes awhile to complete so understandably I have not seen two of the films.

Part of the film students education needs to be a realization that everyone is putting himself/herself out to support and help film students – no pay and not much glory unless you get a good reel item from it. We actors and crew love to help a student – but deserve respect of our time. Life will happen and lessons will be learned. Guess that is show biz!! I will be interested to see how they do in real life. I think film professors should create a critique sheet for those of us who volunteer to complete when our part is finished. They would probably learn a lot about their students.

I am are pleased to announce that the film "Sucker" won a Golden Drover award at the Traildance Film Festival for "Best Contest Film" in Duncan, OK this past weekend. Go SUCKER!! A film I am very proud to have been involved with was put together by Ben Hlavaty and a talented group of young people. Some of them from OCCC. A movie produced in just 48 hours. This was not a student film. Congtratulations to Ben and all the people involved. A marvelous group of congenial people.

EXCUSE ME FOR ENDING THIS BLOG; I’M OFF TO SOAP UP MY HANDS IN THE RESTROOM SINK.




Check out my wife, Joy's web page
joyrichardsonart.com
and
my daughter Robin's blog
http://thep3.com/author/paisleyspinstripesandplaids/