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February Commentary from George Spiro Dibie A Glimmer of Hope There was a time when things looked particularly grim at a crucial point in the American Revolution. The troops led by George Washington were mainly encamped at Valley Forge. The weather was bitter cold and there wasn't sufficient food, clothing, weapons or ammunition. Meanwhile, the British were reinforced by a formidable band of mercenaries. A lone patriot, Thomas Paine, took it upon himself to write and publish a series of essays that he called The Crisis Papers. One of those papers contained the immortal words, "These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of men and women…." History tells us that Washington read the crisis papers to his troops, and that they rallied, defeated the mercenaries and ultimately won the war. When measured against that crisis at the birth of our nation, and the continuing tragedy in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attack, our everyday concerns about the impact of runaway production might seem to be somewhat pedestrian. But, the reality is that our members and their families are being unfairly hurt. Beyond that, our national interests are at stake. The production and exporting of American films is a vital component of American art and culture and an important cog that drives our national economy. Everyone should be concerned that one in four U.S. films is now produced in another country. That number has doubled during the past decade. Reliable studies show a drain of $3 billion annually on the U.S. motion picture industry and $10 billion on the general economy. On the bright side, we are all enjoying what can best be described as a new spirit of camaraderie in the wake of the September 11 attacks. We all see it in our daily lives, and also in the civility of our members who are reaching out to others, including their families, neighbors, and also to their brothers and sisters in our Guild. Many more people are participating in our activities and more are volunteering to help. Fewer people are standing on the sidelines complaining, and expecting other people to fight their battles. There is also more good news on the horizon. In California, Governor Gray Davis is responding to our entreaties by sending a bill to the state assembly, which will provide a 15 percent tax credit for lower budget (we believe under $10 million) films produced primarily in California. Other state governments are also being nudged in that direction, and we, along with many other Guilds, are fighting for national legislation that will provide tangible support for filmmakers who choose to work in this country. Those incentives alone are
not going to solve all of the problems related to run-away production,
but they are an important step in the right direction. Individually, none
of us can win this battle alone no matter how hard we try. We need everyone
involved, supporting our efforts, and letting your local politicians know
that you care and you are watching them. If you are not involved with
the Guild, I encourage you to take the first step today. Follow the guild
news by reading our newsletter Camera Angles and our website.
The advice that Thomas Paine gave his fellow patriots some 225 years ago
is truer than ever today… "he that stands it now, deserves the love
and thanks of men and women…".(link to /news/guild/index.html). As always, I look forward
to your comments and suggestions. Please
e-mail
them to me. George Spiro Dibie, ASC |