Film Office hosting Business of Film workshop in Bluefield

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Pam Haynes, WV Film Office
304-957-9382, pamela.j.haynes@wv.gov
CONTACT: Marie Blackwell, Mercer County Convention & Visitors Bureau
304-325-8438, marie@visitmercercounty.com

State Film Office heads to Bluefield with community-oriented workshop

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Film Office will sponsor a
half-day workshop in Bluefield on May 19 on issues related to the film
industry and, particularly, how communities can work with the Film
Office to recruit more film production to the state.

The workshop begins at 9:30 a.m. and wraps by 12:30 p.m. at Bluefield
State College Research & Development Center, 704 Bland Street, in the
auditorium on the main level. Parking is available in the lot beside
the building. The workshop is free and open to the public. RSVPs are
requested by May 14. To register, contact Misty Dailey at
304-957-9366, or by e-mail at misty.g.dailey@wv.gov.

"Interest in filming in West Virginia is increasing because of our tax
incentive program, and it is important for the Film Office to reach
out to communities and community leaders to better prepare them when
their region is chosen for filming," said Pam Haynes, director of the
Film Office.

Haynes encourages academic instructors for film/television studies,
business leaders, members of convention and visitor bureaus, chambers
of commerce, economic development authorities, mayors and city
managers, county managers and commissioners, film and video production
companies, and freelance production crew to attend.

"This is a great opportunity for our businesses and community leaders
to learn more about how producers choose filming locations and how our
communities can support the Film Office's efforts to draw more film
business into the state," said Marie Blackwell, director of the Mercer
County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Having assisted the Film Office
over the years with location searches and connections to community
leaders, Blackwell said the information offered is a great tool for
anyone interested in becoming involved in the film industry as well as
for property owners who would like to make their homes or businesses
available for filming locations.

Haynes explained that an increase in filming activity is a result of
tax credit incentives recently passed by the West Virginia
Legislature. "The incentives allow the Film Office to be more
competitive with other states in recruiting film, television and other
productions," she said. Haynes said the most recent productions that
participated in the program are GCM Productions of Los Angeles, which
produced the ABC show "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution" filmed in
Huntington, and My Tupelo Entertainment of New York City, which
produced The Learning Channel show "Ghost Adventures Live" filmed in
Weston.

Haynes said the workshop, titled "Business of Film: Paths to
Opportunity," will provide an overview of the tax incentives and how
they will benefit West Virginia businesses, how communities may become
film friendly, what to expect and how to handle filming when it knocks
on the door, and how to work effectively with the Film Office. A brief
tutorial on location scouting also will be highlighted, and there will
be an assortment of helpful handouts.

Haynes said additional workshops will be scheduled around the state as
needed. The workshop has been previously presented in Charleston,
Fairmont, Follansbee, Huntington, Lewisburg, Lost River, Martinsburg,
Morgantown, Weirton and Wheeling. She added that the Film Office will
conduct the workshops in any county or community where interest and
participation would be significant.

The West Virginia Film Office is a section under the WV Department of
Commerce, Division of Tourism, and can be visited at www.wvfilm.com.