January 26, 2007

Dear MN Moving-Image Vendor and Production Company:

Shoot In Minnesota asks that you to join with us in the ongoing effort to maintain and expand film and television production incentives for our industry. At this time last year, 46 states in the U.S. had some form of incentives for film and television production. Although Minnesota did have an incentive in the form of a sales tax exemption to TV commercials only, it lagged far behind as compared to other states. Our state was bringing up the bottom. In May of 2006, the state legislature funded a one-time, one-year financial incentive program called Snowbate for television programs and commercials, feature films, music video and documentaries produced in Minnesota. We need your help to move this from a one-time funding to a permanent, ongoing program!

Clearly production incentives have become a major part of the business landscape for visual media production worldwide. The Minnesota film and television community now has the opportunity to compete on a level playing field with other states and countries. We simply need to make the incentive program permanent!

Incentive legislation would not have been enacted without the coordinated effort of the Minnesota Film and Television Board and professional political lobbyists engaged by Shoot In Minnesota. The actions that we took are beginning to produce results. Major advertisers and commercial production companies have brought many projects to Minnesota because of the incentive. Several television series and two feature films have applied as well, and the outlook is very positive.

Shoot In Minnesota will continue in its role as the trade association representing the Minnesota moving image industry, resuming its lobbying efforts now that the 2007 Minnesota State Legislative session is underway. Our goals for 2007 are:
• Make the Snowbate program funding permanent by getting it onto a line-item of the budget (as opposed to a one-time special appropriation);
• Significantly increase the funding for the Snowbate program.
• Extend the existing sales tax exemption for commercials to include feature films.

Our success during the 2006 session should be seen as a strategic step towards passage of a significant two-year funding increase for the Snowbate program during the 2007 legislative session. What we did last year is all about this year!

Shoot In Minnesota’s believes that it is necessary to have professional political lobbyists/consultants involved in this effort. The State Capitol is a big place with 201 legislators. It is important to have people who are experienced with the legislative process to help navigate those potentially choppy waters, formulate strategy, and to stand on watch and be available 24/7 during the legislative session. Shoot In Minnesota has retained the lobbying services of veteran Cindy Jepsen. Her experience, reputation and bipartisan approach was key in getting incentive legislation passed in 2006.

These professional services cost money. As a member of the Minnesota production community, we ask that you participate in this effort by making a donation to Shoot In Minnesota. Please visit the website: www.ShootInMinnesota.org for details on how you can make a donation.

Minnesota now has a very generous production incentive program of a 15% rebate for all production costs incurred in the state. This is a great start! If we are successful in making the program permanent, winning passage of additional Snowbate funding, and getting the sales tax exemption extended to feature films, Minnesota will have one of the top-ranked incentive programs in the country. Our success to date is the result of taking action to form a trade organization to represent our professional interests. There is power in speaking as one voice.

All of us as members of the Minnesota Film and television industry have a unique opportunity to foster significant and needed changes to our local industry. Together we can create a legacy and insure that the Minnesota film and TV production industry returns to its former stature and continues to grow. We ask you to join with us in the effort to maintain and expand film and television production incentives in Minnesota.