Supporting Florida’s Digital and Interactive Media
DMAF Legislative Update
Apr 8th
Dear Digital Media Community,
As some of you have no doubt heard, HB 697, the House version of our economic incentive bill, passed late Tuesday afternoon — 117 to 0!!!!
The Bill’s primary co-sponsors (Rep Precourt, Rep Carroll, and Rep Ambler) did an outstanding job of presenting the bill, with Rep Glorioso and Rep Rehwinkel-Vasilinda standing with them in bi-partisan support.
To top it off, all 112 other representatives on the floor signed on as co-sponsors, so the sponsorship was unanimous as well as the vote! A tremendous success, on the heels of the Senate Jobs Bill passage.
One more to go (Senator Haridopolos’ companion bill, SB 1430, which enjoys strong support). See Lucia Fishburne’s “Film 1” write-up for more details.
ACTION: DMAF asks you to thank the various supporters of the bill from our regions, and rightfully so! Please refer to earlier news posting, find your reprentative in the list, and reach out with your personal message of thanks!
Enjoy this tremendous success!!! It continues to be a massive team effort. DMAF extends special thanks to Lucia Fishburne, David Caserta, Leah Sokolowski and the many other behind-the-scenes supporters of this legislative effort for their passionate and knowledgeable support and guidance.
ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY INCENTIVE BILL PASSES HOUSE!
Apr 7th
CS/CS/HB697, the Entertainment Industry Incentive bill, passed the House unanimously yesterday.
Rep Precourt, Rep Carroll, and Rep Ambler eloquently and enthusiastically presented the bill with Rep Glorioso and Rep Rehwinkel-Vasilinda standing with them. Many other members stood up and passionately expressed their support.
After the vote, Rep Precourt asked the Speaker to open up the voting machine so he could invite members to sign on as co-sponsors. All members present – 112 members total – signed on as co-sponsors. This is incredible support indeed! We are so very grateful to the primary sponsors and the many other co-sponsors.
The bill will now go over to the Senate. Rep Precourt and Rep Carroll will be over there today to urge leadership to move along the process. There are several possible scenarios that could develop, but all will involve negotiating the final language and the total amount of tax credits available.
We are hopeful that, at minimum, the Senate will accept the House language and suggested numbers ($55 million the first year, $50 million the second year, and $27 million the following three years). However, Senator Haridopolos’s companion bill (SB1430) still holds at $75 million a year, which provides good leveraging room to get the House’s numbers up. The language in the Gaetz’s “jobs bill” (SB 1752), which already passed the Senate, includes $20 million a year for five years for the part related to the entertainment incentive.
We will keep everyone posted, and as always, you can locate the most recent the legislative updates and links to legislative information on our website at http://www.filminflorida.com/wh/Legislative.asp.
Please thank your area Representative(s) for their support if you see their name in the list of additional co-sponsors for HB697.
HB 697 by Finance & Tax Council and Economic Development Policy Committee and [Primary Sponsors] Precourt and Ambler and Carroll
(CO-SPONSORS) Abruzzo; Adams; Adkins; Anderson; Aubuchon; Bembry; Bernard; Bogdanoff; Bovo; Boyd; Brandenburg; Braynon; Brisé; Bullard; Burgin; Bush; Cannon; Chestnut; Clarke-Reed; Coley; Cretul; Crisafulli; Cruz; Culp; Domino; Dorworth; Drake; Eisnaugle; Evers; Fetterman; Fitzgerald; Flores; Ford; Fresen; Frishe; Galvano; Garcia; Gibbons; Gibson; Glorioso; Gonzalez; Grimsley; Hasner; Hays; Heller; Holder; Homan; Hooper; Horner; Hudson; Hukill; Jenne; Jones; Kelly; Kiar; Kreegel; Kriseman; Llorente; Long; Lopez-Cantera; Mayfield; McBurney; McKeel; Murzin; Nehr; O’Toole; Pafford; Patronis; Patterson; Plakon; Poppell; Porth; Proctor; Rader; Ray; Reagan; Reed; Rehwinkel Vasilinda; Renuart; Rivera; Robaina; Roberson, K.; Roberson, Y.; Rogers; Rouson; Sachs; Sands; Saunders; Schenck; Schwartz; Skidmore; Snyder; Soto; Stargel; Steinberg; Taylor; Thompson, N.; Thurston; Tobia; Troutman; Van Zant; Waldman; Weatherford; Weinstein; Williams, A.; Williams, T.; Wood; Workman; Zapata
Lucia Fishburne State Film Commissioner Governor’s Office of Film & Entertainment The Capitol 400 S. Monroe St., Suite 2001 Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001 Phone: 850.410.4765 Fax: 850.410.4770 email: lucia.fishburne@myflorida.com www.filminflorida.com
Next Convergence on Apr. 13th
Feb 26th
You Are Cordially Invited to Attend DMAF’s gathering of executives, professionals, and students from all areas of digital media and entertainment in Central Florida on Tue. April 13th.
COME HEAR THE LATEST LEGISLATIVE UPDATE!
In Orlando: Location: Monkey Bar Time: 6:30-8:30 pm
Don’t miss the great food, drinks, and intelligent conversation – and best of all, admission is FREE, courtesy of DMAF. Don’t forget to bring a stack of business cards! …and a friend …and tell your colleagues!
Website: http://www.wallstplaza.net/monkeybar/ Please RSVP (Include Name, Business Name , and Email) rsvp@dmaflorida.org
Address Monkey Bar 26 Wall Street Orlando, FL 32801-2421 (407) 481-1030
Helios Interactive GameCore 2.0 Product Launch
Jun 7th
Helios launched it’s flagship product at the June DiMeNar, GameCore 2.0, designed to create full 3D games, virtual worlds and other interactive 3D content without the traditional barriers of complex technology, programming expertise and high development cost.
“GameCore 2.0 will revolutionize the 3D game and simulation industry worldwide by enabling a new generation of creatives and developers to easily create full games, virtual worlds, and other 3D interactive content.” said Ravé Mehta, CEO of Helios Interactive. “There are already over 60 summer camps around the country using GameCore to teach 8-14 year olds how to build four full 3D games in one week – we’re helping to create the digital workforce of tomorrow today!”
Also at DMAF’s June DiMeNar, Central Florida industry leaders also described the latest trends and developments in key global digital media markets and technologies, discussing their implications for Florida’s digital media businesses and professionals. They shared their insights and recounted the highlights from recent national/international meetings and conferences, covering the digital & interactive media and broadcasting, game development, social media and global themed entertainment sectors.
