Governor Paul Cellucci is a man who loves movies. Last year at this time the Imagine staff visited with the Governor, conducted a wide ranging interview, featured him as the November cover story, and came away with a sense that a positive Cellucci legacy may well be embedded in the film and television production industry.

Back then, we asked the Governor about the grist in the rumor mills that many Producers stayed away from Massachusetts because of the strong-arm tactics and the high costs associated with the local unions, particularly the Teamsters Union. The Governor said he arranged trips to Hollywood to help overcome the continued "perception" that Massachusetts is an expensive place to shoot. At the time both local union chief George Cashman (who accompanied Cellucci and others on Hollywood trade missions) and Governor Cellucci argued that those issues may have been true "in the past," but, "no longer," said the Governor.

We gave him the benefit of our doubts and hoped that the allegations would no longer be true. Sadly, one only need glimpse the headlines to clearly know those issues are not "in the past." This past summer, the city enjoyed one of the longest Hollywood Studio location shoots in the history of such things in Boston. Sam Weisman's WHAT'S THE WORST THAT COULD HAPPEN proved to be a breeding ground for more examples of greed and the unbecoming union behavior that gives the state of Massachusetts its rating as undesirable, continuing to place it on the lowest rung on the film friendly state ladder. These are concerns for filmmakers even before they tackle the budget considerations of the other high costs that are associated with the New England Hub.

Frankly, we see many Cellucci-supported State elements that encourage filmmaking in Massachusetts (fee-free locations, a cracker-jack film office for example), but not nearly enough. Legislation that would provide economic relief or tax incentive to the industry hasn't been introduced, although, Governor Cellucci, has told us he never "met a tax cut he didn't like," the climate has not been conducive. It's disappointing, particularly, when we see these kinds of measures enjoying success in neighboring states. It is clear that Massachusetts is missing the boat, the best individuals and ideas cannot come forward until the present untidy circumstances are removed. Only then can the Governor play the leadership role he could flourish in and thereby bring the expected dividends to the State.

Governor Cellucci clearly has his work cut out for him. Clearly, he must surround himself with qualified and trustworthy folks who can see the big picture. As investigations continue and justice takes its course, the focus must change from the unspeakable to the positive aspects of how much promise this industry holds for New England and the leadership role Massachusetts and its Governor can play. And while the spotlight must shift from the negative to the positive, the undesirable aspects must be satisfactorily resolved and constituents reassured of it.

It seems almost criminal that even though the most talented people working in the industry are educated and trained here, they are forced to move to work. The technology the industry loves, technology that has changed the 100-year history of how the industry will tell its stories is created here. Boston has the only college that bestows a degree in film scoring. Giants in the industry want to live here. Massachusetts has outrageously beautiful locations. What more could be asked for?

Is a particular civil union too much?