I hope you enjoy this abbreviated edition of IMAGINE Magazine. It wasn’t scheduled as we wanted to dive right into our mega March and April Special Editions that include our 2016 New England Production Guide and our NAB focused edition. Each gets important distribution at AFCI’s Locations & Global Finance Show in Burbank and at NAB in Las Vegas.
However, two things happened, AFCI moved their show from early March to late in April almost immediately after NAB, also Governor Baker announced that he would be making what he called “modest adjustments” to the Massachusetts Film Tax Credit Law. I had to make the decision to make major adjustments to our publishing schedule.
Needless to say, An Act to Promote Sustainable Economic Development in Massachusetts is unacceptable to our industry. I’ve digested the bill and have written my thoughts; you can read them starting on page eight. As you might guess, I have quite a lot to say. Now, it’s left to mount another great defense.
A far more delightful and pleasant topic is IMAGINE’s Industry New Year’s Celebration & “Imaginnaire” Awards Gala held at the majestic Royal Sonesta Hotel in their Riverfront Room. The hotel staff created exactly the setting I had envisioned. This was a cocktail buffet occasion to remember. The food was beautifully presented and was scrumptious. I can’t say enough about what a charming and as always “magical” evening it was.
Kudos to everyone who worked tirelessly to make this event extremely special, it couldn’t have been done without you! The highlights, of course, are our inspirational honorees. Our newest “Imaginnaires” are Melissa McMeekin, a Boston based actor, writer and director; Douglas Trumbull, the legendary filmmaker and visual effects pioneer; Elika Portnoy, Executive Producer of BEASTS OF NO NATION and an actor living in Boston; Erica McDermott, actor model and funny girl who played Mary Bulger in BLACK MASS and our Shooting Star award went to Seth Chitwood, a prolific young writer, director and actor who has received eight LAWEBFEST awards.
Awards were presented by Angela Peri, Co-owner and Casting Director of Boston Casting, Diane Pearlman, Executive Director of the Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative, Christy Cashman, President of Saint Aire Productions, Don Packer, co-owner and Senior Editor of Engine Room Edit and actor, producer, TV show host Jan Waldman respectively.
The program was graciously coordinated by the thoroughly entertaining and masterfully funny Tiffany Crosby. She is a terrific M.C. I am so grateful for her, all our honorees, presenters, and everyone who attended. Again, I have nothing but praise for the Royal Sonesta Hotel and its thoughtful and responsive staff. Enjoy our photos here and see our video at www.imaginenews.com.
Our next edition will be our 2016 New England Production Guide. It’s a 411 for New England and we’ll publish it in print and online, where it will stay 24/7/365 until we publish our 2017 one. You’ll want to be a part of it as we take it to Burbank and give Hollywood a big shout out about what we have to offer here in New England. See our information on page four or contact me for more details.
