Colorado Film Industry News

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HB 12-1286 will go into effect on July 1, 2012. Get ready to work Colorado!

Jess Stainbrook, Creative Director for 1615.tv and the Executive Producer for the major motion picture "Seven Days in Utopia" featuring Robert Duvall (released Sept. 2, 2011) is in development on his next project called "Central Americans." Jess will be mentoring and partnering with a team of new directors from Colorado on this project, Adam and Brian Bearly of Vintage Films. The story is an adventure comedy about a typically self-centered American career girl and her two idiot coworkers that must smuggle a large bag of cash into Central America – all to pay their boss' kidnap ransom! As is Jess's style, the movie has an imbedded message challenging viewers on what's REALLY important in life. The project has received development funding and plans on shooting in the Spring of 2013.

HB 12-1286 has passed the second & third reading on the Senate floor! The new incentive has also added a new amendment that excludes "obscene" films from qualifying. The amendment was officially adopted today, voting in favor of HB 12-1286 with a vote of 24-11. The bill is now officially headed to the Governor's office to be signed into law by Hickenlooper.

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HB 12-1286 passes Appropriations Committee today by a very narrow margin, voted in favor 5-4. The newly proposed Colorado film incentive bill now officially heads to the Senate Floor. We are really coming down to the wire with only 2 more votes before it goes to the Governor!

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The Finance Committee voted 5-1 in favor of HB 12-1286 on Wednesday May 1st. On Friday May 4th, the bill will go to the Appropriations Committee. If all goes well there...

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On Monday, April 30th, the Business, Labor and Technology Committee pushed forward with HB 12-1286 with a vote of 5-2. Right now, we have great traction and support in these committees. Tomorrow, May 1st, the Finance Committee will vote on the bill. We are coming down to the wire! Read the full details on what's happening with the Film Incentive Bill.

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Monday April 16th, the Senate has quickly accepted the bill and has now assigned it to the Business, Labor and Technology and Appropriations Committees. Right now, we have great traction and support in these committees. The Business, Labor and Technology and Appropriations Committees will only hear from a handful of Colorado's film, television and new media leaders. Read the full details on what's happening with the Film Incentive Bill.

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For twenty plus years, The Denver Studio Complex has served as the epicenter for the Colorado film and video industry. As you many of you already know, The Denver Studio Complex has officially closed it's doors.

After over 20 years of operations, the building located at 241 South Cherokee Street, will be soon torn down. The Denver Studio Complex and Lighting Services Inc (L.S.I) has hosted thousands of productions in the last 20+ years.

Starting on Monday April 23rd, Lighting Services and Pro Photo Photography will be conducting business as usual in their new location at 800 South Jason Street, in the building formally known as F/VESCO (Film/Video Equipment Service Company). There will still be a 44' x 70' cyclorama sound stage available for rent at their new location.

While the rental side of things will seamlessly transition to this new location, many businesses will no longer be grouped together in one large building. Other businesses that resided in the Denver Studio Complex are currently in the process of relocating as well.

It is definitely sad to see the largest movie studio complex in Colorado leave us all, but there is still new hopes of increased production work in Colorado with the proposed film incentive bill that could help regenerate our film industry.

Keep up-to-date on all the latest developments concerning HB 12-1286, the Colorado film incentive bill, as it makes it way through the Senate now.

Read the CBS article about Reviving Colorado's Film Industry.

April 12th, 2012 - Things are heading in the right direction! Colorado film incentives HB 12-1286 has now been approved and formally adopted by the House with a favorable vote of 45-20! If everything continues to go smoothly, there are only 3 or 4 more voting sessions until it becomes a law. There are only 28 more days of legislative session left. We desperately need to increase our fundraising activities. It is very critical that we do not lose momentum before our bill heads to the Senate.

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Thursday, April 5, 2012 - Colorado film incentives bill (HB 12-1286) has now passed through the House Appropriations Committee with a vote of 10-3!

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Several times in the past, our incentives bill has fallen short when it goes in front of the mighty JBC (Joint Budget Committee). But this time, the JBC has approved the bill with an overwhelming vote of 5-1! This is a major deal, and a huge step forward for Colorado filmmakers. We want to thank everyone who helped make this happen by writing those supportive letters to your Representatives. This could not have happened without you!

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Visit our film jobs and casting calls page for more information on current open auditions and jobs currently being offered in Colorado.

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We still need additional support! If you are interested in helping to support the proposed Colorado film incentives bill HB 12-1286, you can make a difference by writing a personalized letter to your Representative. We are encouraging all Colorado film industry supporters to take a moment to call, or write an email today, and help us achieve our goal.

Learn how you can help.

February 29th, 2012 the House Finance Committee approves Colorado film incentives HB 12-1286 with a vote of 8-5! The bill now travels to the House Appropriations Committee on a date still to be announced before it goes to the Senate to be voted on.

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The Colorado House Bill 1286 is officially cleared through the House Economic and Business Development Committee by a vote of 9 to 3 as of Thursday, February 16th. This is the first major step towards becoming a more competitive film production state.

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We need everyone's support! Join the rest of the Colorado film community on Wednesday, February 8th from 7:30 a.m until noon at the State Capitol steps for a very important rally regarding the increase of Colorado film incentives. It is especially important this time that we get every person to this rally so that we can all help persuade our legislators once and for all. Please mark your calendars and join us in support of increasing the film incentives in Colorado and bringing more production work to our State. Coffee, tea and cocoa will be provided at 7:30 a.m. near the steps of our State Capitol.

Colorado state lawmakers are making strong moves towards creating new jobs in Colorado, including in the film production industry. According to a recent CBS news article, the state lawmakers are working on expanding many current businesses and jobs, as well as targeting new business for the Colorado film industry.

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16-Love is a full length feature film written by the writer of the teen hit, A Cinderella Story. The film was Directed and Produced by Denver resident, Adam Lipsius, and Executive Produced by his wife, Linda Appel Lipsius. Appel Lipsius is a Denver native who attended Arapahoe High School. Their production company, Uptown 6, is based in the Highlands. 16-Love has been picked up for domestic and international VOD/online distribution by E1 and Gravitas Ventures will be enjoying a theatrical release the week of January 20th. Furthermore, the Tennis Channel is running a "Making of 16-Love" segment that premiered yesterday and will be airing throughout the month of December. The film is about Ally Mash, the ranking Junior Tennis Champion who - in the face of injury - discovers that there is more to life than just tennis. It is a funny, action-packed romantic comedy aimed at teens and tweens and engaging enough for the parents to come along and enjoy! A unique aspect of this film is the theatrical distribution model. Lipsius is raising money for the theatrical release through the website Kickstarter.com that supports artistic endeavors and proceeds from the theatrical run will go to support youth tennis programs.

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TNT has scheduled to film an action western pilot based around Gateway, Colorado in the 1880's. 'Gateway' will be a story about three brothers who want to seek justice for their father's death. The pilot is attracting big Hollywood names too. Cam Gigandet from 'Twilight' will play one of the brothers, and Keith Carradine, the cop from 'Dexter', will play a weary settler and father figure.

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Gary Busey and Ted Haggard are slated to participate in the popular television show 'Celebrity Wife Swap', which will be partly shot in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Born again Christian Busey and contentious pastor Ted Haggard will trade houses and spouses for two full weeks and impose their new rules on each other's families.

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Colorado based company i25productions, inc. is set to begin filming new documentary. The film will highlight Wayne's experiences during his seven-month journey from Nashville to Phoenix, and the people, places and pieces of Americana he encountered along the 1700-mile trek.

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Donald Zuckerman is named the new director for the Office of Film, Television & Media in Colorado. Zuckerman has produced several major motion pictures and has worked with some of Hollywood’s top directors and actors.

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