BIRMINGHAM,Ala.

Reelscene: We've just finished with this part of the Birmingham City Council meeting and tell us what the resolution was that was on the agenda?

David Ricker: My understanding of the resolution was that the City Council just approved giving $30,000 to the Metropolitan Development Board, which in turn gives that money to the Jefferson County Commission to create their own Film Commission.

Reelscene: What has the Birmingham Film Commission done that the County can't do or might be doing?

David Ricker: What the County proposes is creating a 501-C-3 not-for-profit organization, the Birmingham Film Commission was a governmental entity. The differences between the two is a not-for-profit organization like that the County Commission wants to create has no governmental authority, it can not co-ordinate with the police department, the fire department, park and recreation department, etcetera in order to help facilitate production of movies, commercials, anything of that nature in the city. Where as  the Birmingham Film Commission, a governmental entity, had the authority to go to the police department and for example say 'hey, we need a couple of streets blocked off, can you help us out, sure no problem', because we would had had the backing of City Council, from the Mayor's Office and so the fire department, whatever organization with in the City would co-operate with us without any problem. Where as, with the not-for-profit, they (police) would ask 'who are you and what authority do you have ask us'.

Reelscene: What about the disbursement of tax credits and such, would a 501-C-3 be able to do that?

David Ricker: I am not sure. I have little information on that. I'd rather not give an opinion.

Reelscene: It seems like that a non-profit organization wouldn't be able to do any type of tax credit, film credit....

David Ricker: You would think, you would think, yes.

Reelscene: So that's yet to be decided about the proposed Jefferson County Film Commission?

David Ricker: From my understanding, yes.

Reelscene: What was your presentation today?

David Ricker: My presentation was to  ask questions, to ask what is going on, what are you doing, and to remind them they already have a film commission. Why are they doubling their efforts?

Reelscene: What was your stance as far as your presentation today?

David Ricker: My stance was one of dismay, bewilderment. I have not been in touch with the Birmingham City Council, nor they with me, as to what they plan on doing with the Film Commission or with the County, etcetera. they have not contacted us in any way.

Reelscene: The allocation the Jefferson County Commission has for the $60,000, is that really necessary in terms of the information that y'all already have?

David Ricker: No. We already have the information so why go out and get again. Why spend the time and money and effort to go out and get all that information when it's right there at your finger tips.

Reelscene: Do you have any information as to how the County has allocated that $60,0000.

David Ricker: No. All I know is they're going to, from what I've heard in the media now, is they plan on giving this money to a couple of individuals to create a film commission, Alan Hunter and Erik Jambor. There may others involved but those two specifically is what I've heard.

Reelscene: Based on other media reports.

David Ricker: Yes, based on media reports.

Reelscene: When was the Birmingham Film Commission put together?

David Ricker: The Commission itself was created in October 2003, in December 2003 five individuals were actually appointed to the Film Commission.

Reelscene: And what was the scope of the Birmingham Film Commission suppose to be?

David Ricker: One of our goals was get the public schools system involved with film and television. We were going to incorporate them into any kind of projects that came our way. To give the kids an idea of what it's like to work in the film and television industry and to give them an opportunity to find out if that's what they want to do. As they grew up they would know 'hey, I can stay in Birmingham and do this, I don't have to leave Mom and Dad or my friends', because I can do that here. Based on what the Birmingham Film Commission did.

Reelscene: Were you also looking at staying just in Birmingham?

David Ricker: No. Encompassing, we had talked with several municipalities about getting cooperation from them when necessary.

Reelscene: There's about thirty eight smaller ones around here.

David Ricker: Well, we hadn't had enough time to talk with everybody, but some of the major ones we had some preliminary talks with and they were very favorable to what we wanted to do. And they were glad we came straight to them and talked with then instead of going through the media.

Reelscene: So actually the Birmingham Film Commission was going to set up as a regional film commission.

David Ricker: Yes, it may of had the name Birmingham but it was going to be a regional group, yes.

Reelscene: What did the Birmingham Film Commission do in the past?

David Ricker: What we had already accomplished, we had  been in talks with several production companies out in California. One of them was set to defiantly bring a major motion picture here to town. They wanted to work with us for the very reasons I stated, that a governmental entity can do, to help them co-ordinate all their activities without any problems what so ever. If they would have done that with the type of commission that the County wants to create they wouldn't be able to have that co-operation, that's just fact.

Reelscene: The proposed trip that the City Council wants to take to South Carolina, what information do you have about the South Carolina Film Commission.

David Ricker: I would have to go through my files. But they, the South Carolina Film Commission  is a government entity, it has governmental authority, it can do things. And they're very successful. They are one of the, ... three or four of them we were closely looking at modeling ourselves after. Now what the City wants to do with trips is beyond me because all they had to do was ask their own Film Commission, we've already done the research.

Reelscene: So y'all already have the answer.

David Ricker: We have the answers but they refuse to talk with us.

Reelscene: Who are the other members of the Birmingham film Commission?

David Ricker: Rocky Reeves, William Canty, Nathaniel Bagley, Taheria Monique Brown. Dr. Lisa Pickett was going to be our Executive Director and Mr. Fred Purchis was going to be our co-Executive Director. They would have done the foot work. They had already started on that.

Reelscene: The establishment of the Film Commission was going to also have an expansion at a certain date?

David Ricker: Yes. In April of this year the Park and Recreation Committee of the Birmingham City Council had voted unanimously, unanimously to expand the Commission to a total of nine members. Keep the original five appointees, appoint two people  from the Mayor's Office, and appoint two from the Jefferson County Commission.

Reelscene: That would have made it a regional film commission.

David Ricker: That would have given you that pure definition of regional co-operation, yes. And I should add that we had no plans that I know of to ask the County for money in order to have positions on the Birmingham Film Commission.

Reelscene: Would these have been paid positions?

David Ricker: No, these would have not have been paid positions. The only paid positions were going to be our Executive Director and Co-Executive Director. And they would have been paid from funds we raised from sponsorships, advertisements in the publications we had planned on, things of that nature. That how we were going to generate our money.

Reelscene: Rather than asking for tax money for this (Commission).

David Ricker: Correct. The only tax money that was going to be spent was the initial seed money of $63,000. That was going to be purely start up money. And after that we were going  to raise our own money, not tax payer dollars, no.

Reelscene: What was the last official communication you had about the Film Commission?

David Ricker: The last official communication we had from Birmingham City Council was April 7, 2004 when they had approved the decision to expand the Birmingham Film Commission. That was the last time, and I have that on tape, I have their own words on tape 'Ladies and gentleman, the Birmingham Film Commission'. And I had asked the question at that time 'when can we officially start working, first week of May' was the answer from Councilman Bert Miller. Since then we haven't heard any information from the City Council, none what so ever.

Reelscene: From now what will be the outcome of the Birmingham Film Commission, is it still going to be hanging out in limbo?

David Ricker: As far as I'm concern it's hanging in limbo right now because the City Council has yet to address that question. The only thing they said to me today, is they apologized for not having discussed this with us sooner. But that does not answer the question 'what is to become of the Birmingham Film Commission'.

Reelscene: When they (City Council) voted to rescind the funding some people think that was the end...

David Ricker: As far as I know of they (City Council) have not voted, as far as I know they have not voted to rescind that money, I don't know what has become of that money.

Reelscene: So that vote was not...

David Ricker: I think what you're talking about is the day in, I think I believe it was in May I'd have to check the newspapers again, believe it was on May, that Councilman Bert Miller announced that he was disbanding the Birmingham Film Commission. Oh, I'm sorry that was in March because at the April meeting he was informed  by his colleagues that he can not do that legally, that it takes the entire City Council to rescind anything that is created by the City Council.

Reelscene: The City Council did vote on some entire measure concerning the Film Commission.

David Ricker: Did they? I'm unaware of that. I don't know, honestly I don't know what they (City Council) voted on or to rescind what.

Reelscene: Well I personally don't have that information at the moment.

David Ricker: Oh, I'm sure you can go to the Clerk's Office and find out.

Reelscene: Well thank you.

David Ricker: Your welcome.

Copyright 2004 by Paul Godbey, all rights reserved