AN ACT CONCERNING EXPANSION, DEVELOPMENT AND JOB TRAINING FOR THE FILM AND DIGITAL ANIMATION INDUSTRY IN CONNECTICUT.

AN ACT CONCERNING EXPANSION, DEVELOPMENT AND JOB TRAINING FOR THE FILM AND DIGITAL ANIMATION INDUSTRY IN CONNECTICUT.

The bill establishes three film industry training programs. One requires the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism (CCCT) to collaborate with the Office of Workforce Competitiveness (OWC) to stimulate film and digital media employment in Connecticut. The second requires OWC to establish a film industry training program to support film and digital media production in the state. The third requires the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) to establish a film industry job development program and establishes a special account in the General Fund to fund equipment purchases for the program.

The bill also requires CCCT and DECD to provide reports to legislative committees concerning the film and digital media industries in Connecticut and their related activities.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2009, except for CCCT's new film credit reporting requirements, which are effective upon passage.

The bill requires CCCT to submit monthly reports, beginning July 1, 2009, to the Commerce Committee on the status of the film production, digital animation production, and infrastructure projects tax credits. The reports must include information on activities taking place as a result of each credit.

The bill requires CCCT to collaborate with OWC to stimulate film and digital media employment growth in the state. It requires CCCT to collaborate with other state agencies to notify film professionals living in Connecticut of digital and media production opportunities here. CCCT must (1) establish, update, and maintain an interactive website and Internet database of freelance film professionals who live here and (2) work with OWC to improve notice of freelance feature and commercial production opportunities here.

1. encourage membership in film industry unions by informing residents about union membership processes and encouraging use of the unions' applications, examination, and selection processes;

2. organize a month-long film industry training program for people seeking entry-level freelance media production work in Connecticut, with two weeks of classroom seminars followed by two weeks of active experience in the principal areas of feature production;

3. organize biannual weekend seminars for entry-level personnel to provide a basic orientation to the film industry; describe available freelance jobs; conduct exercises in how to relate to production staff, cast, and crew; and give insight into the hours this work requires;

4. provide necessary support to enhance college-level film and digital media education programs and further curriculum development for secondary and technical schools, especially in digital media and post-production; and

5. administer a mentorship program for residents who (a) have some professional film experience, (b) are graduates of relevant college programs, or (c) have completed the Film Industry Training Program.

CCCT must design the mentorship program in partnership with sponsoring production employers and unions. The bill requires sponsoring production employers to help fund the internship positions. (The bill does not specify with whom the employers share funding. )

1. barriers to developing Connecticut businesses that could provide equipment and services to film productions;

2. education and outreach programs to inform these businesses of opportunities;

3. the most effective ways to encourage out-of-state companies to relocate or open satellite offices in the state; and

4. how to identify opportunities in all digital media areas, including post-production, animation, gaming technology, special effects, and computer graphics.

CCCT and OWC must submit an annual report to the Commerce, Finance, and Higher Education committees on the steps CCCT takes to implement the film employment growth program. The first report is due by January 1, 2010.

The bill requires OWC, in consultation with the State Department of Education (SDE) and Department of Higher Education (DHE), to develop a film industry training program to support two areas of the state's film industry: film production and digital media. The program's curriculum must be designed for individuals seeking a career in the film industry.

The film production training program must use a three-phase model to create a skilled film industry workforce in the state. The program must provide (1) training by union members and (2) practical experience on motion picture projects. Courses using the program's curriculum must be available in different regions of the state.

Phase One: Introduction to Film Industry. The first-phase course is an introduction to the various film industry production departments listed in the bill. They are: (1) production management and direction; (2) location management; (3) production office coordination; (4) budget, accounting, and payroll; (5) script supervision; (6) camera; (7) sound; (8) property; (9) set decoration and set dressing; (10) set construction and scenic art; (11) lighting; (12) grip; (13) costume and wardrobe; (14) hair and make-up; (15) special effects; (16) visual effects; (17) post production; and (18) extras casting.

The course must also provide (1) an overview of motion picture production, (2) set etiquette and operations, (3) various positions on the set, and (4) insight into the work of a freelance production crewperson.

Phase Two: Producing a Short Film. The second-phase course requires trainees to apply for department-specific training. Course instructors must select trainees who are best equipped to achieve success in the departments. The bill requires the first two weeks of the course to consist of specialized classroom training in the trainees' chosen department and preparation of a short film produced in collaboration with all of the departments. During the second two weeks of the course, the 10 departments collaborate to complete production of another short film. (It is not clear what the 10 departments are. For Phase One of the program, the bill lists 18 departments. )

The bill requires instructors to advise each department and oversee the trainees' work, but it prohibits them from performing work themselves.

Phase Three: Paid Mentorship Position. The third-phase course is an eight to 12-week paid mentorship position on a feature film available for state residents who (1) have professional experience in some aspect of the film and digital media industry, (2) graduated from a college-level program in the field, and (3) have successfully completed the film industry training program's first- and second-phase courses. It must be designed for people who (1) are ready to declare a professional interest in a particular area of film production and (2) intend to apply for membership in an appropriate union.

The bill requires a production employer that sponsors a phase three participant to pay for an unspecified percentage of that individual's participation.

The bill allows OWC to provide additional internship programs for individuals and students who desire entry-level experience in the film and digital media industry. It requires sponsoring production employers in feature or digital media production to pay for the program.

The bill requires OWC to establish a digital media and movie-making course, in conjunction with the (1) Center for 21^st Century Skills established by EDUCATION CONNECTION, the regional educational service center located in Litchfield, and (2) the Connecticut College of Technology. The course must develop and enhance academic skills, creative thinking, digital medial literacy, and film making skills, while increasing students' knowledge of film-making careers through completion of a digital film project.

The program must be available at middle schools, high schools, vocational-technical high schools, and, based on articulation agreements, two-and four-year higher education institutions.

The project must (1) be comprehensive and standards-based and (2) include research, story development, script writing, computer-assisted design, computer animation, digital audio, digital photography, and digital video production. Students must organize and assume positions on movie production teams to complete their digital film project.

1. use a research-based and proven experiential instructional model to deliver digital media and movie-making teaching and learning activities for a culturally and economically diverse group of students in 10 Connecticut high schools;

2. use an instructional model recognized by the National Science Foundation to develop an online digital media and movie-making curriculum for students in grades nine through 12;

3. use the existing Connecticut Career Choices' online blended learning environment for students, teachers, film industry professionals, and college faculty to deliver, extend, and enhance digital media and movie-making education using a variety of Internet learning technologies;

4. include professional development for high school teachers and adapt the curriculum for all students in all courses; and

5. arrange for students to present their films at a student film festival to be held as part of the annual Connecticut Innovations Exposition.

The bill requires OWC to report, by August 15, 2009 and March 15, 2010, to the Commerce and Higher Education and Employment Advancement committees. The reports must include (1) the film industry and digital media programs' syllabi, (2) an evaluation of resources available for the programs, and (3) curriculum change recommendations.

The law requires that OWC submit annual status reports on its existing film industry workforce development programs.

The bill requires DECD to establish a program to support job development and growth in the state's film industry. It must do so in consultation with the Labor Department, SDE, DHE, OWC, and CCCT.

The program must emphasize education and training to develop a skilled workforce for the film and digital media industries in Connecticut. It must target individuals who are (1) trained feature film industry professionals; (2) professionals trained in film and video-related media but not experienced in feature film production; (3) interested in entering the film industry; and (4) middle school, high school, and college students.

1. include online resources and information;

2. be designed to develop workforce relationships between film producers and unions;

3. train Connecticut film production professionals to increase their presence in major film productions in the state;

4. include a seminar, taught by feature film production professionals, to provide information on (a) working on feature films, including how to apply for union membership and (b) on-set internship opportunities;

5. provide three-phase training for feature, infomercial, and commercial productions in various areas of the state;

6. provide access to film studio resources; and

7. include digital media, animation, and post-production education and training for middle school, high school, and college students.

The bill requires SDE and DHE to jointly develop the curriculum for the film industry job development program after consulting the state's public and independent colleges and universities and its digital media companies. The program must include digital media internships for students and externships for teachers.

By October 1, 2009, DECD must report to the Commerce and Higher Education committees on the program's development, including:

1. an evaluation of need and available programs and curricula at public colleges and universities,

2. a list of Connecticut film production companies and film industry unions,

3. available paid and unpaid internships, and

4. available film studio resources.

The bill establishes a separate, nonlapsing film industry equipment reserve account in the General Fund to contain appropriations and donations. It requires DECD to use the money to buy equipment for its film industry job development program but does not make an appropriation to it. The treasurer administers the account.

As part of its annual report to the governor and the General Assembly, the bill requires DECD to include the following information on the state's film industry:

1. an analysis of its activities to support the industry's growth;

2. a description of the department's in- and out-of-state marketing efforts to publicize tax credits to film production and digital animation companies for production, infrastructure development, and job creation; and

3. recommendations for further developing the state's film and entertainment industries.

PA 07-236 required OWC to, among other things, establish a film industry workforce training program that includes classroom and on-set training and a mentor program. The bill establishes a similar program and provides specific guidelines for how OWC must implement it.