How good is SLU's film school? (St. Louis, Columbia: subletting, rentals, credit)

[arch_genesis]

Obviously the big film schools are NYU and UCLA Columbia Northwestern but the University of Texas - Austin has put itself on the map.

I think we need to create some directors to help export and bolster St. Louis' image.
St. Louis is a beautiful city and its filled in for some big budget movies.

I think we could tackle the indie market though which is what Austin has done.

Missouri Film Commission - Financial Incentives / Film Production Tax Credit

from the website

State Tax Credits are issued to a qualified film production company for up to 35 percent of the amount expended in Missouri (or up to 30 percent for qualifying out-of-state cast and crew when Missouri income taxes are withheld) for production or production-related activities to facilitate film production in Missouri.

The entire film production tax credit program is capped at $4.5 million

Also you only have to film 30 minutes in Missouri and you already have to have a budget of $100,000. What filmmaker fresh out of school has $100k of their own money to shoot their first film? The film studios with $100k to back them are on the coast and that's where we're they wind up shooting their pictures.


We just filmed 'Up in the Air' here. I may be wrong here but I think that took the full 4.5 million. On top of that I think we're suppose to be a stand in for Omaha, they're not even going to call it St. Louis. 4.5 million is a drop in the bucket of hollywood budgets. Its not worth it. How many films bite? Too many eggs wrong basket. If hollywood wants to shoot in St. Louis it will. Giving them 4.5 million is a waste.

Ideally I'd like to see film students come here for 4 years to study and come to appreciate the city. Then let them have at the 4.5 million to film in St. Louis. Robert Rodriguez -- from UT- Austin incidentally -- made 'El Mariachi' for $7000 dollars and went on to direct its sequels 'Desperado' and 'Once upon a time in Mexico'.

St. Louis could be like the New York of Indie films. Its a beautiful city and more films should be shot here. We should find a way to support them.

We need a good film school -- one that's on the map. Owen Wilson Wes Anderson and Robert Rodriguez all came from UT-Austin. How good is SLU or Wash U or UMSL? How many times has busch stadium been on the big screen? -- not nearly enough.

I think filmmaking could really tie together our creative community. Arists graphic designers musicians theatre and stage actors sets designers etc. I don't think we're putting enough money into it. -- Hell, we might actually get an independent movie studio here out of it.

[DinsdalePirahna]

I've brought this up before. The people in the missouri film commission are not doing their jobs. Being centrally located and less then 3 hours flying from either coast, it seems that this Area would be ideal. Especially for TV and Commercial production.

The reality is that Indies are a nice little cachet builder, but indies generally do not generate a lot of revenue for the community (Catering services, equipment and vehicle rentals, lodging, etc).

Saint Louis has a long way to go to generate at least the appearance of being "hip" Like it or not, STL to the outside artists community is perceived as a cultural and artistic backwater.

For example: I just joined Facebook. Since I am in the business, most of my friends are also artists, creatives and industry types from across the country. Almost everyone goofs on me for being in Missouri.

Saint Louis needs to come of with an artistic event that is uniquely Saint Louis, and not a second-rate knock off of some other cities event (Mardi Gras and Oktoberfest come to mind immediately)

There needs to be an element of danger and subversion involved. It also needs to be genuine. If a bunch of burned out hippies can make partying in the Black Rock Desert, a farm in Bethel, NY, a tiny village outside of Salt Lake City an übercool event, there has to be some talent here that can bring the same kind of excitement.


Films school are like art schools. You only need a few good visionary instructors. The rest can easily follow the adage of those who can, can...
Then you need to bring in some talented undergrad and graduate students to build a core and to build excitement. Then link famous person to that institution. Cal State Long Beach did this with Steven Speilberg who only attended for a few semesters before dropping out. They gave him an honorary degree and can link Speilberg to the film school (which btw is a very good scool at a public college)

[arch_genesis]

Indie films don't pay off immediately -- they don't have the budgets. But if you look at NYU's alumni Martin Scorcese Oliver Stone, Spike Lee, Ang Lee you begin to appreciate what a good film school can do. These are directors that have had a role in shaping New York's image. They love New York, they're loyal to New York they film in New York. They put NYU on the list of many prospective film students. People want to hitch their wagon to these guys and they'll go there in droves for the chance to do it.

I'd rather spend 4.5 million or whatever helping to strengthen the creative community creating people, who want to put St. Louis on the map and make it 'hip'. I want a St. Louis' 'Manhattan ' -- eventually. I want to give breaks to people who want to give St. Louis its closeup. Who knows, what that'll lead to if an loyal Alumni gets a big hollywood budget then you'll get catering, equipment, etc. 'Up In The Air' generated about $50 million for St. Louis, that's nothing in the grand scheme of St. Louis' economy. Being on screen in more markets and international cities can potentially be bigger than $50 Milion. That's the bigger picture, the problem is we're not on there enough.

We first have to change the perception that St. Louis is a cultural and artistic backwater. The film commission isn't doing its job. You and I, I think are on the same page.

[arch_genesis]

Originally Posted by DinsdalePirahna

Saint Louis needs to come of with an artistic event that is uniquely Saint Louis, and not a second-rate knock off of some other cities event (Mardi Gras and Oktoberfest come to mind immediately)

There needs to be an element of danger and subversion involved. It also needs to be genuine. If a bunch of burned out hippies can make partying in the Black Rock Desert, a farm in Bethel, NY, a tiny village outside of Salt Lake City an übercool event, there has to be some talent here that can bring the same kind of excitement.

Cinema St Louis

Are you aware of the St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase? I myself haven't checked it out. I'm not in the 'industry' as it were.

http://www.streetballersthemovie.com/

StreetBallers got some pretty huge buzz and screened at Tivoli for awhile. They also had a screening in Los Angeles recently too.

[DinsdalePirahna]

Every small to mid size city has an indy film community/ and festival. Not breaking new ground.

I think of all the films studio and independent that were produced around my hometown (Poughkeepsie, NY - described on these boards as "some obscure NY city")

Just wonder how this obscure little area can grab major productions and attract major "A" list celebrities as residents while Saint Louis thumps its chest about getting a few scenes in Tom Hanks movie and a well made indie.

Cool is not something that can be manufactured. It has to smolder as part of an underground scene.

[arch_genesis]

gotta start somewhere. If you have any ideas please share 'em.

[OA 5599]

Originally Posted by DinsdalePirahna

Cool is not something that can be manufactured. It has to smolder as part of an underground scene.

That is very true. I'm particularly interested in this thread as a former resident of Austin. Many long-time Austinites will tell you that many of the changes the city has seen have not been for the better. Up into the mid-90's, it was cheap enough to live in Austin that artists, musicians, and filmmakers could deliver pizzas or wait tables to finance their creative interests. Once the word got out that Austin was a "cool" place, the cost of living skyrocketed because everyone wanted to live there, and forced out much of the true underground talent. Nowadays, the underground scene is still alive in Austin, but the general vibe is more cosmopolitan and manufactured. The city still has many interesting things like the Austin City Limits music festival (I'd have gone this weekend had it not been for my work schedule) and SXSW, which does bring a lot of money/talent to town, but many other cities have similar festivals.

St. Louis certainly has everything that Austin has, if not more (the architecture here is far more interesting and varied, and ideal for filming), and we also still have a lower cost of living than Austin. People just don't "think" of St. Louis being creative.

I completely disagree about STL's Mardi Gras being a "second-rate knock off of some other city's event". Mardi Gras has religious roots and is celebrated around the world. New Orleans happens to have the largest in the United States, St. Louis has the second largest. Have you ever even been to Mardi Gras in St. Louis?

[DinsdalePirahna]

You can start be shutting down the Nimbies and Killjoys. An yearly event in any particular neighborhood should be seen more as an opportunity than an inconvenience. We have the triathalon here in LSL. It is amazing that there is a sizable group of old Furts that can't see the big picture value that a one-day high profile event brings to the community.

Look at the local Octoberfest. Sure its a drunken funfest. That's what they are. Even more fun that it is essentially a street fair. But also look at the growing opposition. Shut them up. Its only a few days of inconvenience that really showcases a community.

Nimby manipulation is bad in other parts of the country, but it is really bad here.

For a city to pick up the "cool cachet" it must also adopt a laissez-faire, Laissez les bon temps roulez attitude. Bring in the creatives and bend the rules of social conventions a little bit to let them flourish.

[OA 5599]

Originally Posted by DinsdalePirahna

For a city to pick up the "cool cachet" it must also adopt a laissez-faire, Laissez les bon temps roulez attitude. Bring in the creatives and bend the rules of social conventions a little bit to let them flourish.

Again, have you been to the Mardi Gras in Soulard? Plenty of laissez-faire public drunkenness, nudity, debauchery, and outright mayhem taking place, right in our own Soulard. It is certainly more out of control than any event I visited while in Austin. When I visited in 2006, it was one of the few times I had spent a whole day in St. Louis, and it gave St. Louis an out-of-control party city image in my mind.

[DinsdalePirahna]

Originally Posted by OA 5599

That is very true. I'm particularly interested in this thread as a former resident of Austin. Many long-time Austinites will tell you that many of the changes the city has seen have not been for the better. Up into the mid-90's, it was cheap enough to live in Austin that artists, musicians, and filmmakers could deliver pizzas or wait tables to finance their creative interests. Once the word got out that Austin was a "cool" place, the cost of living skyrocketed because everyone wanted to live there, and forced out much of the true underground talent. Nowadays, the underground scene is still alive in Austin, but the general vibe is more cosmopolitan and manufactured. The city still has many interesting things like the Austin City Limits music festival (I'd have gone this weekend had it not been for my work schedule) and SXSW, which does bring a lot of money/talent to town, but many other cities have similar festivals.

St. Louis certainly has everything that Austin has, if not more (the architecture here is far more interesting and varied, and ideal for filming), and we also still have a lower cost of living than Austin. People just don't "think" of St. Louis being creative.

I completely disagree about STL's Mardi Gras being a "second-rate knock off of some other city's event". Mardi Gras has religious roots and is celebrated around the world. New Orleans happens to have the largest in the United States, St. Louis has the second largest. Have you ever even been to Mardi Gras in St. Louis?

Saint Louis Mardi Gras. Been there. Disappointing (too many restrictions and local yahoos) I'll take the NYC Saint Paddies day parade over StL Mardi Gras any day- Even with all the drunk teenagers from New Jersey and Long Island (still the local yahoo, but much more amusing).

The Bottom line is that no one outside this area has ever heard of it. Honestly if given the choice of traveling to New Orleans or Saint Louis were do you think most out of towners would go? Enough said.

Like it or not, Saint Louis has an image problem, I can copy and paste all the messages that I receive on Facebook wondering why I would live here - some coming from CLIO and Emmy award winning friends.

Totally agree with you about Austin and Gentrification. Saw it happen in NYC in the bowery because of CBGBS. All of a sudden was cool to live there. The Yuppies came in an gentrified the area, displacing the artists that lived there because that was the only place they could afford (even funnier were the people on rent control subletting to the yuppie class and walking away with huge payoffs.) But the area was still viewed as cool on the national scene and enjoyed the cachet that wnet with that.

Orange County is another example. Forget that most of Orange County is an Urban Craphole. The Media concentrates on the area between Huntington Beach and Laguna Beach with a side trip to Coto. Is orange county really that glamorous. No. But it still cashes in on the mystique of "The OC" (and never use that phrase around a local).