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Reader: Why was there no mention of 3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain?

A A A Comments (0) Tuesday, Feb 21 2012

"The Reel West," Melanie Asmar, February 9

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Melanie Asmar's article was a concise synopsis of the current proposal for a film incentive and a nice, short history of the movies made in the state, although the filmography is by no means complete. The film industry in Colorado has its roots in the nineteenth century. I have been a member of the Denver film community for thirty years, and an assistant director in the Directors Guild of America for 25 years. I've worked on many of the shows, particularly the Viacom productions, she mentioned.

After being involved in repeated attempts to have a meaningful incentive bill passed for over a decade, I must take issue with Harris Kenny's remarks. First of all, who is this guy? He certainly isn't an expert on the business of film. If he's a member of a think tank (?), it's time to think again. This nonsense about an incentive being a "Hollywood Handout" is the same tired old canard that gets trotted out every year. And it's just that: false, unfounded and deliberately misleading. If the proposed bill is a handout, so are the enterprise zones established in the state, the incentives that the City of Aurora is offering to lure Gaylord, and the tax breaks ladled on oil companies. It takes money to make money.

This bill is an economic engine. It's about economic development. There is a proven multiplier, which means there is a broad economic benefit beyond the individuals directly working on the production. There's air travel, car rentals, gas, equipment rentals, hotel rooms, restaurants, a wide variety of vendors that supply everything from office supplies to lumber, local merchants, etc. The business itself is green, and these shows can put people to work immediately. A movie will rent office space, scout locations and in three weeks go into production. There is no waiting for a building to be built or infrastructure to be put into place. We have the infrastructure.

Kenny points to Michigan as an example of incentives not delivering as promised. That state jumped in with both feet, offered too much and had to scale back. Iowa did essentially the same thing, only its program was rife with corruption. Those states both made huge mistakes that are object lessons of what not to do. We are not going to use those models. But that doesn't belie the fact that while those incentives were in place, film production flocked to those states.

Let's take a look at the states where production is thriving under incentives. We are being clobbered by New Mexico. Louisiana is probably the best example: There is so much production going on in New Orleans and Shreveport that they're developing Baton Rouge to take on the work. I worked on a movie there and saw this firsthand.

As a resident of Colorado, I want to see business thrive, people put to work and the state profit. We are all sick of having to travel out of state to find employment. All we want is to work, at home.

Bob King

Denver

I'm kind of bummed that there was no mention of 3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain when talking about movies filmed in Colorado. It features Hulk Hogan, for crissake. And has scenes from the old Elitch's.

Gerad Krause

Denver

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Alan McBeth
Alan McBeth

2/25/12Dear Editor,

I am trying to get information into the Denver Business Journal – on your calendar or ANYWHERE in the paper. People still need jobs on the Front Range, and we will have employers with jobs and educators with “skills-enhancing” programs.

Aociety of Hispanic Human Resource Professionals (SHHRP)OPPORTUNITY FAIR Wells Fargo Atrium, 1740 Broadway (17th and Broadway- Denver)March 15, 2012 – 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Help us publicize this event! Put it on your Calendar of Events – or, contact us to do an article: There are some interesting stories.

At the Society of Hispanic Human Resources Professionals (SHHRP) we are committed to serving all of the diverse components of the metro area’s employer and job seeker populations. We need your help in publicizing the upcoming SHHRP Opportunity Fair. There are many Denver-area job seekers who are still out of work, and yet there are employers out there looking for good people. Also, many job seekers are also “education seekers” who need to upgrade their skills to qualify for the best jobs.

At the Opportunity Fair, we will bring dozens of Employers and Educators together with hundreds of job seekers. Among our exhibitors are Adams County School District 50, The Art Institute of Colorado, City of Colorado Springs, Denver Water, DPS Facility Management and Transportation, DU, Enterprise Holdings, Fieldwork DENVER, FirstBank, First Transit, Hensel Phelps, Heritage College, Jefferson Center for Mental Health, Johnson & Wales University, Lowe’s Home Improvement, PAR2A Center, Premier Solutions, Regis University, REI, RTD, Safeway, Talk Fusion, U.S. Navy, U.S. Bank, Webster University, World Financial Group and Wells Fargo Bank -- and we’re signing up new exhibitors every day! We encourage everyone who needs a job or education to visit. We need your help to let them know about it. This Opportunity Fair is for everyone!

Please let you audience know!DATE: March 15, 2012 (Thursday)TIME: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.PLACE: Wells Fargo Atrium, 1740 BroadwayThanks!Alan McBeth / 303-931-6613amcbeth46@gmail.com

 
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