Bershire Scenic Railway
Featured Location

Click here if you need the Quicktime player. 

WAMC Report on The Film and Media Art Commission

Berkshire Film and Media Arts Commission
Update and Current Activities
January 2008

Berkshire Film and Media Arts Commission  (BFMAC) is a group of film and media professionals, formed in 2006, organized around specific activities to facilitate growth and increase opportunities in the Film and Media Arts Sector in the Berkshires.

In 2007 a small Board of Organizers with backgrounds in film production and community development completed a preliminary planning document and galvanized attention on the creation of the Berkshire Film and Media Arts Commission (BFMAC).
Recent Developments:

Berkshire Creative Economy Council Working Group - formed
Working in collaboration with The Berkshire Creative Economy Council, BFMAC organizers have formed a Film and Media Arts Working Group to support the development of a Berkshire Film and Media Arts Commission.

Members of the Working Group are: Co-Chair - Jeff Kleiser, Synthespian Studios; Co-Chair - John J. Whalan, Black Ice Entertainment/TEAMedia Group; Jeffrey L. Diamond, Producer 20/20 (ABC); Nan Bernstein, Film/TV Producer/Production Manager (NBC) Friday Night Lights; John Toole, Business Owner, Toole Insurance Agency; and Kelley Vickery, Founder/Director, Berkshire International Film Festival.

The Film and Media Arts Sector - Working Group will help the Berkshire Creative Economy Council evaluate and support the development of the Berkshire Film and Media Arts Commission through the following activities:
- Advisory review of BFMAC planning document.
- Consultation and guidance on operational and organizational goals.
- Evaluation of initial funding requirements and recommendation to Berkshire Creative Economy.

Massachusetts Film Office
An initial meeting with the Massachusetts Film Office in 2007 resulted in an offer of a seat on their board and an invitation for a BFMAC delegate to join their marketing junkets to Hollywood and New York. BFMAC organizers met recently with MFO director Nick Paleologos to reaffirm our commitment to work in concert with them to promote film and media production across the Commonwealth. The MFO continues to support our efforts to create a Berkshire-centric Initiative.

Berkshire Locations Scouted for Martin Scorsese Movie
Working with the Mass Film Office, BFMAC organizer Jenny O'Haver helped coordinate the Berkshire County efforts of a location scout for Martin Scorsese's upcoming production "Shutter Island", slated to start shooting in March 2008.

Berkshire Visitors Bureau
In December BFMAC joined the Berkshires Visitors Bureau and pledged to work in collaboration to market the Berkshires as a location for Film and Media Productions and for conducting media based business.

International Association of Film Commissions
BFMAC organizers have been consulting with the leadership of the International Association of Film Commissions and will join the Association in the coming months.

Preliminary Funding Activities
- John Whalan is preparing materials for potential funding through Berkshire Creative Economy
- A foundation has expressed preliminary interest in contributing funds - information is currently being providing to them for their review.
- Keith Girouard and John Whalan are meeting with State and Local Economic Development Representatives

Funding materials are still being developed and include:
- Planning Document
- Timeline and Summary of Current Activities
- Brief (RFP) Assessment of Conditions
- Budget
Current Activities
Forging Leadership / Building Knowledge / Taking Action

1. Broaden Board of Organizers
2. Seek Preliminary Funding
3. Assessment of Conditions
- RFP - Executive Summary
- Timeline and Budget
4. Initial Development of Resources
- Berkshire Production Guide (On-Line - BPG)
A Directory of Resources
- Coordination & Facilitation: Location & Production Support
- Networking - Marketing

For further information call:
Jenny O'Haver at 413-528-6728

John Whalan at 413-298-3055