Hello VPA and General Industry members,

This has been an intense legislative session and it's not even finished yet!! We have been heavily engaged on two fronts. One is the Governor's budget request and the other is a tax credit bill. I don't want to bore you to tears so I will be brief.

1. Tax credit bill SB257 and HB 861. I am encouraged by the progress we have made on this effort. We testified, talked, educated and endured a hostile take-over of the incentive plan by the video gaming industry. After some arm wrestling by all parties [ VPA, Gaming, Patrons, etc.] we agreed on a bill that was moving through the House today. Video gaming will be eligible for credits in 2013. There are some strong points in the legislation that keep work here and add protections that will be fair to the film production industry. I am awaiting word from the Senate but feel we can endure there as well.

Please note that nothing is final until the General Assembly leaves Richmond and the veto session is over. Other than that everything is fine!!! Our world changed today with the addition of digital interactive media to the family. We need to reach out to the gaming industry and make this new relationship mutually beneficial for all.

2. Governor's budget amendment: The 2 million dollar request in being deliberated this week. Please write to the conferees and request funding for the GMPOF [Governor's Motion Picture Opportunity Fund]. This will help the Film Office recruit work in 2010. The tax credits noted above do not start till 2011. Conferees are listed below. You can find their contact information at the following links:

Delegates - http://dela.state.va.us/dela/MemBios.nsf/MWebsiteTL?OpenView
Senators - http://sov.state.va.us/SenatorDB.nsf/$$Viewtemplate+for+WMembershipHome?OpenForm

House: Kirk Cox, Steve Landes, Lacy Putney, Chris Jones, Johnny Joannou, Beverly Sherwood

Senate: Walter Stosch, Chuck Colgan, Janet Howell, Dick Saslaw, William Wampler, Edd Houck

Thanks for your invaluable support and thanks to everyone who has given their time and thoughts to this arduous process. I will update you in the very near future.

Terry Stroud
Chairman,Virginia Production Alliance