We Make Events
#WeMakeEvents #RedAlertRESTART and #ExtendPUA represent a major call to action on today, imploring the US Congress to pass the RESTART Act (S.3814) as quickly as possible, offering economic relief to the Live Events Industry, which has been shuttered since March, 2020, putting millions of people out of work. Additionally, the movement is to support ExtendPUA.org in their efforts towards continuation and extension of the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance to provide relief to those without work due to COVID-19.
Today, Sept. 1, 2020, when buildings, structures, and residences will be lit in red from 9pm-12am (local time in each market) as the event rolls across North America. The goal to raise public awareness that the Live Events Industry is on Red Alert for its very survival, and create congressional pressure to act now.
#BeAnArtsHero, a grassroots coalition of arts and cultural workers, reports:
“The Arts & Culture sector employs 5.1 million people and provides $877 billion value added to the U.S. economy. It adds more value to the economy than transportation, agriculture, or tourism. The Arts & Culture sector is a cornerstone of the larger U.S. economy, making up 4.5% of GDP. Despite their out-sized cultural and economic contribution, the Arts & Culture sector of the U.S. economy is in grave danger. Due to Covid-19, 62% of Arts Workers report that they are fully unemployed. 94% of Arts workers report income loss; to date, the average Arts worker reports $23,500 in lost revenue this year. Due to Covid, 66% of Arts workers report they are unable to access the spaces, staff, resources, or supplies needed to perform their work.”
The North American event comes on the heels of the August 11 event #WeMakeEvents Red Alert Day Of Action when over 700 buildings were lit in red across the UK, calling attention to the same plight facing the Live Events Industry there.
As theatres, concert tours, festivals, opera houses, trade shows, and other live events as well as film and television production remain closed, or open on a very limited basis, the entire industry is impacted, from designers, technicians, programmers, and stagehands to rental shops, manufacturers, and distributors of entertainment technology. The first industry to close last March, Live Events could be the last sector to re-open due to the COVID-19 crisis.
For information about joining the event and lighting your building red, please contact: WeMakeEventsNorthAmerica@gmail.com
#FILMCINCINNATI
The 2020 Environmental Media Awards streamed online Friday, August 21.
The Environmental Media Association is a unique branch of the entertainment industry honing in on one of the world's most pressing issues- environmental sustainability. EMA's mission is to amplify the voice of Mother Nature through entertainment, storytelling, and education.
Award categories at The EMAs include best documentary series, reality television, television episodic drama, and the most prestigious award of the night- best feature film.
Dark Waters took home the win for best feature film. The Todd Haynes film about a Cincinnati lawyer out beat Weathering with You and Frozen 2.
Another milestone for Cincinnati projects will be met on September 15 when NBCU shares The Public on their streaming service- Peacock.
The streaming platform released July 15, 2020, and is the home to NBC original scripted content, sports including the 2021 Olympics, and other pop-culture programming.
Making their way to platform are movies and Peacock original movies. The opening slate of movie content includes The Public, Anthony, The Sit-In: Harry Belafonte Hosts the Tonight Show, Black Boys, and A Most Beautiful Thing.
The latest major motion picture out of Cincinnati, Hard Kill, is now out and ready for viewing. You can find this movie in select theaters, Apple TV, Fandango, and Amazon Prime.
Hard Kill, working titled was Open Source, filmed in Cincinnati during January and February of 2020. The hero location was the old US Playing Card Company's factory in Norwood.
This movie marks production company, Emmett Furla Oasis Films', sixth movie in the Queen City and Bruce Willis' fourth.
Hard Kill's producer Randall Emmett raves about his time working in Cincinnati, "We love shooting in Cincinnati. The city is so welcoming, and the film office is one of the best in the country."
Hard Kill is an action thriller about one of the world's best fighters, Derek Miller (Jesse Metcalfe), who left the armed forced and banded together a group to be part of his security team. They are hired by billionaire Donovan Chalmers to protect a piece of artificial intelligence that can change the world or destroy it if in the wrong hands. Things go awry as a group of domestic terrorists, who consider themselves mercenaries, kidnap Chalmers' daughter and the technology. Miller and team must retrieve both priceless assets.
CINCINNATI PRODUCTION COMMUNITY
The Cincinnati chapter of Women in Film have a special event on the horizon. They are hosting a Zoom panel, September 8, to discuss the opportunities and challenges women face when running for office. Sign up now.
They will answer questions like: with a record number of women running for office, what gender-specific obstacles do they face? How might the usual strategies to break through to constituents work for or against women candidates? What role does media play?
Cincinnati's production community also celebrates the Cindependent Film Festival's third anniversary on Aug. 27, 2020, what would have been the festival's opening night.
"It's easy to think about "what would have been," in a pandemic world full of endless lost opportunities. Now - at this point in 2020 - I can only see what can possibly be," says Cindependent's creative director Allyson West. "Cindependent debuted 'Reels on Wheels,' our mobile cinema experience, allowing us to still serve amazing indie film to the community. We continue to develop the 2021 festival, helping us serve up the best festival (ever) in a new, and safe, format."
In 2018 and 2019, Cindependent sold out houses and attracted in troves attendees and artists to Cincinnati, further amplifying our production community's impact. Happy birthday Cindependent and visit their website for information about Reels on Wheels and merchandise.
BUILDING A SAFE AND HEALTHY PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENT
Film Cincinnati encourages all productions to visit our website to read, download, and follow the industry guidelines below:
UNION GUIDELINES FOR FILM PRODUCTION DURING COVID-19
A joint report from the DGA, SAG-AFTRA, IATSE, and Teamsters on COVID-19 safety guidelines
HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR FILM PRODUCTION DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
As projects begin to restart, these guidelines offer a foundation on which to build a safe and healthy set. They include best-practices set forth by health professionals in collaboration with industry experts. Following these guidelines, as well as, those set by the state and city are the recommended course of action when heading back to work. In this day and age, information one day can often be old the next, so keep an eye on the news and our website for updates.