RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) is charged under section 201-3(4), Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), with disseminating information pertaining to economic development to assist existing industry in Hawaii, to attract investments in the State, and to assist new and emerging industries with good growth potential or prospects in jobs, exports, and new products; and

WHEREAS, DBEDT has administratively established the Film Industry Branch, better known as the Film Office, to concentrate on promoting filming in Hawaii by attracting filmmakers to Hawaii and expediting the permitting process for them; and

WHEREAS, the Film Industry Branch should also promote local films and local filmmakers; and

WHEREAS, the fledging Hawaii film industry fits all of the categories of promotion under section 201-3(4), HRS; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaii film industry includes local, homegrown filmmakers of all nationalities and ethnicities who bring a rich diversity of culture, art, skill, and learning to the motion picture medium; and

WHEREAS, local films about the lifestyle and traditions of local people have the potential to spotlight Hawaii to the rest of the world as a racially and ethnically heterogeneous society; and

WHEREAS, locally produced films provide employment opportunities, tax revenues, and publicity to Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, many local filmmakers are little known but have great potential for success with the right exposure and the local film industry has potential to attract investment to Hawaii and should be exploited as such; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-Second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2003, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Film Industry Branch of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism is requested to advertise, promote, and market the local film industry, particularly films made locally by and with local actors, producers, and writers, including films depicting Hawaii's cultural, racial, and ethnic diversity and harmony; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the promotion of locally made films be undertaken with the goal of exportation of the film out-of-state, to be viewed in mainland and foreign venues; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Report Title:

Local Film Making Promotion