HB1868

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that in 2007, emerging creative media programs at the University of Hawaii academy for creative media, at Waianae High School, or within a broad range of multidisciplinary programs like Project EAST on the neighbor islands have now achieved a specific level of achievements to evaluate their performance in the context of what a globally-integrated economy requires. As pointed out by New York Times columnist, Thomas Friedman, in his recent op-ed commentary endorsing the National Center on Education and the Economy’s report: "We need to radically overhaul . . . an education system designed in the 1900’s for people to do 'routine work' and refocus it on producing people who can imagine things that have never been available before, who can create ingenious marketing and sales campaigns, write books, build furniture, make movies and design software that will capture people’s imaginations and become indispensable for millions" (December 13, 2006, New York Times). Just as Waianae Searider Productions have demonstrated the transformational power of multi-media literacy to engage our most at-risk students, and Project EAST students have distinguished themselves in national competitions with their homegrown science/technology and multimedia skills, Hawaii has the opportunity to establish itself as a true "crossroads of the Pacific" for digital education. It is time for Hawaii to take full advantage of its natural constituency with the countries of the Pacific rim and the rising tide of global popular culture in all its forms (including video games, animation, and indigenous film) leveraging Hawaii's inherent strengths.

Digital entertainment, in the form of computer animated films and video games not only dominates the entertainment business today (e.g., top box office hits like Finding Nemo and Happy Feet), but it is a globally-distributed economy. Technology means that companies can grow where people want to live, not where they have to work. Today's biggest hits come from outside Hollywood — from Emeryville (Pixar), Australia and New Zealand (Happy Feet and Lord of the Rings), and upstate New York (Ice Age). The $25 billion video game industry is based wherever the talent is; not where the legacy infrastructure is. In the competition for artistic talent, Hawaii offers the perfect place to raise a family and the perfect lifestyle for the artists in the creative digital field.

Since being approved by the University of Hawaii board of regents three years ago, the academy for creative media is the fastest growing program at the University of Hawaii. With two hundred seventy enrolled students (including forty-five majors) who fill two hundred fifty-three seats in twenty-nine courses in film production, screenwriting, indigenous filmmaking, computer animation, critical studies, and video game design. More than three hundred fifty original short films and video games have been written, directed, and produced by students that reflect their unique diversity and backgrounds. Over forty student films were screened at film festivals from Atlanta to Shanghai, including the Hawaii International Film Festival 2004-2006. Students are offered internship opportunities with major motion picture productions (Superman Returns) and television shows (LOST and local morning news shows), and have opportunities to showcase their work on local television, such as commercials for Toyota/Scion of Hawaii, which were entirely produced by students.

The school recently received a total of $795,600 that was privately raised or gifts from generous donors and supporters to build, expand, and install the school's Animation RenderFarm at Leeward community college. The Animation RenderFarm will provide system-wide animation computing power, via the Internet, to digital media programs on all of the University of Hawaii campuses and Hawaii schools. Furthermore, a $500,000 federal grant was received for the school to produce an original documentary on statehood, which is currently in post-production.

The creative media industry is a billion dollar industry with the potential to create thousands of high-paying jobs in Hawaii. The academy for creative media is a logical choice to create, develop, and educate Hawaii's homegrown creative media workforce. The school can accelerate the State's efforts to become a creative media digital hub.

The purpose of this Act is to provide creative financial incentives and appropriate funds for a permanent facility for the academy for creative media to house the appropriate mix of digital equipment and media, classrooms, production laboratories, and related facilities, so that the school can serve as Hawaii's premiere digital media enterprise that will be devoted to building the creative media industry in Hawaii.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, for the planning, design, and construction of a permanent facility for the academy for creative media at the University of Hawaii.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. In the alternative, notwithstanding any law to the contrary, including any law that may either limit or disqualify the costs associated with the planning, design, and construction of a permanent facility for the academy for creative media at the University of Hawaii from utilizing the tax credits available under Act 221, Session Laws of Hawaii 2001, or any other tax credit provisions that may apply, any applicable tax credit relating to digital media, film, television, or new market development, or any combination of general funds and tax credits may be utilized for the financing of the construction and equipping of the academy for creative media at the University of Hawaii.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1868
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII