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Information on the FMPTA from the State President

Thank you for your interest in the Florida Motion Picture and Television Association. As State President, and Past Chapter President of the Space Coast Chapter, I encourage you to join us and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the finest entertainment industry professionals in the country. Among the most valuable benefits of membership in this trade association is the opportunity to meet and network with others in your chosen field, and to increase your own professional skills through our comprehensive program of seminars, workshops and panel discussions. Members of the FMPTA are a hard-working bunch, but they seldom miss an opportunity to socialize. I encourage you to take full advantage of all we have to offer by attending our regular meetings and participating in the various social events we have scheduled throughout the year. You will learn a lot, and you'll have fun, too.

Like any other organization, you get out of it only what you put into it. This is not a club, but a trade association; the FMPTA has been a vital part of past efforts to educate and guide the legislators of our state toward improving the economic status of our members through the development of a sustainable production industry. Your participation in this effort will reap benefits far into the future for you and for your fellow members.

This is an industry based largely upon ideas. Your creativity is a vital to our success; please do not hesitate to share your ideas with the rest of us. You may have a thought about a program or workshop, or you may just have some insight about working that your fellow members might benefit from. Pick up the phone or fire up your computer and pass the ideas on to the appropriate committee chairman or member of the Board of Directors. Even if you do not think you have worthy ideas, your time and energy would be a welcome resource for our various committees; get in touch with the committee that best suits your skills and experience -- or your dreams -- and help out in whatever way you can. Working together with other friendly volunteers, you'll find a cameraderie and an easy sense of belonging that can make it all worthwhile. Think of it as "networking in depth."

This year promises to be the most amazing one we've had in a long time. If we all pull together, we will succeed in launching the FMPTA to heights previously unimagined, and those five letters will be on the lips of everyone in the industry worldwide.

It's a terrific time to be a member of the FMPTA!

Carole A. Ferrill
State President
Florida Motion Picture & Television Association

Background

Since 1973, the Florida Motion Picture & Television Association (FMPTA) has grown from a handful of Florida filmmakers to an organization with members in ten chapters statewide. FMPTA is a not-for-profit organization comprised of volunteer members from Florida’s production industry. The primary objective of FMPTA is to encourage and facilitate increased film, video and sound recording production within Florida, as it is made up of persons involved in all areas of the production industry.

 FMPTA monitors state legislation pertaining to the production industry. To further its goals, FMPTA cooperates with the Governor’s Office of Film & Entertainment and the Governor's Advisory Council, the various regional film commissioners and the many state and local government agencies. Past accomplishments of FMPTA include successfully lobbying for legislation to repeal the state services tax and to regulate and license talent agencies (to prevent “scam” agents from stealing money from people hoping to “break into show business”).  The FMPTA has also worked with the Florida Department of Commerce in drafting current child labor laws pertaining to the production industry, the reestablishment of the state film office and the new point-of-sales tax exemption law for filmmakers.

 Our membership consists of professionals, businesses, technicians, talent, students and anyone in the nearly 400 job categories within the production industry. FMPTA is the umbrella association to the industry with the common denominator being Florida.

 Being part of FMPTA provides members the opportunity to network with others in the production field.  Working and learning from industry professionals helps members sharpen their skills and do their jobs more effectively, while the networking increases their exposure to other job opportunities.

 Recognition for excellence is important in an artistic vocation. FMPTA’s Crystal Reel Awards program has long been recognized as the primary film and television competition for the state of Florida.

 Membership in FMPTA falls into five categories. Professional members are persons who are working in the production industry or possessing production experience. Corporate membership is open to any licensed company that operates in or directly services the production industry. Student memberships are for those enrolled full-time in accredited courses studying film, television, theater or communications, but are not yet working in the industry.  Associate memberships are for individuals or firms not eligible for any of the above categories.  Institutional memberships are for non-profit organizations and high schools.

 Currently the organization is made up of four active chapters:  Tampa, Orlando, Space Coast, Jacksonville.  Other chapters are being assembled in South Florida, Palm Beach, Daytona and Sarasota will likely return to the fold in the near future.

FMPTA Goals

The objectives of the FMPTA can be easily remembered using the acronym F.I.L.M.S.:

Future - working on the plans for the future of our industry
Industry Standards - being the clearinghouse for questions and references
Legislation - working with the legislature and film offices in the state
Money - creating local resources for investment capital and tax breaks
Students - supporting the educational institutions, including colleges, high schools and trade schools

Last Updated: Monday, February 11, 2008 9:15 AM

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