WORKING ON "BLUFF CITY LAW"While NBC/Universal is filming the pilot of “Bluff City Law” here, there’s no guarantee the pilot will be picked up by the network, and even if it is, there’s no guarantee it will, despite the name, continue to be based in Memphis.Nurturing a production is a long and continuous process. On Wednesday, another step was taken in anticipation of sealing the deal. Linn Sitler, the Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commissioner, went to Nashville to meet with the Shelby County legislative delegation to talk about what’s going on and what will be needed to make it happen.As it stands now, the state budget has $2 million for film incentives. That’s a recurring annual amount, handled by the state Department of Economic Community Development. ECD often asks for more and this year sought another $6 million, but Governor Bill Lee’s budget didn’t include it.So how to get more funds? The General Assembly can pass an appropriations amendment to take money from the state’s surplus fund. It’s standard operating procedure — the TV series “Nashville” had to get an appropriations amendment passed every year it was in production in order to get the incentive money.The question the Shelby County lawmakers were asking was, “How much?” But, as Sitler said, the amount isn’t known this early in the show’s pre-production. It depends on how much the project spends in-state. Once it’s wrapped, the state will give a rebate of 30 percent of that amount. (That 30 percent is for TV series, while single shows and feature films get 25 percent). Qualified expenditures include in-state crew, actors, vendors, hotels, and the like.The incentives are administered by Bob Raines, the executive director of the Tennessee Entertainment Commission. He told the Shelby County delegation that TV series create long-term infrastructure. “They have 12 months of work, high-paying jobs, and long-term work associated with TV series,” he says. “And then you have the tourism element that Bluff City Law would have because of the names. You're talking about tens of millions of viewers being attached to that, and that's just through our experience with dealing with the Nashville television cities.”The talent hired for the pilot includes Jimmy Smits, Caitlin McGee, and Michael Luwoye(who was in the Broadway hit “Hamilton”).Raines says that “TV series have a really good return on investment, even versus just one-offs. And there's so many great opportunities to train people in the community.”The Shelby County lawmakers asked what the “Nashville” series got in incentives and were told about $45 million over seven years. Sitler told the delegation that “Bluff City Law,” if it is picked up, will be an expensive, first-class show and would run more than that. Meanwhile, she added that Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland and Economic Development Growth Engine president and CEO Reid Dulberger had met with an NBC official to discuss other possible incentives.NEWS FROM OTHER SOURCES- Who’s behind the dramatic proposals to revamp the Memphis riverfront? Carol Colettaand a couple of MacArthur geniuses, that’s who. Read it in Memphis magazine here.- Trade tensions are on the mind of FedEx founder Frederick W. Smith. Read Wayne Risher’s story in the Daily Memphian about Smith’s interview with Fox News.- The ambitious developers of the $950 million Union Row project Downtown have purchased another key plot of land. Read Desiree Stennett’s story in The Commercial Appeal here.- What went into that agreement between Elvis Presley Enterprises and the City of Memphis? Find out in Samuel Hardiman’s story in the Memphis Business Journalhere.UPCOMING EVENTSGot an event? Send your info to Samuel X. Cicci at scicci@
POWER PLAYER
Inside Memphis Business magazine publishes a list of local Power Players every year. These are the movers and shakers in more than 30 categories who get things done in their respective fields. IMB’s April issue has the complete list. We also publish individual categories in other issues throughout the year, and we feature individual Power Players in our weekly Tip Sheet.This week’s Power Player is Courtney Ellett, founder and owner, Obsidian Public Relations. Firm named Small Business of the Year in 2013, Memphis Business Journal. PR Director of the Year, Memphis Advertising Federation. “Top 40 Under 40,” Memphis Business Journal; “50 Women Who Make A Difference,” Memphis Woman. Recipient, six Silver VOX Awards, Memphis Chapter, Public Relations Society of America; Addy Awards’ Best of Show, Memphis Advertising Federation. Finalist, 2013 CEO of the Year, Inside Memphis Business. Executive of the Year in 2014, Memphis Business Journal.For the complete list of Inside Memphis Business Power Players, go here.QUOTABLE"It’s rare to have that much real estate on your waterfront next to your downtown area that isn’t already repurposed, whether it’s a working waterfront or whether it’s been taken over by industries.”— Gia Biagi, with the architecture firm Studio Gang, on working with the Memphis riverfront, in the March issue of Memphis magazine.
POWER PLAYERInside Memphis Business magazine publishes a list of local Power Players every year. These are the movers and shakers in more than 30 categories who get things done in their respective fields. IMB’s April issue has the complete list. We also publish individual categories in other issues throughout the year, and we feature individual Power Players in our weekly Tip Sheet.This week’s Power Player is Courtney Ellett, founder and owner, Obsidian Public Relations. Firm named Small Business of the Year in 2013, Memphis Business Journal. PR Director of the Year, Memphis Advertising Federation. “Top 40 Under 40,” Memphis Business Journal; “50 Women Who Make A Difference,” Memphis Woman. Recipient, six Silver VOX Awards, Memphis Chapter, Public Relations Society of America; Addy Awards’ Best of Show, Memphis Advertising Federation. Finalist, 2013 CEO of the Year, Inside Memphis Business. Executive of the Year in 2014, Memphis Business Journal.For the complete list of Inside Memphis Business Power Players, go here.QUOTABLE"It’s rare to have that much real estate on your waterfront next to your downtown area that isn’t already repurposed, whether it’s a working waterfront or whether it’s been taken over by industries.”— Gia Biagi, with the architecture firm Studio Gang, on working with the Memphis riverfront, in the March issue of Memphis magazine. 
