By Mark G. Auerbach Special to PRIME When Robert Downey Jr’s new film “The Judge” opens in movie theaters this month, local audiences may go to catch a glimpse of Shelburne Falls landmarks, where the film was shot. Last year, Josh Brolin and Kate Winslet starred in “Labor Day,” also filmed in Shelburne Falls. Western Massachusetts has welcomed Hollywood many times, from Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” (filmed on the Smith College campus) to the 1975 thriller “The Reincarnation of Peter Proud” filmed in Longmeadow, Springfield, and other Pioneer Valley locales. Alec Baldwin and Nicole Kidman made “Malice” in Northampton; Meryl Streep and Liam Neeson made “Before and After” in Springfield. “Little Women” used Historic Deerfield as its backdrop, and “The Cider House Rules shot on location in Northampton. When Hollywood comes to town, it’s good for business. According to Diane Pearlman, executive director of the Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative, “Every time a film shoots here, they spend money in local hotels, restaurants and other businesses. They hire local support crews, from grips and gaffers to editors, sound people, and other specific behind-the-scenes professionals.” So, the Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative (BFMC) provides support services to incoming filmmakers. BFMC can also help find locations, source the people needed locally, and make sure the filmmakers know that Western Massachusetts can provide the services needed during production. “It can be more economical, overall, to film in Western Massachusetts,” Pearlman said. “Massachusetts also offers tax incentives for crews filming in-state”. As Pearlman and her crew developed resources for incoming filmmakers, she learned that there are many professional film people making films and videos in Western Massachusetts, most “under the radar.” Many local businesses who produce film and video for their marketing, look to Boston and New York for talent, assuming there’s no one around in the neighborhood. BFMC has begun an aggressive program to bring the film professionals in Western Massachusetts together for networking opportunities, and to bring businesses that use film together to meet them. They’ve added film and video students from area schools to the mix, so they can network with potential employers and stay in the area after graduation. Pearlman said “a thriving creative economy in Western Massachusetts keeps money in Western Massachusetts.” BFMC presents its first Film and Media Exchange on Oct. 24, at Baystate Health’s Conference Center on Whitney Avenue in Holyoke. Film and video suppliers will display their latest gadgets and programs; local film makers and videographers will show their reels; and there is an array of workshops, seminars, and other programs for film industry professionals, those area businesses who need film and video in their mix, and programs to help those in the industry work more efficiently. Baystate Health hosts this premiere conference. Since this is the first of its kind, business-to-business film and media event in this area, BFMC expects to attract over 500 attendees from New England. Attendees will include filmmakers, actors, production and post production professionals, marketing and public relations executives, and local businesses owners. The conference center will have a full exhibit floor and breakout rooms for product demos. Jx2 Productions, will transform the space into a fully functional exhibit hall that will display the newest emerging products and technologies. After a full day of information and technology downloading, the event will end with a networking cocktail party open to all attendees and panelists. Douglas Trumbull, the American film director and visual effects pioneer is the keynote speaker. Trumbull has worked on such movie classics and has been associated with “2001: A Space Odyssey,” “Close Encounters of The Third Kind,” “Star Trek: The Motion Picture,” Blade Runner” and “Silent Running.” He’s been a resident of Western Massachusetts for almost two decades, and he has started several film-related innovation companies in the region. For information on the Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative, the first ever Film Exchange, and sponsorship, exhibit, and ticket opportunities, contact Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative’s Ellen Gorman (ellen@berkshirefilm.com) at BFMC, 413-528-4223 or online at www.berkshirefilm.com. Advance tickets are required. Mark G. Auerbach is principal at Mark G. Auerbach Public Relations, a Springfield, Massachusetts-based marketing, public relations, development and events consultancy. Find more info about Mark on Facebook and LinkedIn.  | ||||||
 | ||
PRIME submitted photo | ||
