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Annual Report 2006-2007
Annual Report 2005-2006
Annual Report 2004-2005
Annual Report 2003-2004
Annual Report 2002-2003
Annual Report 2001-2002



Film Commission Annual Report 2006-2007: Overview

The County Film Commission provides guidance with permits, locations, crew referrals, lodging, etc.  In 2006, Santa Barbara County's economic impact was $18 million (221 productions, 769 shoot days), with a ripple-down effect of $46 million.  These productions include catalogs, magazine and auto stills, commercials, television and movies.


Outreach
On Location newsletter reaches 3000 location managers and producers.  It highlights locations, recent productions, permit fees and contacts, wineries, hotels, and much more.

Other resources include our Agricultural Crop Guide, Permit Zone Chart (cheat sheet of fees, contacts, and rules for 26 agencies countywide), and our location brochure, Looks Are Everything.

The Film Weekly newsletter  is emailed to 1300 local film professionals, permit reps, film schools, legislators, and chambers. It details current events, casting calls, jobs, seminars, and spotlights our local film, web, and media producers.

Tradeshows: AFCI's Locations Tradeshow, FLICS (Film Liaisons in California Statewide) California Only event, and the California On Location Awards Show (COLA).


Web Marketing
www.filmsantabarbara.com serves our clients 24/7! 

Online Production Guide:  downloadable permits & contacts, crew, production and post-production companies, vendors, maps, crop chart, economic impact reports, funding sources, press info, movie credits, trade associations, and film schools. Local section includes a film calendar, film festivals, and community services.

On-line Photo Location Library: 25,000+ photos.


Primary Productions:
Features: Pirates of the Caribbean III, GrindHouse/DeathProof, Let's Go To Prison, There Will be Blood, Searching for Mickey Fish, and seven low-budget indies. 

TV: Jag, Monk, Animal Planet, HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm, Laguna Beach – The Real OC, MTV Russia.

Commercials: Chrysler, Toyota, Mercedes, Cadillac, Jaguar, Infiniti, Landrover, Ameriprise, Conoco, Coca-Cola. 

Catalogs: Neiman Marcus, Victoria's Secret , Ralph Lauren, Pottery Barn, Macys, Bloomingdales, Talbots, Eddie Bauer, LL Bean, Lands End, Chadwicks, Coldwater Creek,, Kathy Ireland,  Bedford Fair, Territory Ahead.

Stills:  Lexus, Mercedes, Peterbilt, VW, Sony, Mazda, American Airlines, Microsoft, Anheuser-Busch, Organic Style, Cosmopolitan.
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Film Commission Annual Report 2005-2006: Overview

The County Film Commission continues to be a strong competitor for filmmaking,  ranking 12th of 58 counties statewide.  The Film Commission provides guidance with permits, locations, crew referrals, lodging, etc.  In 2005, Santa Barbara County's economic impact was $16 million (206 productions, 831 shoot days).  Productions include stills, commercials, television, internet and movies.  Using an economic multiplier, the ripple-down effect is estimated at $39 million. 


Outreach
On Location, the Film Commission's bi-annual, print newsletter reaches 3000 location managers and producers.  It highlights our locations, recent productions, permit fees and contacts, new wineries, hotels, and much more.

Other resources include our Agricultural Crop Guide, Permit Zone Chart (cheat sheet of fees and permit reps for 26 agencies countywide), and our location booklet, Looks Are Everything.

The Film Weekly Newsletter is emailed to 1100 local film professionals, permit reps, film schools, legislators, and chambers. It covers everything from casting calls, jobs, screenings and seminars, and even spotlights local film, web, and media producers.

Film Commissioner Martine White uses Tradeshows to promote Santa Barbara County as a filming destination: Locations Tradeshow, FLICS California Only, Cine Gear, and the California On Location Awards. Additionally, Familiarization Tours are used to entice big-budget projects.


Web Marketing
www.filmsantabarbara.com enables us to serve clients 24/7! 

Online Production Guide offers 200 pages of resources:  downloadable permits & contacts, local crew, production and post-production companies, vendors, maps, economic stats, funding sources, press information, movie credits, trade assns, film schools, film events calendar, film festivals, and community links. 

On-line Photo location library: 15,000+ photos.


Primary Productions
Feature film productions: Searching for Mickey Fish starring Treat Williams of Everwood, and seven low-budget, indie films.

Major television series: Jag, Monk, America's Underwater Treasures - Ocean Adventures

Cable & Reality TV:  Animal Planet's Best in Town, HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm, Logo Network's I-Candy, King of the Park, MTV's Laguna Beach – The Real OC, Adventure Hwy -Outdoor Life Network, Estelle's Paradise, MTV Russia.

Catalogs:  Lands End, R.E.I., Kathy Ireland, Neiman Marcus, Casual Corner, Coldwater Creek, Victoria's Secret , Eddie Bauer, Talbots, Ralph Lauren, Pacific Sunwear, Pottery Barn, Macys, LL Bean, AGA, Bloomingdales, Virginia Slims,  Smith & Hawkins, Big Dog / The Walking Company, Chadwicks, Bedford Fair, Garnet Hill, Brooks Brothers, Blairs, Casual Corner, Mervyn's, Pelican Hill, Drapers, Aerosoles, Gottschalks, JC Penney, Big & Tall, The Territory Ahead, Marshall Fields, Soft Surroundings, Sundance, Quicksilver, 7th Avenue, Red Envelope, Isabella Bird, Fleur de Lis.

Magazine & still shoots:  Lexus, Mercedes, Motorcycle Cruiser, Peterbilt Trucks, VW Golf & Beetle, Sony, Mazda, Subaru, Cycle Flyer, American Airlines, Getty Images, Saturn, Microsoft, Anheuser-Busch, Mustang Jeans, Organic Style, Hyundai, Sample, Roxy, Wrigley, Center Point Pilates, Wonder Time Magazine, Federated, Pac Sun.

Commercials: Conoco, Chrysler, Toyota Tundra, Mercedes, Cable One, Ford, Cadillac, Ameriprise, Castrol, Inogen, Coca-Cola, Ameritrade, Ford Explorer, Jaguar, Infiniti.
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Film Commission Annual Report 2004-2005: Overview

The County Film Commission continues to be a strong competitor for filmmaking, ranking 12th of 58 counties statewide, per the Motion Picture Association (MPAA).  The Film Commission provides guidance with film permits, locations, crew referrals, lodging, and more.  In 2004, Santa Barbara County's filming economic impact was $15 million, with 201 productions and 827 shoot days.  Productions include still photography, commercials, and feature films.  Using an economic multiplier, the community's overall economic benefit is estimated at $37 million. 

Outreach
What's News on the American Riviera®, the CVB e-newsletter, and On Location, the Film Commission's print newsletter, are very popular with location managers and producers.  These publications, distributed to over 3,000 film clients several times a year, highlight a variety of locations that are available for filming. They also review recent productions, permit fees and contacts, new wineries and hotels, and much more. Portions are often reprinted in trade magazines. 

When responding to film inquiries from our clients, we mail Film Packets including such useful resources as newsletters, the Santa Barbara County Visitors Guide and Meeting & Event Planner Guide, the Agricultural Crop Chart, and Looks Are Everything,  a color brochure with a sampling of our best locations.

The Film Commission's e-newsletter, The Santa Barbara Film Weekly, keeps the local film community well-connected.  It is distributed to 800+ local film and media professionals. The e-newsletter details current events, casting calls, and jobs, and spotlights the successes of our local film, web, and media producers.

Film Commissioner Martine White promoted Santa Barbara County as a filming destination at trade events including Locations 2005; Cine Gear, a high profile equipment show at Warner Brothers' back lot; and the California On Location Awards 2004.  Additionally, the California Film Commission's Board in Los Angeles invited Martine to make a presentation on the impact of Sideways on Santa Barbara tourism.


Web Marketing
The Film Commission website, www.filmsantabarbara.com, has been completely revamped with a new look, extensive resources, and easy search tools.  Now we can truly serve our client needs 24/7!  Downloadable permit applications and guidelines help producers by expediting the film permitting process.

The on-line Production Guide provides a directory of local crew, production and post-production companies, vendors, and resources.  Other useful features include a topographical map of the county showing railroad tracks, mountains, rivers, lakes and major points of interest; an agricultural crop chart; regional maps; economic impact reports; funding sources; press information; film associations and resources; and a list of local film schools (including high schools). The "Local" section includes a Film Calendar of Events,  regional Film Festivals, and community links to assist our locals with networking. 

The on-line Photo Location Library has expanded to 7,000 photos and can hold 100+ photos per location. Property owners can also upload new photos directly onto our website, thus avoiding virus issues with email attachments.


Fam tours
Familiarization tours are a successful marketing tool for generating film production in Santa Barbara County. We guide top location managers and producers around the region, showing off spectacular and unique locations.  These tours often achieve immediate results—more film shoots!
 

Primary Productions
This past year has been a busy one, as many commercial and catalog clients came back for more. Feature film productions included Bruce Willis in Alpha Dog; the hilarious Monster in Law, starring Jane Fonda and Jennifer Lopez; Flight of the Phoenix at an offshore oil rig; and Dave Barry's Guide to Guys. Low-budget features were popular too; notable productions included Green Mountains, El Nino, Eyes of the Wood, Death Ride and Worlds Apart.

We hosted two major television series: JAG at Carpinteria State Beach and Monk at Firestone Winery.  Additionally, the CBS Movie, Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman, explored our olive and walnut orchards and rolling vineyards.

Reality television struck gold with Oprah as she cycled her home waterfront with Lance Armstrong. MTV toured Goleta's remote beaches, and Curb Your Enthusiasm and Animal Planet's Best in Town went wild in Solvang.  And there were many more: Eco Trekker; BBQ Nation, Bobby Flay & the Food Network; Ready for the Weekend Movie, USA; America's Best Campgrounds, The Travel Channel; The Job Show; Wow! Santa Barbara for Wealth TV; and Take My Kids…Please, Women's Entertainment Network.

When it comes to catalogs, the picturesque environs of Santa Barbara County are a real favorite!  Year after year, loyal clients such as Eddie Bauer, Talbots, Macys & Macys Kids, Pottery Barn, Roxy, Pacific Sunwear, Big Dogs, Lands End, R.E.I., Casual Corner, Coldwater Creek, Victoria's Secret, and Nordstroms return to shoot their fall and spring catalogs.  New clients this year included Jessica London, Abercrombie and Fitch, Ralph Lauren Polo, Appleseeds, Roxy, and Smith & Hawkins.

Santa Barbara County provided the backdrop for lavish layouts in magazines too, including In Style, Self, Motorcycle Cruiser, and American Airlines.

Sexy cars raced along our gorgeous, s-shaped roads framed by lush green hills in commercials for Cadillac, Chrysler, Toyota, Mazda, Jaguar, Mercedes, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Yamaha, Infiniti, Kia, Mustang, Saturn, Lexus, Volkswagen, Peterbilt Trucks, and Subaru. Other major commercial shoots included Smith Barney, FedEx, Sony, Fram Air Filters, and Cable One.
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Film Commission Annual Report 2003-2004: Overview

The Santa Barbara County Film Commission continues to be a strong competitor for filmmaking, now ranking 12th of 58 counties statewide, per the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).

Our online Production Guide is a directory of local crew, vendors, and resources, with multiple indexes for easy searching. Other new features include: a County Geographical Map - with railroad tracks, mountains, rivers, lakes and major points of interest; an Agricultural Crop Chart; Maps of every town; Economic Charts & Funding Sources; a Press Section; and a list of our Film Schools. The local section lists Film Events, Festivals, and Association links to assist our local industry with networking. 

Our newsletter,On Location, is very popular with Location Managers and Producers. This publication highlights a variety of locations that are available for filming. It also reviews recent productions, permit officer updates, new wineries and hotels, and much more. Portions are often reprinted in trade magazines. On Location is mailed twice a year to 3,000 clients. When responding to film inquiries from our clients, we mail Film Packets -with the Newsletter, Visitors Guide, Meeting Planner Guide, and Looks are Everything, a color brochure with a sampling of our best locations.

Our website, www.filmsantabarbara.com has been completely revamped, with a snazzy new look, lots of resources and easy search tools. Now we can truly serve our client needs 24/7! Downloadable permit applications and guidelines help producers by expediting the film process. The online photo location library has expanded ten-fold to 7000 photos. Now we may show 100+ photos, if appropriate, per location. Property owners can also upload new photos direct to our website, thus avoiding virus issues with email attachments.

Familiarization tours are a successful marketing tool for Santa Barbara. We guide top location managers and producers around the county, showing off spectacular or unique locations. These tours often achieve immediate results -- more film shoots in SB!

Film Production remains strong.  We provides guidance with permits, locations, crew referrals, lodging, etc. In 2004, Santa Barbara County's economic impact was $14.7 million (201 productions, 827 shoot days). These productions include still photography, commercials, and feature films. Using an economic multiplier, the community's overall economic benefit is estimated at $36.8 million. MPAA calculates the "ripple-down" effect in our county to be $75 million.

Features - We hit the big-time with a full-fledged, 50 day feature, Sideways, from director Alexander Payne (About Schmidt, Election). He set his Academy Award winning wine-tasting comedy amidst the magnificent vineyards of the Santa Ynez Valley. Director David Mamet's thriller, Spartan, (Val Kilmer) brought gunshots and helicopter action to the remote Gaviota coast. Cruel Intentions 3 featured our charming airport, and Love Clyde, a movie for the Hallmark Channel, shot in the sleepy, western town of Los Alamos.

Reality television struck gold with The Bachelor (Andy Firestone) and The Bachelorette, Looking for Mr. Personality, Extreme Dating, the BBC's Ground Force and The Journey of Life, and The Great Outdoors (UK).

In the catalog world, the picturesque environs of Santa Barbara County have become a favorite shooting locale forNordstroms, Neiman Marcus, Lands End, REI, Talbots, Blair, Territory Ahead, Kathy Ireland, and JC Penney.And there were plenty of lavish layouts in magazines too- Organic Style, Self, Backyard Flyer, and Santa Barbara.Ever more auto commercials raced along s-shaped roads, framed by lush, green hills - Audi, Lexus, Honda, Toyota, Subaru, Chevy, Chrysler, VW, Jeep, Dodge, and Hyundai.

Trade Shows and Sales Trips.  We attended Locations TradeShow 2004 and COLA: California On Location Awards 2003. Additionally, frequent marketing trips to Los Angeles keep filming on the upswing.
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Film Commission Annual Report 2002-2003: Overview

The Santa Barbara County Film Commission continues to be a strong competitor for filmmaking, ranking 13th of 58 counties statewide, per the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).

Our 2003-2004 Production Guide, a directory of local crew and resources, has new features: a cover with our name on the spine; 4-color location photos; a crop chart; a county map showing geographical features, railroad tracks, and major points of interest; and multiple indexes for easy searching. Distribution includes 400 clients locally, and 2500 film clients world-wide. It is accompanied by Looks are Everything, a color brochure with a sampling of our best locations, and our Visitors Guide.

The Newsletter, Film Santa Barbara, continues to receive excellent feedback. This publication highlights a variety of locations that are available for filming. It also reviews recent productions, permit officer updates, new wineries and hotels, and much more. Portions are often reprinted in trade magazines. Film Santa Barbara is mailed twice a year to a select client list.

Our website, www.filmsantabarbara.com gets a new look this year, with lots of new resources and easy search tools. Downloadable permits have been placed on-line, assisting producers by expediting the permitting process. Additionally, the web location library are expanding ten-fold, increasing the number of photos per location.

Familiarization tours are a successful marketing tool for Santa Barbara. We guide top location managers and producers around the county – showing off spectacular or unique locations. These tours often achieve immediate results -- more film shoots in SB.

Film Production remains strong. We provide guidance with permits, locations, crew referrals, lodging, etc. This fiscal year, Santa Barbara County's economic impact was $10,200,000 (166 productions, 655 shoot days). These productions include still photography, commercials, and feature films. Using an economic multiplier, the community's overall economic benefit is estimated at $26 million. The MPAA calculates the potential "ripple-down" effect for our county to be as high as $34 million.

Equestrian features were prominent this year, with Disney's Hidalgo, starring Omar Sharif and Viggo Mortensen, and Universal's Seabiscuit, with Tobey Maguire and Jeff Bridges. Travel stories were a big hit on The Great Outdoors(Australia), Good Morning Television (UK), No Frontiers (Ireland), Neal Graffey's Historic Santa Barbara, and even The Love Shack. Still shoots, such as MasterCard, Van Huessen, Talbots, Dodge, Mercedes, Wrangler Jeans, Blair, Nordstrom's, Lands End, Nieman Marcus, Coldwater Creek, R.E.I, Jeep, and Pendleton shot picturesque landscapes, county-wide. Ever more auto commercials raced along sinewy roads, framed by the lush green hills of Santa Ynez -- Porsche, BMW, Volvo, Suzuki, Acura, Chevy, Subaru, and Kawasaki. At the Guadalupe Dunes beach, GE re-enacted the historic first flight of the Wright Brothers.


Trade Shows and Sales Trips. We attended Locations Expo 2003, Showbiz Expo 2003, and COLA: California On Location Awards 2002. Additionally, frequent marketing trips to Los Angeles help keep filming in Santa Barbara on the upswing.
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Film Commission Annual Report 2001-2002: Overview

The Santa Barbara County Film Commission continues to be a strong competitor for filmmaking, ranking 13th of 58 counties statewide, per the Motion Picture Association of America(MPAA).

Our 2002-2003 Production Guide, a directory to local crew and services, has several new features: a 4-color cover, tab dividers, and indexes by name, company and category. Distribution includes 425 clients locally, and 2000 top film clients world-wide. We also updated Looks are Everything, a color brochure with a sampling of our best locations.

The Newsletter, Film Santa Barbara, continues to receive excellent feedback. This publication highlights a variety of locations that are available for filming. It also reviews recent productions, permit officer updates, new wineries and hotels, Santa Barbara movie trivia, and much more. Portions are often reprinted in trade magazines. Film Santa Barbara is mailed quarterly to a select client list.

Our website, www.filmsantabarbara.com has a new look too, promoting our lush vineyards, and matching our ad campaign. Downloadable permits have been placed online, assisting producers by expediting the permitting process. Additionally, the location library (both digital, print and web-based), continues to expand, and we can now email photos around the world in an instant!

Familiarization tours are also a successful marketing tool for Santa Barbara. We guide top location managers and producers around the county – showing off spectacular or unique locations. These tours often achieve immediate results -- more film shoots in SB.

Film Production
The Film Commission is actively involved in filming activity throughout the County, providing guidance with permits, locations, crew referrals, lodging, etc. These efforts have paid off, and filming has grown steadily since its inception. This fiscal year, Santa Barbara County's economic impact reached a record $10,620,000 (277 productions, with a total of 1083 shoot days). These productions include still photography, commercials, independent and feature films. Using an economic multiplier, the community's overall economic benefit is estimated at $25 million. The MPAA calculates the potential "ripple-down" effect for our county to be as high as $34 million.

Some highlights this year included the feature, Rosebud, starring Mimi Rogers and Martin Landau, and a variety of television shows, including X-Files, Disney, The Bachelor, Home & Garden, Wedding of a Lifetime, andNickelodeon's Mission Vacation. Also, still shoots for Cadillac, Anthropologie, Discover California, Eddie Bauer and Porsche brought production activity all over the County. Turn on your television, and you'll see that the Santa Ynez Valley is a very popular backdrop for car commercials and fashion catalogs.

Trade Shows and Sales Trips. We attended Locations Trade Show 2001, Showbiz Expo West
in Los Angeles, and the Cannes Film Market. Additionally, frequent marketing trips to Los Angeles and New York keep filming in Santa Barbara on the upswing.

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