An Open Letter to the Community
Richard Linklater | Jun 17, 2009 | Comments 9
There have been a lot of rumors flying around over the past week about what is happening at Austin Studios and before things get out of hand, we all need to take a breath and get on the same page. Misinformation is threatening to cause a division in our community that could jeopardize a lot of what we have built over the years. What follows are some facts and an idea of what the Austin Film Society has in mind. We invite you into the ongoing discussion, without rhetoric or rumor, of how we can keep film healthy in Austin.
First, the item on the Thursday’s City Council agenda has nothing to do with any tenants at Austin Studios. AFS has been working for four years on a new lease with the City of Austin. The property is leased to AFS for $100 per year with the intent that the organization will bring in production dollars to the city’s economy. They have done a great job! In the nine years Austin Studios has been in operation, it has housed $600-plus million in large-scale features plus many small indies, music videos, photo and commercial shoots.
In addition to space rental on a per-project basis, several companies are long-term tenants, renting space at the Studios to provide production services, which in addition to all of the bond improvements, makes Austin Studios a competitive and viable studio. How much space is devoted to tenants and how much is devoted to production has come into question, but showing up at the Council meeting tomorrow and talking about Soundcheck shows that you have been misinformed about the agenda item.
The lease on the City Council agenda this week secures the site for Austin Studios for film production and includes the reconfiguration of the site to include the National Guard building, both of which ensure film production on this property long into the future—something we all want. Long-term tenant leasing, such as Soundcheck, also requires city approval but since the deal is NOT complete, it won’t be considered now. It’s NOT a done deal, and even if we can get to the point of a deal, the city will again need to approve it.
Besides securing the space, the other hurdle Austin Studios must overcome in order to survive is staying economically viable. I don’t have to tell you that feature film production has been down in Texas, and the larger economic crisis has really hit the film industry hard (despite what you might be hearing about the high-grossing, big-budget films). Especially impacted are the medium budget films that we have historically attracted over the years. There’s no soft-peddling around it: this is the worst it’s ever been, and to be in the film business right now is like weathering a nasty storm. Thankfully, everyone is doing everything they can in trying to make us competitive again. With the new incentives, and an inevitable-but-currently-unscheduled upturn in the economy, we all hope, and are poised, for it all to come trickling back to stay.
For the Film Society, ensuring Austin Studios remains open to accommodate production means being open to all kinds of production: music videos, television programs, web-based production… Soundcheck is not only a potential long-term tenant, paying rental fees and putting in major capital improvements to the property, they would also bring production and on-site production services. Let me assure you the Film Society enters into nothing without a lot of thought and consideration, and we currently have as hardworking a staff and thorough and involved board of directors as I’ve ever seen around here. I’m really proud of what the Film Society has been able to accomplish, in good times and bad, and as a filmmaker, Board Member, Founder of AFS and Austin Studios, I’m excited about the potential long-term income and positive impact Soundcheck offers Austin Studios and the community of Austin we are dedicated to serving.
Should we talk about it? Absolutely. Next Thursday, June 25th at 11 AM at Austin Studios, we’ll be holding a community forum to fill you in on the details so far and hear your comments and suggestions.
Thanks for your time,
Richard Linklater
Filed Under: AFS News • Austin Studios • Featured
About the Author: Before writer/director Richard Linklater made SLACKER, an experimental narrative revolving around 24 hours in the lives of 100 characters that garnered acclaim in 1991, he made many shorts and completed a Super 8 feature, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO LEARN TO PLOW BY READING BOOKS (1988). Linklater's additional credits include the 70's cult hit DAZED AND CONFUSED (1993); BEFORE SUNRISE (1995); SUBURBIA (1997); THE NEWTON BOYS (1998), a western/gangster film set in the 1920s; the animated feature WAKING LIFE (2001); the low-budget, real-time drama TAPE (2001); the short documentary LIVE FROM SHIVA’S DANCE FLOOR (2003); the hit comedy SCHOOL OF ROCK (2003); the critically-acclaimed BEFORE SUNSET (2004); the television pilot $5.15/Hr.; the irreverent comedy BAD NEWS BEARS (2005); A SCANNER DARKLY (2006), based on the novel by Philip K. Dick; and FAST FOOD NATION, based on the New York Times Best-seller of the same name.
I have to agree with Richard on this, I have also been getting a lot of calls and emails regarding the potential long term lease of Stage 4. As UPM I have used the Studios more than Just about anyone and I have no objection to this Plan. I think the income from a long term tenant would be good for the studios and give them money to use for much needed infrastructure upgrades
Before I left for my present film in Australia I was given a tour of the new sound stage and was very impressed at what had been done. AFS has come a long way in the formation of a viable studio. Yes the losing of stage 4 will potentially take away not only filming space but construction space, but the promise of long term income in this slow filming period will go a very long way and with the addition of the National Guard Armory next door we should have a great studio in the near future.
I look forward to getting back home and doing another film in Austin.
Rich Chapla
Thank you for the letter…good to hear what is going on back in Texas to move things forward. I am now out in Los Angeles and am interested in bringing projects back to Texas as well. Would love to speak to someone at the Studios about the possibilities.
I am excited about the recent bills that were passed regarding Tax Incentives in the state…however I do not think that everyone out here received that message because a number of producers that I have spoken with who are not from Texas had no idea that about the new legislation. Is there anyway that the state or organizations like AFS could make sure that the people in Cali and NY as well as other places are well informed about the Tax Incentives…I tell everyone I know…but there are only so many that I can reach on my own.
Thank you,
Todd
Why are you holding the meeting at 11AM? You can’t get away from your job to attend this meeting.
[...] CLICK HERE to read the Founder of AFS and Austin Studios’ , Richard Linklater, open letter to the community concerning this matter. [...]
I’m all for leasing the space out. It’s a good litmus test to see if AFS is really a good leading voice for artists or better suited for simply presenting and promoting films. I think they’re making a well-informed decision financially, and I hope that translates well to local and visiting artists and productions in the long run.
Richard, thank you for clarifing some of the points associated with the proposed lease deal. While I do find the decision of trying to diversify the studio’s holdings to include other forms of revenue to be sound, I also raise an eyebrow in question as to wheather well established Austin based companies which already provide services of this type were ever approached to become tenants.
It seems more appropriate to pass along the below-the-market advantages that the society receives from the city to Austin based companies rather than continue its status quo of courting companies with headquaters based outside of Texas.
You guys have come so far and Texas filmmaking has a very rewarding future ahead if people don’t loose their heads and splinter in this time of challenge and change. Good luck with everything!
This sounds like another bailout. Gotta do it now. Well how about bailing out the Austin filmworker. When did this lease become public knowledge? And a rehearsal hall and a sound stage/backlot togather? Oxymoron. I would hope that Richard L. would see the need to have space for imagination. I’ve seen the demise of a film community in Orlando when a simular NTC(navy base) was developed and lost to the community and filmworkers. This is not good for Joe the filmworker.
Leasing the space to Sound Check looks to be forward thinking. Even though incentives have passed, etc., seldom are the studios entirely full, so having two available seems to be reasonable.
If the need for more space arises, then build a new building. There’s plenty of space. I would think that the studios out in LA started out by leasing long term. It sounds like a good opportunity, and good luck.