Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman chaired the first meeting of the Mayors and City Film Commissioners Task Force held during the Seattle Annual Conference. The meeting was attended by almost 20 mayors and a half dozen city film commissioners.

Much of the discussion at the first meeting centered on the issue of "runaway" or film production that has gone to foreign countries. It is estimated that almost $2 billion is lost annually to Canada.

Possible remedies to this problem were discussed ranging from federal legislation to help provide tax credits to film companies and producers to steps cities can take to lessen the costs to companies for local film production. Providence Mayor Vincent "Buddy" Cianci talked about how his state legislature recently passed legislation giving 25 percent tax credits to producers for filming in the state as well formulating a venture capital fund to help produce films. The importance of the economic benefits of film production to cities was also discussed as ways to strengthen the arguments why steps needed to be undertaken.

Action steps agreed upon to be taken by the Task Force include the compilation of survey materials on the economic impact of film production on cities and the loss to cities of "runaway" productions; a meeting with leaders from the film and television industry to talk about "runaway" and skills gap issues; and a meeting later in the year in Las Vegas to continue the work of the Task Force.

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