Santa Fe Film and Digital Media Council

FILM AND DIGITAL MEDIA COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 2, 2025 10:00 AM MEETING VIRTUALLY 1. CALL TO ORDER A meeting of the Film and Digital Media Council was called to order by Chair Dillingham, at 10:02 am, on September 2, 2025 and was held virtually. 2. ROLL CALL MEMBERS PRESENT Gay Dillingham, Chair Anna Darrah Robert Dennis Jason Ordaz Dyanna Taylor Dr. James Wysong Dr. Elizabeth Stahmer Jacqueline Frank Jaydin Martinez Mark Glaser (1 vacancy) Alternate Members: Lisette Bailey Talia Pura Max Walukas James Cressanthis MEMBERS NOT PRESENT Dezbaa, excused Harvey Kahn Allessandra Dobrin, excused Tara Tovarek Sienna Bergt Barbara Bentree OTHERS PRESENT Johanna Nelson, Director, Economic Development Department Casey Dalbor, Economic Development Department Maciek Jasik, Downtown Business Coordinator Film and Digital Media Council September 2, 2025 Page 1  Jennifer LaBar-Tapia, Santa Fe Film Office Director Andrew Griego, Santa Fe Film Office Brianna Figueroa, Executive Director, Creative Startups Elizabeth Martin, Stenographer 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION A motion was made by Ms. Darrah, seconded by Ms. Pura, to approve the agenda as presented. VOTE The motion passed on a roll call vote as follows: Ms. Darrah, yes; Mr. Dennis, yes; Ms. Taylor, yes; Mr. Martinez, yes; Mr. Ordaz, yes; Mr. Glaser, yes; Dr. Wysong, yes; Dr. Stahmer, yes; Ms. Frank, yes; Ms. Bailey, yes; Ms. Pura, yes; Mr. Walukas, yes; Mr. Cressanthis, yes; Chair Dillingham, yes. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM AUGUST 5, 2025, FILM AND DIGITAL MEDIA COUNCIL MEETING Chair Dillingham noted corrections several corrections and that Mr. Glaser was in attendance at the August meeting. MOTION A motion was made by Mr. Cressanthis, seconded by Ms. Frank, to approve the minutes as amended. VOTE The motion passed on a roll call vote as follows: Ms. Darrah, yes; Mr. Dennis, yes; Ms. Taylor, yes; Mr. Martinez, yes; Mr. Ordaz, yes; Mr. Glaser, yes; Dr. Wysong, yes; Dr. Stahmer, yes; Ms. Frank, yes; Ms. Bailey, yes; Ms. Pura, yes; Mr. Walukas, yes; Mr. Cressanthis, yes; Chair Dillingham, yes. 5. UPDATES A. SANTA FE FILM OFFICE Ms. LaBar-Tapia said a couple of weeks ago, she, Andrew and the State Film Office attended the International Locations Awards. Santa Fe was nominated for two awards. We did not win, but it was a big thing to be included. Huge shout out to Santa Fe and New Mexico. Ms. LaBar-Tapia reported that we had two scouts for independent westerns this Film and Digital Media Council September 2, 2025 Page 2 week. That is a good sign. She and Andrew sat on a panel for the Urban Land Institute to talk about filming in our region. Our locations director is in it’s final stages. We are hopeful that it will be launched this month or early next month. Please reach out to Andrew and let us know what you do. We are active in our communications with the State Film Office. She will be attending the Association of Film Commissioners International in two weeks. The Madrid Film Festival was a couple of weeks ago. Our office supports them with a sponsorship. Mr. Griego gave an update on Indie-Q, which has been brought to Santa Fe. 6. PRESENTATIONS A. CREATIVE STARTUPS FOR NM FILM Ms. Figueroa said Creative Startups has been based in Santa Fe for eighteen years. We help creatives start up their businesses. We want to work more with film. Ms. Figueroa reviewed the efforts of Creative Startups and the programming. Chair Dillingham said the creative bill excludes film. We have to first get over that hump. There are ways you could help us immediately. We need a start up seed money fund grant program to help facilitate with private investors. Mr. Glaser asked how much money do you need to raise to form a cohort. Ms. Figueroa said for a standard six week program it would be about $68,000. 7. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. FILM FINANCE LANDSCAPE MAP (CDFA) Chair Dillingham said she hopes you have all received the latest final version. She would like to discuss this and follow up with Robert Dennis’ committee to do a deeper dive and give feedback outside of this meeting. If other participants want to do a deeper dive into the map, email Robert Dennis. Mr. Walukas said it is nice to see all this information in one place and organized. Chair Dillingham said she feels strongly that we need to work on the Anti- Donation Clause and the Santa Fe Series Fest. The Fest is a year long festival to support pilots. She has spoken to the Mayor about this and New Mexico based production development startup grants. Ms. Darrah said she found it interesting to see the potential of the City of Santa Film and Digital Media Council September 2, 2025 Page 3 Fe to help us around interest for loans. That is something we can work on now. Mr. Dennis said the Governor’s Council proposal is with the SIC now. They are waiting to get word back in order to proceed with that. There was discussion around the SIC investment strategy and third party management. Mr. Walukas asked about the double fee structure. Mr. Dennis said part of it is to cover the MFA expense. The total interest rate is 8 3/4 %. It will also require a bank guarantee. Chair Dillingham said this is about reforming the Anti-Donation Clause to fit our needs. There was discussion around the Anti-Donation Clause. Chair Dillingham said we need to have a deep dive with the working group as to where we want to go. Mr. Dennis said he will set that up. 8. MATTERS FROM THE COMMITTEE A. STRATEGIC PLAN WORKING GROUP UPDATES EDUCATION WORKING GROUP AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS/FILM LOAN FUND WORKING GROUP EDUCATION AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS/FILM LOAN FUND Mr. Dennis said he sent off a list of questions to the Higher Education Department regarding the MAC and CNM and the build out. They gave me some responses. Mr. Dennis reviewed the highlights of the responses. Dr. Wysong said our program is expanding. Some of these things sound surprising to him. There is a big trust gap with this entity. He is watching closely, but, in the meantime, we are doing our own thing. Dr. Stahmer said she appreciates Robert reaching out and asking questions. We still have the loss of the Give Back Program. There needs to be a third party to Film and Digital Media Council September 2, 2025 Page 4 oversee all these programs. She definitely feels the trust factor. We need to look at that in the context of our lobbying in the spring. Mr. Dennis said he agrees. It will be a heavy haul. He does not see why we could not reinvorgate it in some way. Mr. Dennis discussed changes in the California incentives and efforts to show the industry is coming back in that state. Mr. Cressenthis said he was struck at the quality of skill and knowledge of the recent graduates of the Community College and IAIA. Being a former college professor, he is happy to see the percentage of people who succeed. Thank you all for what you are doing. It is a tribute to these two institutions and it bodes well for the future. Mr. Ordaz said we do get grants and have new scholarships available for students. If you want to help, please contact him. Right now, we are at a flat budget. We have to wait for Congress to pass that. We have started a Cinematic Circle Group at IAIA. Right now, they are raising money for senior programs. If you are interested, please let him know. ABOVE THE LINE WORKING GROUP Ms. Darrah said she is about to reach out to the working group to create the detail for an event at Aspect Studios in October. We are talking about focusing on post production. We are also looking at a kombucha bingo night at Sky Theater with above and below the line folks Joanna Lovetti said she went to the Madrid Film Festival and was very impressed with it this year and with the young talent. She really supports them. 9. MATTERS FROM STAFF Ms. Nelson introduced Maciek Jasik, the new Downtown Business Coordinator. Ms. Nelson said we finally got our list serve put together. Casey will send a link to the Film and Digital Media list and will be sure to share any updates. We want to support and facilitate communication between groups. The platform is for your use. Ms. Nelson said this is a very busy month. We are helping the Mayor with the Living Wage Study. The Mayor is focused on increasing the minimum wage to $17.00 an hour. The Governing Body wants community feedback. We will be holding community meetings and doing a survey. We are looking at Guadalupe Street to replicate the Canyon Road event. Our Small Business Navigator Program is up and Film and Digital Media Council September 2, 2025 Page 5 going. 10. MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC Dr. Stahmer said she would like to share that the Stagecoach Foundation building has some office space open. She will put the information in the chat. At the end of this month, she will be partnering with the Bring Them Home film. There will be a block party for the screening. The information is on the Jean Cocteau website. Ms. Darrah said Theresa Stone proposed a trip in October to the AFI Film Festival to include studios. She proposed this to Gay and I. If you are interested she will ask Theresa to put an email in the chat. Jen Rudin said she is very impressed with UNM’s film efforts. She is an adjunct Professor at UNM. She gave an update on two events. Mr. Dennis said one of his neighbors is having an artist studio open house. He will put the flyer in the chat. Mr. Ordaz said on Thursday, September 18th, SFCC is having an open house from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. We are partnering with them and having an open house from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. B and H Phone will be there at both. Mr. Martinez said the 39th Annual Pinion Awards will be on October 7th from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Little Globe is creating a story for each nonprofit profile. Support them and come out. It is the Santa Fe Community Foundation as the host. Ms. Darrah gave a shout out to Tiffany Cole. Ms. Bentree gave a shout out to Monique, an editor, who is having a dream year. She is right here in Santa Fe and is nominated for an Emmy Award. Mr. Parrish King said being in Santa Fe is a great experience. He is a sound designer and is happy to be here. He is very proud of Monique. Michael Hansel introduced himself saying he is a film maker. His film, The Amazon Trail, had a preview screening in Paris. The film community in New Mexico os solid, talented and sincere. Norm Gunzenhauser said he has been here for two years and was in LA for thirty five years. Moving to Santa Fe was the greatest move he ever made. He is a writer and was in Moscow for eight years. He reshot beloved shows from the United States with new actors. It was the greatest job of his life. He is involved with the Santa Fe Playhouse Melodrama. It runs from September 18th to September 28th. He hopes Film and Digital Media Council September 2, 2025 Page 6 you all come and see it. He is part of the writing committee. Ms. Pura said she is in the melodrama. 11. NEXT MEETING OCTOBER 7, 2025 12. ADJOURN There being no further business before the Council, the meeting adjourned at 12:00 noon. Gay Dillingham, Chair Elizabeth Martin _ __ _ _ ___ ___ E liz a be t h Maritn( N ov 21, 202 5 1 5 :44 :31 MS T ) Elizabeth Martin, Stenographer Film and Digital Media Council September 2, 2025 Page 7