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The Berkshires’ newest creative economy initiative, the Berkshire Film and Media Commission (BFMC), was officially launched on Dec. 6 at a festive kick-off event at the Elayne Bernstein Theater at Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, introducing the non-profit organization to community leaders and area filmmakers.

Executive Director Diane Pearlman spoke to the gathering of more than 180 guests about BFMC’s mission to attract film, television and new media productions to Western Massachusetts. Services provided by the organization include its online production guide and locations library, networking local industry professionals, and the development of film-related educational and technical programs for the community. The BFMC was formed in August as a fund of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity.

“The Berkshires has everything it takes to attract film production: unique locations, a talented pool of industry professionals, and high-quality support services,” Pearlman said. “Even in economic downturns, the film business thrives. Fourteen films were shot in Massachusetts last year, creating revenue of more than $359 million. But all of those films were shot in the Boston area. We intend to bring some of those production dollars and well-paying jobs to the Berkshires.”

She added that BFMC is also actively marketing the Berkshires as a location for commercials, television shows, and web content shoots and is planning an event in New York City to announce the BFMC to advertising agencies, production companies, and location scouts. Her goal is to bring some of these productions to the region, noting that “statistically, about 1.5 times of production budgets are pumped into the local economy.”

Encouraging local filmmakers and film production support businesses, such as hotels, motels, caterers, hardware and supply businesses, to register their services in the film production guide on the BFMC’s website, www.berkshirefilm.com, Pearlman said that “when location scouts, directors, and producers use our website for research, we want to make sure they can immediately see all that we have to offer and be assured that we can handle even the largest-scale productions.”

Pearlman, who was recently appointed as BFMC’s executive director, is an independent entertainment producer, studio executive and businesswoman with 25 years of experience in media creation and production. She said that in the last few months she has toured Western Massachusetts with various location scouts representing an array of television and film productions, including “One Life to Live,” Sex in the City 2,” “Design Sixx,” Bravo’s televised docu-reality series, an Adam Sandler movie and an animated feature film, adding that Berkshire County was also part of a bid package to shoot the next Jennifer Anniston film in Massachusetts. Another project in the works that was revealed at the Dec. 6 event is a feature film currently in development, based on an adaptation by veteran feature film art director and Stockbridge resident Carl Sprague, of Edith Wharton’s 1917 novel “Summer,” which is set in the Berkshires.

Pearlman read a prepared statement sent by Nicholas Paleologos, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Film Office, who said “The BFMC has been an incredibly important resource for the Massachusetts Film Industry. We routinely direct filmmakers to the Commission for location assistance, production service information, as well as any key Berkshire County contacts necessary to facilitate an individual production seeking to shoot in Western Massachusetts. We proudly link to the BFMC from our website. They are a terrific model for just how creative our state’s creative economy can be!”

State Rep. William “Smitty” Pignatelli, who attended BFMC’s launch party, said “I’m thrilled to support the great work of the Berkshire Film and Media Commission in their efforts to attract film and media projects to Western Mass. With our natural beauty and historical settings, I feel that we offer the perfect location for film productions and this will further enhance our already growing creative economy.”

Click here to read Rural Intelligence’s coverage and  see images from the event!

For more information about Berkshire Film and Media Commission visit www.berkshirefilm.com or e-mail info@berkshirefilm.com