Monterey County Film Commission Blog

Lights, Camera, Economic Action


Monterey County Film Commission elects three new members to Board of Directors

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In: Press Releases

The Monterey County Film Commission board of directors has elected three new members to serve three-year terms on its board. They are Nadja Marks, a fundraiser and grant writer; Cheryl Savage, operations manager at Steinbeck Mortgage; and Paul Ventura, a casting agent, writer and painter.

The nonprofit Monterey County Film Commission was established by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors to attract and facilitate film productions for economic development. With an annual average direct spend of $5 million in local communities, the film commission estimates more than $112 million in positive economic impact has come into Monterey County communities from on-location film productions since its establishment in 1987.

The organization is seeking volunteer board members from all parts of Monterey County, especially the Salinas Valley and North County, and those with nonprofit experience from diverse fields of interest. For more information, call 831-646-0910, email info@FilmMonterey.org, or download an application form at www.FilmMonterey.org.

Press Release PDF Version

Nadja Marks

Cheryl Savage

Paul Ventura

Monterey County Film Commission Selects Liberty Ingraham-Gonzales as $2,000 Film Student Scholarship Winner

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In: Press Releases, Student Scholarships

(Monterey, Calif. – May 21)  Liberty Ingraham-Gonzales, a Cinematic Arts and Technology major at California State University, Monterey Bay, was named the 2018 winner of a $2,000 scholarship in the Monterey County Film Commission’s Director Emeritus Richard Tyler Film Student Scholarship Award Program.  She is a Monterey resident, originally from Arcata.

The Monterey County Film Commission film student scholarship program was created in 2008 to provide financial aid and incentive to students of film as well as beginning filmmakers who reside in Monterey County or those enrolled in a college or university in the county.  The fund was established as a permanent endowment with the Community Foundation for Monterey County.

To avoid conflict with studies, Ingraham-Gonzales plans to shoot her capstone film project in Mexico over the summer.  “This award will allow my collaborative capstone partner and me to rent production equipment, cover transportation fees for crew, and help obtain permits for our documentary,” said Ingraham-Gonzales.  “I am driven by challenge and precision and I love to create stories—thus producing is my passion, melding both worlds together in harmony. I hope to showcase this film in film festivals, as well as use it as part of my reel for building a career as a producer.”

Contributions to the film commission’s Director Emeritus Richard Tyler Film Student Scholarship Award Program were made by the Craig and Paula Tigerman family, Dino Cocalis, Honest Engine Films, Lou Adler’s Monterey International Pop Festival Foundation, and numerous local businesses and individuals.

“The Monterey County Film Commission promotes economic development through the film industry, and is also dedicated to helping identify and promote the next generation of local young filmmakers,” said Gary Bolen, chairperson of the MCFC scholarship committee.  “This year’s competition was especially tough with only five points separating the top three finalists. Hopefully this scholarship will assist Liberty and her colleague in taking their next steps into a lifelong career in the film industry.”

For more information call 831-646-0910 or email info@filmmonterey.org.

MCFC presents “REEL Jobs: The New Era of Screenwriting” with Madeline DiMaggio

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In: Press Releases

Want to learn more about screenwriting, what’s on the cutting edge, what opportunities there are in the new world of streaming, TV or film, and how to successfully market your creative work?  Accomplished screenwriter Madeline DiMaggio will be lecturing and giving insights on what’s hot and what’s not along with the basics of screenwriting on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018, at the Monterey County Film Commission’s “Reel Jobs: The New Era of Screenwriting” event.

It takes place at the Irvine Auditorium at Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MIIS) at 499 Pierce St. in Monterey starting at 9:30 a.m., preceded by coffee in the auditorium’s atrium at 8:45 a.m.  An optional Writer’s Networking Luncheon is planned for 12:30 p.m., followed by optional and pre-scheduled one-on-one coaching or pitching sessions with DiMaggio in the afternoon.  Basic lecture tickets are $30 and $10 for students. Other options and costs are identified on the ticket registration at www.screenwriting 2018.eventbrite.com or www.FilmMonterey.org/event. Sponsors of the screenwriting event include the Arts Council for Monterey County, Final Draft, and the Monterey County Board of Supervisors.

DiMaggio, who used to live in the Monterey area, began her career writing TV dramas and sitcoms, which led to a contract at Paramount Studios in pilot development.  She has written and sold over 45 hours of produced TV and film including “Alibi” for ABC, and the feature “If the Shoe Fits” with co-writer Pamela Wallace. DiMaggio served as head of development at Honest Engine Films in Monterey for seven years, where she co-produced the feature film “Surviving Eden” and numerous award-winning feature film documentaries.   Later she teamed up with Monterey Peninsula resident and screenwriter Marla Young and wrote “Profile for Murder,” a thriller for Lifetime Television.  She has a comedy pilot under consideration at the BBC, and has just completed another project with Young called “Carnal Lies” which is set on the Monterey Peninsula.

For more information, contact the Monterey County Film Commission at 831-646-0910 or email info@filmmonterey.org.

About Final Draft, a Cast & Crew Company

Final Draft, a Cast & Crew Company, has published Final Draft® software – the number-one selling screenwriting application in the world – for 25 years. Final Draft automatically paginates and formats your script to industry standards, allowing writers to focus on what they do best – writing scripts. Used by such industry giants as J.J. Abrams, James Cameron and Aaron Sorkin, Final Draft software is the professional’s choice and the entertainment industry standard. In addition to its flagship software product, Final Draft offers the annual Big Break Contest – a screenwriting competition that launches careers, and awards over $80,000 in cash and prizes. Final Draft also offers the Reader® and Writer® apps for iPhone and iPad, making creativity truly portable. To learn more about Final Draft and its products and services, visit: www.finaldraft.com.

Daniel Cardenas joins MCFC Board

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In: News, Press Releases

The Monterey County Film Commission board of directors has elected Daniel Cardenas of Carmel to serve on the board for a three-year term.

Cardenas is a realtor with Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate in Carmel. Prior to moving to Monterey County he lived in Long Beach, and worked with Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank for 20 years. There he held positions in human resources, post-production, consumer products, and production operations distribution of theatrical for Latin America and Asia Pacific. He also managed 12 worldwide theatrical film distribution releases for New Line Cinema Worldwide.

As director of international sales and acquisitions for In-Focus Entertainment, Cardenas distributed feature films to over 50 airlines worldwide and negotiated film acquisition contracts.

While with Warner Bros., he served as director of professional development for a career development program, Warner Bros. Latinos Unidos, participated in the Warner Bros. mentor program Big Brother, and volunteered with MEND (Meeting Each Need with Dignity) and Wheels for Humanity, providing wheelchairs for Third World countries.

The nonprofit Monterey County Film Commission was established by and is funded in part by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors.  It works to attract and facilitate on-location film production for economic development, with an annual average of $4 million direct spend coming to local communities from the film business.

Monterey’s Summer of Love kicked off with “Monterey Pop” film

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In: News, Press Releases, Student Scholarships

In May, the Monterey County Film Commission took nearly 800 movie-goers back in time to the 1967 Monterey International Pop Festival. It happened via a special screening of D.A. Pennebaker’s
documentary Monterey Pop, the ground-breaking film which blended music and film 50 years ago. Held at Monterey’s historic Golden State Theatre, the event included a talk by Carmel’s professional photographer Tom Gundelfinger O’Neal, who shared behind-the-scenes insights on the festival and those who were capturing its action on film.

Sandi Austin and Carol Crocker join Monterey County Film Commission Board

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In: Press Releases

MCFC BOARD ELECTS TWO NEW MEMBERS

Sandi Austin
Carol Crocker

The Monterey County Film Commission board of directors has elected Sandi Austin of Aromas and Carol Crocker of Salinas to serve on the nonprofit’s board for three-year terms.

Austin is a business operations professional at Cisco Systems in San Jose, working to improve data access for peers and partners. Previously she worked in finance for six years, including senior auditor/accountant. She started her career at Seagate Technology in accounting, and has a BS degree in business administration from University of Phoenix. She has volunteered for organizations such as the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the Women’s Crisis Line in Salinas, and the Human Rights Commission in San Jose.

Film Commission Elects Kathleen Eckerson to Board of Directors

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In: Press Releases

Kathleen Eckerson - Board of DirectorsThe Monterey County Film Commission board of directors has elected Kathleen Eckerson to serve a three-year term on the nonprofit organization’s board.

Eckerson is a wealth management advisor and owner of Suddenly Single Wealth Management® in Pebble Beach. She has a diverse background in economic development from senior management and consultant roles with the City of Fresno and County of Fresno, as well as the County of Monterey. Previously she was senior management analyst for the City and County of Fresno, and an instructor at California State University, Fresno, teaching their capstone course, strategy and policy. She also served as Fiserv, Inc.’s regional vice president of marketing, sales, client services, negotiations and corporate communications in their Fresno regional office.

Monterey County Board of Supervisors Honored By Film Commission

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In: Press Releases

Reel Vision Award presented to former Supervisor Marc Del Piero pictured below
with MCFC Board President Jeff Clark and Board Chair Gloria Gargiulo

Monterey County Film Commission’s Board of Directors honored Monterey County Board of Supervisors
Photos: Robert Stanley

When the idea of creating a Monterey County Film Commission was being considered by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors in 1987, it was then Supervisor Marc Del Piero—along with Supervisor Sam Karas—who championed the cause. They hoped the county would benefit from the economic boost that on-location film production could bring to the area. Little did they know that by 2015 film productions would have meant more than $92 million in economic impact for Monterey County’s communities.