Ironic, to say the least.
From Missouri State Representative Denny Hoskins' (r-noun, verb, CPA) March 4, 2011 Capitol Report:
....This week, Speaker Steve Tilley appointed me to the Missouri Film Commission. Missouri needs to continue to work hard to attract production companies to come to Missouri to film movies. This has brought millions of dollars of out-of-state money into Missouri in the last two years, including the films Up in the Air and Winter’s Bone. Recently, Governor Nixon withheld an important economic development tool that caused Paramount Pictures to withdraw their plans to produce another major film in St. Louis and go to another state. All states but one have film commissions or offices which work to keep their state in the forefront of consideration so you can see the competition is stiff. Governor Nixon’s budget recommendation is to eliminate the Missouri Film Commission. With no film commission, there is no one to advocate for Missouri, which means we aren’t seriously considered. I have already made my position clear on the importance of this investment in this economic development effort and will continue to do so in the Budget Committee and on the House floor if necessary....
Local film festivals are another matter, however:
Suppose you held a film festival and right wingnuts didn't want anyone to attend (September 10, 2010)
The show must go on (September 10, 2010)
Rep. Denny Hoskins (r) and Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder (r): The review is in - two thumbs down (September 14, 2010)
Veto Session Reviews for Rep. Denny Hoskins (r): great potental for a Razzie (September 15, 2010)
Rep. Denny Hoskins (r) and the Film Festival: because the arts never generate economic activity? (September 17, 2010)
Rep. Denny Hoskins (r) and the Film Festival: demagoguery, not oversight (September 18, 2010)
Rep. Denny Hoskins (r) and the Film Festival: that was then, this is now (September 20, 2010)
Rep. Denny Hoskins (r) and the Film Festival: no one knew about it... (September 21, 2010)
A short film about a film festival... (September 22, 2010)
Ky Dickens, the film festival, the Chicago Reader, and teabaggers (September 23, 2010)
We get film festival hate mail (September 28, 2010)
Rep. Denny Hoskins (r) and the Film Festival: that was then, this is now - part 2 (September 28, 2010)
Rep. Denny Hoskins (r) and the Film Festival: what the teabaggers say (October 4, 2010)
So, using public money to promote film and contribute to the local economy in your own district is really bad, but using public money to promote film and contribute to the economy in other places in the state is really good?
What will the teabaggers think?