Photo: Ray McCarty

GEORGE CLOONEY - MEET RAY -- A LOBBYIST FOR THE MOVIES

Ask Ray McCarty what he does for a living, and he is quick to tell you that
one of his jobs, is as a lobbyist for the movie industry. Specifically he is a
lobbyist, whose work to promote the film tax credits, has already attracted
the latest movie filming in Missouri, called "Up in the Air."

And although he has never met the Hollywood Star of the film, George
Clooney, McCarty did get to see him from a distance, during a visit to the
set, while Clooney was filming in St. Louis, in late March. And that close up
is good enough. McCarty is the President of Associated Industries of
Missouri. The trade organization represents about one thousand one
hundred members in Missouri alone. Some of those clients are involved in
the movie industry. He represents the Film Commission in Missouri ,a lighting
company ,a sound and even a talent agency,

From St. Louis to Jefferson City and even across the state to Kansas City,
McCarty is busy lobbying to increase the "Movie Tax Credit" in Missouri.
He spent the day in St. Louis and part of his time visiting News 4.
Then later that evening on Tuesday March 31st, he rushed back to Jefferson City,
in time to testify against a proposal that would cut the tax credit for movie makers
from its current maximum of $4 and a half million dollars -- down to only $500 thousand
dollars. That cut is sponsored by Representative Tim Flook from Liberty Missouri.

McCarty is lobbying in favor of House Bill 767,which would increase tax
credits for motion picture producers from the current $4 point 5 million
dollars per year-- up to $10 million. That legislation is being sponsored by
Missouri Representative Jason Grill, from Kansas City.

But McCarty believes that the tax credits do create more money for the state
of Missouri. Some of his friends like Jerry Jones at the Missouri Film Commissioin
in Missouri, estimate the Clooney movie could end
up turning a $4 and a half million dollar tax credit, into a positive
economic contribution of between $22 and $28 million dollars, to the
economy in Missouri. But McCarty is a bit more cautious when it comes to
estimates. McCarty will not use an exact figure. He says his trade group will
use the George Clooney movie, as a vehicle to calculate the exact dollar impact,
generated by the movie tax credits in the "Show Me State."

McCarty is hoping that his work will also increase awareness among
employees in Missouri. He is hoping to make workers more aware of the
jobs, that exist in the film industry. For example, he hopes that workers will be
interested in developing the skill of building a movie set, so it looks like it is
a permanent structure. Or the specialized skills of a lighting, sound, or becoming
grip on the movie set.

If you are interested in learning more, about the Missouri Film Commission,
how they calculate the tax credits for movie makers, or other related topics,
just click on the hyper-links below.

By the way, sources close to the film crews tell News 4, that the crew for the
George Clooney movie "Up in the Air" will be filming in the St. Louis area
until May, and that the movie may be ready to open in theatres by October.

ABOUT THE MO. FILM COMMISSION

FILM PRODUCTION TAX CREDIT

MISSOURI FILM CREDITS

LINKS TO RELATED SITES:
MissouriBusiness.net

ROBIN SMITH
KMOV-TV Channel 4
Anchor- News 4 at Noon
News Anchor
News Reporter
#1 Memorial Drive
St. Louis, Mo. 63102
314-444-6368
rsmith@kmov.com

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