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Digital Media Alliance General Meeting, July 14, 2009

The summer is heating up with activity in the creative and digital media sector. Below please find updates on current projects and upcoming events, including our quarterly DMA meeting on July 14 at 1pm. If you have any questions, please contact me at 527.6952 or dyoung@gnoinc.org.

Thank you for your support.

Drew Young

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GNO Digital Media Alliance Headlines

Upcoming DMA Meeting: July 14, 1:00 – 2:30 PM, to be held at Entrepreneurs Row and Conference Center located at 220 Camp Street, New Orleans, LA – 2nd floor ballroom.

SIGGRAPH: Louisiana Digital and GNO DMA networking events, planning, and Habitat for Humanity

Policy: Update on 2009 Legislative Session

Capital: LeapFrog Fund Continues to Evolve

Business Development Leads

Education and Training Asset Map & Gap Analysis

The IP Building Welcomes New Tenants: LaunchPad, TJ Ebbert and Associates, Play NOLA and 504ward.

NOVAC Announces launch of Digital Media Institute on July 19th and Short Film Competition to Kick Off “37 Seconds for 37 Years”

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1. Upcoming DMA Meeting: July 14, 1:00 – 2:30 PM, to be held at Entrepreneurs Row and Conference Center located at 220 Camp Street, New Orleans, LA – 2nd floor ballroom.

Major agenda items include:

Full review of the Legislative Session with Elliot Adams, Director of Digital Media Industry for Louisiana Economic Development: What passed? How did the definitions change?

“Reinventing the Crescent,” Sean Cummings, CEO of the New Orleans Building Corporation, will give us the latest progress on a project critical to attracting and retaining the creative class in our region

SIGGRAPH Update

Liz Dunnebacke, Executive Director of the New Orleans Video Access Center (NOVAC) will be presenting on the upcoming launch of the NOVAC Digital Media Institute, set for July 19, 2009

What is the LITE Center? Henry Florsheim, from the LITE Center will be here to talk about what they are and what they do.

Business Development Progress and Opportunities

2. SIGGRAPH: Planning, Louisiana and GNO DMA Parties and Habitat for Humanity

SIGGRAPH is widely recognized as the most prestigious forum for the publication of computer graphics research. In addition to SIGGRAPH’s leading-edge technical program, the conference’s installations provide close-up views of the latest in digital art, emerging technologies, and hands-on opportunities for creative collaboration.

Click here for more Information on registration for SIGGRAPH

Opportunities for your Involvement:

Networking Events/Digital Media Parties

The Louisiana digital media industry and the Greater New Orleans Digital Media Alliance are hosting back to back events during SIGGRAPH in order to connect our own industry leaders with designers, artists and animators from around the world. The events are designed to encourage peer-to-peer interaction and discussion. More information to come at the next DMA general meeting!

Showcase your work! Louisiana Economic Development will be hosting a large booth at the conference in order to highlight the state’s digital media assets. If you’d like a chance to present your work to thousands of international representatives from top companies across the globe, please contact Laura Andrew at laura@lite3d.com.

Autodesk, Adobe, and TurboSquid are doing their part in giving back to the city of New Orleans by coordinating volunteers to help with two days worth of Habitat for Humanity projects around the city on Friday, July 31st and Saturday, August 1st. TurboSquid will provide more information soon on coordinated transportation and pick-up spots for any out-of-town volunteers. Additionally for anyone who signs up to volunteer, we will raffle off 10 Siggraph expo passes so that folks can attend the show free of charge. There will also be a special event held afterwards for everyone who lends a hand in helping deserving families get back into new homes. If you’d like more information or would like to register, visit: http://www.turbosquid.com/siggraph

3. Legislative Update

In spite of a $1.3 billion state shortfall and contentious Legislative Session, the creative media bills appear to be moving toward final passage as the 2009 Session wraps up. Digital Media, Film Production, and Sound Recording tax incentive measures are all in play, with expectations of these bills passing and getting to the Governor’s desk for signature.

Of particular interest to the GNO Digital Media Alliance is SB 277 by Duplessis, which passed the Senate and the House. SB 277 is the lead digital bill at this point, as proponents of multiple proposals have worked out agreeable terms in the past few weeks. As currently amended SB 277 makes the program permanent, provides a 25% tax credit level, and modernizes the eligibility definition to apply to more than video gaming projects.

On the film side, HB 898 Henry and SB 245 Adley have passed both chambers. Both bills will end up on the Governor’s desk, with only one signed into law. The key component of the film bills is to raise the film tax credit up to a highly competitive level of 30% to maintain Louisiana’s leadership position. At the same time, film infrastructure bills have been limping along with only one remaining in the process HB 693 by Greene that continues the program on a limited basis for projects in the pipeline.

Finally, the sound recording legislation appears to be in solid shape, with HB458 Talbot and SB 123 now passed in both chambers. The Talbot bill would extend the program for 5 years and Michot bill would make the program permanent. Both bills keep the sound recording credit at 25%. Again, the Governor will get to pick which one he signs.

GNO DMA members are asked to continue support of these important bills as the 2009 Session closes out, with many measures jockeying for legislative approval and subsequent action by the Governor. We will have a full legislative report at the July meeting of the DMA.

4. Capital: LeapFrog

GNO, Inc. is supporting a group of local business leaders in an accelerating effort to launch the LeapFrog fund. Modeled on a program called “JumpStart” in Cleveland, LeapFrog will provide early-stage risk equity of up to $500,000, to help local entrepreneurs move their ideas from idea to prototype. LeapFrog, a public-private non-profit evergreen fund, will fill a critical gap in the local funding spectrum. LeapFrog expects to commence mid-2010. For more information, please contact Keith Crawford at kcrawford@gnoinc.org.

5. Business Development

**Project Lightning- Multi-National theatrical lighting and design company in the final stages of negotiation of opening branch office in GNO Region.

**Project Broom-Global online and mobile game company looking to bring HQ to GNO Region.

**Project Alliance-Large Established International music conference with 2500 attendees looking to bring HQ and conference to GNO Region.

6. Education and Training Asset Map & Gap Analysis:

GNO, Inc. is focusing its efforts on the education continuum to address the long-term need for a talent development pipeline highlighted by our labor study. An asset map and gap analysis of the region’s education and training resources across priority industry sectors will facilitate a strategic dialogue on aligning resources to address current and future workforce needs.

The full report will be released during the month of July at which point the conclusions drawn from it, and the data within it, can be utilized to formulate a long-term education strategy for the Greater New Orleans region.

7. The IP Building Welcomes New Tenant: Launch Pad

The IP Building, the creative and digital media headquarters of the region, has recently welcomed new tenants – LaunchPad, and TJ Ebbert and Associates. Launch Pad is a combination incubator and VC company. The IP, which is located at 643 Magazine street, currently houses 8 innovative companies that include; iSeatz, The Idea Village, playNOLA, 504ward, Launch Pad, Couhig Partners, Turbosquid, Carrollton Technology, and TJ Ebbert and Associates. The IP Building was developed by GNO, Inc. in partnership with Idea Village. If you would like more information on how you can become a tenant in The IP, please contact Bobby Talbot at talbot@talbot-realty.com.

8. NOVAC Announces launch of our Digital Media Institute on July 19th Short Film Competition to Kick Off “37 Seconds for 37 Years”

The New Orleans Video Access Center (NOVAC) is pleased to announce the launch of the NOVAC Digital Media Institute, set for July 19, 2009. More information will be available at the DMA general meeting on July 14 (see #1). Also, NOVAC has announced a call for short film submissions for the “37 Seconds for 37 Years” anniversary party for the local nonprofit.

“37 Seconds for 37 Years” kicks off the launch of the newly improved NOVAC Digital Filmmaking Institute, accompanied by a new website and membership campaign. To celebrate the history and function of NOVAC as a cultural resource for the New Orleans community, NOVAC is calling for video shorts that depict the theme of community, as interpreted by each filmmaker. For more information please visit NOVAC at www.novacvideo.org. or if you have any questions, please contact Erica at Erica@novacvideo.org or (504) 940-5780.

Looking forward to seeing you at the meeting