robblack2006.com Blog

I was very honored to be the special guest of the Directors Guild of America, San Francisco Coordinating Committee annual mixer where I was presented a beautiful plaque recognizing my work in revitalizing the San Francisco Film Industry.  The DGA honored both Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier and me for our work on drafting and creating San Francisco’s Film and Television Incentive Program, the first film incentive program in the state of California.  The program is a good first step in bringing back the thousands of good paying union jobs that have been lost in the Bay Area over the past five to ten years.
Our success was largely due to the hard work of FX Crowely and IATSE Local 16, Bob Morales and the Teamsters, the DGA, SAG/AFTRA, and the many others who came out to testify about how important this legislation was to the working women and men of San Francisco.

I first started working on film incentive issues in 1998 when I was the Director of Special Projects for the Screen Actors Guild.  In conjunction with the DGA, SAG conducted the first major analysis of the economic impact of run away production on the United States economy.  At that time, we found that the United States had lost over $5 billion to countries like Canada and New Zealand due to their aggressive film incentive programs.  I am very proud, eight years later, to have played a role in passing California’s first film incentive package.   

Thanks to the SoMa Leadership Council for hosting the SoMa Community Pot Luck. My wife Lisa and I had a fantastic time. The evening included great food, people, and prizes.

I baked four pecan pies with pecans from the family pecan orchard and I am proud to say, not a crumb was left. Thank you to all who brought food – it was delicious!

The event was a wonderful opportunity to talk the neighbors in SoMa. The people we meet are not casual observers of the local political scene - they are people who care deeply about local policies (and politics) affecting them, their jobs, and their neighborhoods. Lisa and I particularly enjoyed speaking with Lolita who spoke to us about the realities confronting our homeless senior citizens here in San Francisco.

 As we told Lolita, these issues are very close to our hearts, and we must do everything we can to help our seniors who are homeless and marginally-housed. Thank you also to Bruce, Tim, Sophia, Jenny, Tracey, Dennis, Joe, and everyone else who spoke with us, both asking us questions and allowing Lisa and me to listen closely about what issues are dear to you.

Thanks to everyone who helped make SOMA Night Out a great success, especially Patrick Simms Studios, The Safety Network, San Francisco Bike Coalition, San Francisco Police Department and the City of Refuge.                                                                              The City of Refuge Gospel Choir

A special thanks to Philip Claypool, a great friend to me and to San Francisco, for playing at the event as well.

All the hardwork and planning was definetly worth it. It was a great community building event, with a wonderfull turnout. And for me, I can’t think of a better way to spend an evening than grilling hotdogs and listening to live music.

Thanks to everyone for all the help and for coming to the annual SOMA Night.