I’m a big fan of thinking outside the box. Conventional ideas on boosting the local economy not only bore me, but are just really unconvincing to me for the most part. The only type of conventional wisdom that I agree with is the need for manufacturing jobs, and those are hard to get. They’re not impossible, Honda just opened a factory here in Georgia for example, but they’re difficult.
So maybe the secret is to look outside the box. The purpose of this post is to see what the great minds who read the blog think, but I’ve got one idea all on my own.
You see, I’m a movie buff. Always have been. One of my fondest childhood memories was going to see Star Wars in the theater for the very first time in the theater. I’ve even written two screenplays. They’re bad, but I wrote them. I love movies.
Apparently, Sherwood Baptist Church loves movies too. Their movies are quite successful. Facing the Giants was a little surreal for me, because the halls of Sherwood Christian were used for the fictional Shiloh Christian Academy. What made it surreal was that those halls used to be the halls of Riverview Academy, my alma mater. It was a little unusual to say the least.
But Facing the Giants was pretty successful. The next Sherwood project, Fireproof, debuted at something like number 4 at the box office. It beat out films with big name Hollywood stars. Kurt Cameron doesn’t fill those seats on his own either. Sherwood has something cool, a movie empire in the making. It’s something that Albany as a whole can build on.
The idea of the film industry doing well in Albany intrigues me. Albany Tech could train people in various film industry jobs, and some people are already trained believe it or not. Things like electricians, carpenters, etc are already here, and could probably use the work. Even some camera people are around, though WALB and WFXL already have most of those employed I’d assume.
And these jobs apparently pay pretty well. A cousin of mine in the film industry boasts a Beverly Hills address. And she’s part of the crew, not the director or anything of the sort. Now, I doubt she’s in some massive mansion or anything, but I can’t imagine a Beverly Hills address that could be classified as “slums”. And with Albany’s lower cost of living, we can actually boast of less cost for those people.
Now, I’m just sort of thinking out loud here, and I’m really interested in what you guys think about not just this idea (which isn’t well thought out, I’ll be the first to admit), but your own ideas. Conventional ideas need to take a backseat. Get creative.
The Jokara-Micheaux Film/Television/Music Production Studio in Colquitt has beaten you to the punch. They have a 22,000 square foot sound stage/production facility and agreements with a couple of colleges to teach the various crafts related to film making. They have produced the Lena Baker Story and more. I guess we could have a similar entity in Albany but as usual we’re playing catch up. If you’re not familiar with this google them up it very interesting.
I’m familiar with it, but I don’t see it as necessarily being a case of catching up. The two communities could actually pool resources to make this region known for filmmaking outside of Hollywood. Let’s face it, this region offers some distinct locations that would work well for film. Various communities forming a Southwest Georgia Film Commission or some other entity to showcase the advantages of working in this area would ultimately serve everyone. A studio in Colquitt is great, but location shoots are pretty common as well, and don’t require as much cost as studio production.
In truth, the studio is only one piece of what could be a very lucrative puzzle. It wouldn’t hurt for multiple studios to be in existence…and wouldn’t require all that much “catching up” either.
Tom, I agree we could be part (even a major part) of some collaborative effort but we would be playing catch up. My understanding is, a Southwest Georgia Film Commission already exists and Ralph Wilcox (director of the studio) is director of it as well. One of the main thrust of their work is to bring location filming to SW Georgia and provide the necessary support with local production skills. The idea was that we have great locations but all the support had to be brought in which added prohibitive cost. The combination of a sound stage, editing facility, etc. with local production skills should entice film makers to leave the expense of Hollywood and come here. If it works it will be good for our region.
I’ve met Mr. Wilcox, and I’m going to withhold my opinion of his efforts, since they’re strictly based on gut feelings rather than facts. However, let’s just say that I have doubts about Southwest Georgia’s wellbeing as any part of his motivations.
That said, I don’t want this to just be about my idea. I want to hear other ideas that aren’t typical. I’m sure Peter’s got one or twelve to share
Well, Tom, I just happen to have a thought or two on the subject…
I met Ralph when he was just genning up the concept of the studio and sound stage. he was pitching me for money…and I explained he came to the window to late.
I do think we need to not always dig into the question of “motivation.” Many projects and investments succeed because it is a “win-win.” Everyone makes money. There still needs to be ethics and fair dealing etc etc, but I say let the entrepeneurial spirit flow — otherwise you either get watered down concepts or BS statements of motive or that energy leaving the market. I stongly believe that prosperity, even shared prosperity, as stated goals are often condemned here, especially by those who already have it in the bank. See me later about the bucket of crabs metaphor.
anyway, Ralph is a different sort of duck here, but has a legit operation and a brings a legit set of value added experiences. Sure he was looking for a deal from a place to install his dream, but I think he got it going and the region is better off for it. He got a couple or more low-budget films funded and got some critical acclaim.
I don’t know how far his concept can reach insofar as Albany or the economic benefit to the region as a whole, but, without knowing the inner workings of his deal and biz, I would not be off-put by his fast-talking, name-dropping Hollywood style alone or any sense of personal interest in his motivation. His personal gain is the market’s gain. If the guts of his op are not tainted a la Buie type issues, and I don not read Ralph at all that way (as in ZERO), I’d say he brought a very positive element to Colquitt to complement their Swamp Gravy, International Storytelling Festival and mural platform.
I say, Go Ralph Go.
btw…I tried to get a nexus to his op here in Albany. Ralph was underway in Colquitt and that town stepped up to the table solidly for his deal and there was ZERO positive traction from our local leaders …. again….ZERO. I was proposing an urban version of Swamp Gravy and a heck of a building for the theatre (not one of mine)… Can I make that any clearer. ZERO… ZERO. And little Colquitt ran with it. Can you say, “ZERO?”
Peter, dead on.
My questions about Wicox’s motivation are my own, and I’m not going to delve into them because they are a gut reaction. However, considering what I suspect they are, they do have an impact on whether this is a win-win. Again, this is my opinion only.
Now, that said, it’s time to change the subject from Ralph Wilcox. What he’s doing has been outlined, and that’s that. This is supposed to be about Albany, not Wilcox. I’m looking for outside the box ideas…and I know there are better out there than what I came up with while driving in to work one day
Tom…I hope Wilcox is highly motivated to make an honest buck in Colquitt and I hope he makes a grandslam fortune. His industry is filled with little pics that gen big interest….segueway to Sherwood.
Tom, in other comments I described concetual overlays and specific uses within those marketwide concepts. I continue to stand by them.
I am most interested in other concepts.
I was thinking we could build a planning wiki/project manager type platform to provide a forum for the conceptual overlay and a page for each property use and get public input. sort of a cyber planning session and design/use charette.
btw. i have some interesting parties w operating track records looking to collaborate in a segment.
Give it gas…maybe The Albany Journal wants to collaborate.
Peter,
Shoot me an email with some details and let’s talk. I’ve got plenty of room to host it, so that won’t be an issue. Anything to get something more going.
For the record, there are some plans I’m working on for a business that actually pays some bills, but pulling those off are a long, long way off. What’s odd is that it’s nothing particularly exciting…no movies or Hollywood stars in the future for me. Just my lone little dream
I’m all for thinking outside the box but I also want to know that our “in the box” efforts are all they can be. Bringing in new manufacturing jobs is tough but; are we confident all of our development horses are pulling in the same direction? We need a PLAN and clear assignments to each publically funded development entity as to their role in implementing the PLAN. With this issue resolved the full force of all these fragmented efforts could be systematically brought to bear on creating jobs. With a planned concerted effort maybe our success rate would improve. If so I believe the entrepreneurial spirit would again thrive in Albany.
tom…the best futures often start with our lone little dreams. I think we might all be surprised to find if we all got around the same table, the makings of a whole new mentality and enterprise network in good ol Albany.
Look, my “qualifications” and flaws will get sliced and diced every which way in the next couple years…so be it.
But I can tell you for a fact, that I put up $300M – $500M into small to middle market deals. I had a 50/50 investment partnership with a big name life insurance company. We met on a corporate restructuring I was proposing the financing on and they were the behind the scenes equity. They came out from behind the screen at some point and the relationship started by them hiring me as a consultant and jetting me and their staffers in their private to various corp investments they made and I did a 2-day due diligence with mostly the life company’s accountants and guided a live or die reinvestment decision. After that, the 50/50 partnership was formed.
So my point is, while there are many more qualified people in this genre around the country, I do have a good track recorn on some of this stuff (verifiable) and I can tell you that there are the makings of a very successful and cool launch platform in Albany for entrepreneurs. Counter-intuitive to be sure, but it can be done…or if the status quo crowd get at it like I permitted before, it will bust out. It can happen and Albany and it’s unique biz ventures can crank like crazy.
My vision to help create 100 NEW millionaires in the Albany market is clear to me. In my past life that I have described above, several of those close to me, including me, became multi-millionaires. they all kept theirs, but I must like the ride up, cuz I’m starting over (again). But since I’ve taken that route before, more than once, I KNOW what can be done. It can be done here in Downtown Albany–not as an end, but as a vehicle to the end.
Dream the dream and let’s put 4 wheels on it and drive it home.
btw: the community planning/wiki platform I proposed could end up being a model for other communities and save them hundreds of thousands of dollars each in consulting fees and studies. Your can see the think tank aspects of your blog..and that’s not even the purpose of it. Collectively, the productive answers are in the community already. They need to be culled out and prioritized and other-ized and presto! we have a plan.
Do it, Just do it.
And don’t let the a**h**** get you down.
Peter,
This is true. My lone little dream is, right now, unattainable because I don’t have the knowledge to make it happen. That’s a temporary condition though.
I really like your wiki idea, so I want to spend some serious time discussing this with you. Your vision of 100 new millionaires in Albany is certainly viable. The path to get there may be up for discussion, but I agree that it can be done. Of course, with 100 new millionaires, they’d probably grow Albany significantly and in the right ways as well.
You and I are gonna talk
i look forward to talking. with a goal of 100, that means it must be set up certain way and certain things will likely follow. it is an interesting assumption from which to start planning.
I’m surprised this post hasn’t taken off yet. I thought it would be jammed with comments by now. Anyhow I have a question. What do we do first; 1) work on improving the management of current government economic developmental efforts, 2) concentrate on getting a traditional source of new jobs located here, 3) crank up the entrepreneurial spirit or 4) all of the above? Or do we compartmentalize the issues into public and private and then decide how to proceed. I would like to KNOW (on the public side) that we have a plan and specific, clearly defined goals before we go a step further.
Honestly Doug, I’m leaning towards “all of the above”. Waiting on economic development efforts to be fixed could take to long. That’s just my opinion, but who really knows how much will it take?
Getting traditional sources for new jobs can be done in conjunction of entrepreneurial start ups. In fact, I think both existing is a good sign for a local economy, and a lack of either could be a bad sign (though not necessarily).
Personally, my opinion on governmental bodies and “plans” is that the best plan is to do everything you can to get out of the way of those who want to make things happen. People are who built this nation, not plans, and I really believe it’s the best way to move forward. Unfortunately, to many people have gotten use to governmental planning into to many areas of our life and have come to expect it.
That said, I also understand that the local and state governments don’t share my opinion about central planning, and therefore won’t do as I believe is necessary. So yeah, we probably do need a plan that works in the favor of all of these. But I don’t think the absence of one is necessarily an insurmountable roadblock to any of these things.
Tom,
I would prefer a totally private approach but the fact is we “invest” considerable dollars on the government side and need to either quit or make them work. How tough can it be for leadership to say “we’re paying the bills so you, you and you will do the following, period? I believe we should expect nothing less. With the proper application of the tax dollars dedicated to economic development the path for private solutions should be much easier.
That’s part of why I’d just assume they quit spending the money, call it someone’s folly if they just gotta, and just get out of people’s way.
But that ain’t going to happen unfortunately.
Yes, I live in my fantasy, but I know it’s fantasy
I’ve been an extra in a lot of movies. Seriously! I was in Driving Miss Daisy, Forrest Gump, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, Then and Now, and Something to Talk About. Most were filmed in Savannah. There is another movie being cast for Savannah right now. I wonder if Albany could ever get that kind of business….
Tom…I’m putting this on the blog to see if anyone out there has a familiarity with this platform or similar solution.
I’m warming up to twiki.org as an open source platform for a collaborative planning platform for Albany/downtown redevelopment and re-use.
We will likely need assistance in installing given my techie knowledge base. Maybe you have more.
Anyone out there familiar with twiki.org or other hosted or open source platform???
thanks
I’m personally more familiar with forum type applications, but wikis are pretty easy to run from what I understand. It wouldn’t take a lot to learn the software. Of course, if anyone has actually used it, that would be a benefit
Maybe a similar outcome if contributors can liberally upload images. I suppose we could create different threads for each property or use topic. The wiki usually updates the “product” along the way, but I like the discussion thread to collect concepts and then we can produce the oveall concepts and the actual property concepts as summaries.
Maybe the forum is the way to go. maybe peek at both and at google apps and some other project collaboration platform and one will work just fine…did I just try to slip some work off to you?? Hope you dodn’t notice or don’t mind
Nah, not a problem for me. I’ll take a look at whatever I can find and put together the pros and cons of each type of platform.
Again, if anyone’s interested in contributing, just say so.
RE: Indoor Football, Albany GA. A little progress –
Tom, maybe you want to start a new post on this subject. Let’s get the best product out there for the Albany community.
I would like to ask the public how an indoor football club may best serve the public interest. What might be improved over the product that was presented over the past 5 years? How can we leverage the football product in such a way to create additional benefits for the community (e.g. youth league to use playing surface)?
I just read in the Albany Herald online this morning that Mr. Lott asked his purchasing department to prepare an RFP soliciting proposals to play indoor football in Albany next season.
Ricki Barker writes that Mr. Lott says the city is working hard to bring indoor football to the Albany next season.
Regardless, of how we got here and how this might go forward, if this is an honest and professionally conducted process, getting an RFP process going in this case is progress. Congrats Albany. Maybe we are on a new track.
I do, however, find it interesting that the AH is saying the city is working hard at bringing indoor football. I’m not so sure how refusing to have a discussion or meeting a league vice-president constitute “working hard.”
I would wonder what they have been doing to conclude they are working hard at it, since they have been saying it would be unethical to talk to anyone else while they have been negotiating with the Wildcats org.
Anyway, the article mentions that the SIFL, another league, expressed in interest. Well it happens that the owner of the SIFL called me (I was referred to him by the staff at the Continental Indoor Football League who I has been in contact with) and we chatted a bit and I told him I had just signed a territory agreement with the AIFA (another league) and referred him to the city. Maybe now I’ll get a Valentine from Mr. Lott since it was our leg work that stirred the interested parties and moved this out of the back room into the public forum.
I also couldn’t help but notice that Mr. Lott is quoted as saying, “There seem to be others that are interested.”
There SEEM to be others…hmmm. I think that would include our little group.
Did the fact that I and the AIFA officers have telephone him several times on the subject? Or could it be that he and commissioner and the mayor have received about a dozen fairly lengthy emails on the subject from me?
Could it be that EVERY media outlet in Albany has carried one or more references each, most front page or equivalent, that we signed an actual deal with the AIFA league and we are interested in bringing an exciting indoor football experience to Albany?
Could it be that the city staff are already calling other teams to discuss the community outreach aspects including youth league play utilizing the football platform we proposed.
“…seem to be others interested…” It does seem a bit understated.
Is all this personal? Do I need a bodyguard?
Well, at least the citizens and taxpayers of Albany will benefit from a competitive proposal environment that does not have to end up with the Fazzini organization having a gun pointed to the city’s head at 11:59…again.
So folks, we did succeed in getting some of this governmental process out in the open. Let’s see how this runs and how this RFP process will evolve.
I also wonder, if the city has indeed been working hard on the indoor football situation, they must have been doing a lot of that behind closed doors with the Wildcats people OR OTHERS, cuz they refused to discuss it with us.
ORRRRR, is the city trying to put together yet another team? Is the mayor’s former campaign advisor, who was part of that sand dunes housing bust-out, take-the-money-and-run deal (you know, Postell Drive)coming back? They brought us the sand dunes housing cadavor. Maybe we’re due for another.
Hmmmm.
This will be very interesting. I see a crack forming and a ray of sunshine streaming through!
tom….please insert this link to the Herald article into my previous comment or publish this comment with the link below:
http://albanyherald.com/Main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=7379
thanks