Hello all, I am so impressed by this site and I just had to get in on the conversation. I have just moved back to Jacksonville and I am looking forward to getting very involved in the cultural life of downtown.
Dont hesitate! Dive right in... Welcome!
I should clarify...we moved back a while ago but work is/was travel and many possible relocations but we have firmly decided to stay.
Now who is up for a permanent professional theatre company downtown?
Thanks for the welcome and for this online community you have developed here, extremely impressive!
Stephen you know how to humble a guy...
I still believe in what I said then, I wish I could moderate some of the inflated language but we were deep into Shakespeare rehearsals so what can I really expect from my overly dramatic self...
on to today and my belief that Jax is ready to support a professional company...
what do you think?
also please see the thread we started about the Lab
thanks
devlin
^ The core is. Riverside and Springfield get behind you and cheer you on.
Not sure about the rest of town.
Welcome to the site.
Thank you Dan.
I hope that we are all right and the company can land and thrive!!
Welcome
Welcome - need a light/sound guy?:)
Well, Stephen...just have a look at our last three mayors (and city councils).
welcome to the debauchery
Hey Cuz! Super cool to have you onboard. I'll have to dig out some of that family history for you...
OCKLAWAHA
ello
I think your point is well taken S, and thanks to all for the welcomes...
As far as the colleges I think they can be a valuable ally in creating and sustaining a richer and more diverse cultural life for the city, but they cannot do it alone.
Strong organizations must lead and form partnerships with those institutions and the city itself.
But in order for that to happen the city must acknowledge, as I think it is starting to, the great value that a strong and vibrant professional performing arts organization based in, creating from and showing in downtown can give to the city.
Thumbs up for the creation of a professional theatre company in Jax. And, Devlin is definitely the man to get it going.
Jacksonville is ripe for a professional theatre company.
While some people just want to focus on who to blame for the lack of cultural support in this region, we should all ask ourselves, "What are WE going to do about it?"
While the few existing performing arts groups have a dedicated subscribership, and the FCCJ (FSCJ?) Artist Series brings touring shows to the area a few weeks each year, there is still not a banner organization that is a Jacksonville destination.
Of course, once the city supports a resident theatrical troupe, it opens the door for other performance-related organizations to grow.
Now, HOW do we get Jacksonville excited about this?
Very well said Scott! That is what we aim to accomplish with BackLight starting this year...
devlinmann great project ! I have a quick queston. Is the film industry history of Jacksonville well known among actors?
samiam - I have found that a lot of the actors I work with know a bit about Jacksonville's place in film history but very few actually realize the scope of our city's rich film past. After all we were the first filmaking capital long before Hollywood.
Here is an article about Jacksonville's silent film industry: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2007-feb-distinguish-jacksonville-the-silent-film-industry
If only one of the Hollywood power player would make a move to bring it back to Jacksonville. At least part of it
That is indeed one of the main goals of BackLight...
The tax incentive plan would certainly help!
To be clear, BackLight Theatre Group, Inc, focuses on Theatre, Dance, Film and Television. We have several projects in development and we fully intend to bring as much of that work as we can here.
Great!
I know Russell Crowe is aware of it. He talked about it when he came to town with his rugby thing a few years ago
QuoteJacksonville is a culturally hungry town, Mann said.
Still is, imho.
Quote"Anybody in town that has a warehouse should prick up their ears when they hear this because when we build a set, we're not going to strike it. We're going to need a place to store it."
Have you looked at the Springfield warehouse district? Lots of warehouse space, and I always thought it would make a great studio backlot. Good incentives for working/hiring in that area.
I've got a friend looking into doing something like Spike & Mike's Animation Festival here: http://spikeandmike.com/sitepages/festival.php (http://spikeandmike.com/sitepages/festival.php)
Thanks for the info Zoo i will check that out asap!
I can remember going to work with my father from as far back as 1980,81 and watching the area change, better and worse while the company expanded and grew.
I was always drawn to the architecture of the houses around the factory and I know my father was as well, he did a lot to preserve some of those neighborhoods when people started buying up those old homes just to tear out and sell the crown moldings or columns or other antique elements, leaving behind a gutted shell.
Quote from: zoo on March 01, 2010, 11:53:30 AM
QuoteJacksonville is a culturally hungry town, Mann said.
Still is, imho.
Quote"Anybody in town that has a warehouse should prick up their ears when they hear this because when we build a set, we're not going to strike it. We're going to need a place to store it."
Have you looked at the Springfield warehouse district? Lots of warehouse space, and I always thought it would make a great studio backlot. Good incentives for working/hiring in that area.
I've got a friend looking into doing something like Spike & Mike's Animation Festival here: http://spikeandmike.com/sitepages/festival.php (http://spikeandmike.com/sitepages/festival.php)
Would you be willing to put me in contact with your friend so that we might coordinate efforts?
Quote from: Lunican on March 01, 2010, 11:23:55 AM
Here is an article about Jacksonville's silent film industry: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2007-feb-distinguish-jacksonville-the-silent-film-industry
Most local actors know some of Jacksonville's film legacy. (When that's your passion, you tend to pick this stuff up, right?) Also, the local media outlets tend to publish/broadcast stories every year during the Jacksonville International Film Festival, 48 Hour Film Project, National Film Project, and whenever a film (of any scale) is being shot on "The First Coast."
http://www.coj.net/Departments/Jacksonville+Economic+Development+Commission/Film+and+Television/default.htm
http://www.coj.net/Departments/Jacksonville+Economic+Development+Commission/Film+and+Television/History.htm
http://jaxhistory.com/Jacksonville%20Story/Arts,%20News,%20and%20Entertainment.htm
Scroll half-way down the page for a TON of information. (Poorly organized website, but lots of content.)
thanks scott will check it out