Expert Bios/Interview Questions

Aaron Syrett- North Carolina Film Commissioner
1.    How did you get involved at the NC Film Commission?
2.    What are your duties as a film commissioner?
3.    For someone who may be unfamiliar with it, what exactly is a film incentive and how did the incentive program start in North Carolina?
4.    How do film incentives benefit the film industry? How does it benefit North Carolina specifically?
5.    Many successful films such as Iron Man, Safe Haven, The Secret Life of Bees, The Hunger Games, etc. were filmed in NC. What makes North Carolina a prime location for film production?
6.    Though the decision to cut the incentive is not final, how is the situation currently affecting film production out of NC and the individuals working here?
7.    What has been your role/the NC Film Office’s role in convincing lawmakers to renew the incentive?
8.    How will the state benefit from the tax incentive being cut? How will it suffer?
9.    What is the fate of the film industry in North Carolina should the tax incentive be cut come January 2015?
10.    How can people take action to stop Governor McCrory from cutting the incentive?

Expert Bio-

Aaron Syrett is coming up on his 7th year as Director and Film Commissioner for the North Carolina Film Office. He received his degree in Communications for Film, TV, Radio, and Marketing from the University of Utah and a Certificate for Motion Picture Producing from the Rockport School of Film. Prior to accepting his position at the NC Film Office, Syrett held the same title for the Utah Film Commission for 9 years and served as US Caucus Chair for the Association of Film Commissioners International for two. He has been credited on nearly 70 films and television series, including Austin Powers in Goldmember, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Hunger Games, and Nights in Rodanthe. Aaron has been working to build upon North Carolina’s legacy and “boost the global visibility of North Carolina’s resources.”



Sharon Decker- Secretary of Commerce
1.    What are your responsibilities as the Secretary of Commerce?
2.    Since you have been appointed to the Governor’s cabinet, what has been your involvement with the North Carolina film industry?
3.    In 2006, Governor Mike Easley signed the film incentive into law to encourage film production in the state rather than internationally. Why is there now discussion of it coming to an end?
4.    How does North Carolina benefit as a state by renewing the film incentive?
5.    What would be the downside if the state were to continue offering the film incentive?
6.    How will the state be negatively affected by cutting the tax incentive?
7.    What is Governor McCrory’s current stance regarding the film incentive?
8.    In early December, you were quoted saying, “We want the film industry to grow in the state and we’re committed to figuring out how best to facilitate that.” How will the industry continue to grow if there is no incentive program to motivate filmmakers to come to North Carolina?
9.    In 2012, the public voted on whether or not Wilmington should build a $37 million ballpark for minor league baseball. How would this have been a better use of government funds over the already established and thriving film industry?
10.    What will be the new focus for government spending should the film industry lose its tax incentive? 

Expert Bio-

In 2013, Sharon Allred Decker was appointed to Governor Pat McCrory’s Cabinet as Secretary of Commerce. After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Decker spent over 17 years with Duke Power Company, working her way up to become the Chief Communications Officer and Vice President of the company. In her 30+ years of experience in business and commerce, Sharon Decker also founded the Lynnwood Foundation, the William States Lee Leadership Institute, served as chair of the Charlotte Chamber, president of the Doncaster division of Tanner Companies, and created and served as the CEO of the Tapestry Group. Decker happens to be a proponent for the film incentives and believes they are necessary to be a competitor in the film industry. 



** need to rework the order/strength of some of the questions...any thoughts?**