By Peter Covino
Entertainment Editor

They are ready for their close-up Mr. DeMille.

After months of preparation and groundwork, the American Society of Independent Filmmakers held its first public meeting recently at Kissimmee City Hall.

Back in the early 1990s there was a lot of promise in Central Florida for filmmakers, Kay Lopez, vice president of the independent film group, said. Universal and Walt Disney both opened theme parks with sound stages and productions were fairly commonplace in the area. There was a lot of talk about Hollywood East.

But as the years have gone by, there has been less and less emphasis on filmmaking in the area.

The new group has been organized to hopefully get things back on track again, but with an emphasis on  the independent film, those films that do not have high budgets and are made out of the mainstream of the major film studios, Lopez said.

Both Lopez and society president Ariel Santiago agree that  Kissimmee was not only the location of the group’s first meeting. They intend to make the city the national headquarters of the non-profit group.

“We already feel a closeness with the city,” Santiago said.  City officials let the group use city hall for its first meeting.

The film group and other interested in making films in Florida got a much needed boost in May with the Entertainment Industry Economic Development Act passed by the Florida House and Senate.

In recent years, Florida’s existing film incentive program has been cut dramatically, resulting in a sharp decline in production projects lost to competing states. The bill creates a film and digital media tax credit that has a proven track record of attracting and growing the industry in other states.

“During these tough economic times, putting incentives in place that will attract new businesses and diversify our economy is sound policy that will have an immediate impact.” said Rep. Steve Precourt,  a co-sponsor of the bill.  “We’ve sent a strong message  that moving swiftly to lure new businesses to Florida and put people back to work is the Legislature’s top priority.”

“We definitely need this bill,” Lopez said. “We need incentives to get more jobs.”

Lopez said the incentive bill is a great improvement.

“It’s a step forward that will put Florida back on the map with film production,” she said.

The incentives won’t help independent productions as much as “mainstream” films though.

“For organizations like A.S.I.F it will not help us much,” she said. Independent films have the problem of raising funds and getting investors, to even qualify for the incentive,” Lopez said.

“If it were grants that the state of Florida would be willing to give away, then our organization would be more than thrilled, but being that they are incentive packages, although great news,  it still will not help much when it comes to independent productions here in Central Florida,” she said.

Lopez, who works part-time as an actress, said she has to fly to New York for job opportunities.

Central Florida has a lot of talent here, not only actors, writers, producers and directors but make-up artists, cameramen, photographers  and others interested in film production, group members said.

Most members of the independent film group remember when Central Florida was a bustling place for film production. Movies made in Florida include "The Waterboy," "Parenthood" and even "Edward Scissorhands," all at least partially filmed in the area. Several syndicated television series were also made in the area including "The Adventures of Superboy" and "Seaquest DSV." And "The Blairwitch Project," a low-budget film that made millions of dollars, was the creation of students at the University of Central Florida.

The group’s first meeting was mostly about just setting down the groundwork for the future of independent filmmaking in Florida. About 20 people attended the debut of the group.

Lopez said most meetings will be based out of Kissimmee, and once funds are received, the  American Society of Independent Filmmakers wants to open its office in the city.

“We want our headquarters here,” Santiago said.

But the group does want to be representative of the area and will hold meetings in Orlando and other locations as well.

“We want to cover the whole state,” she said.

But it is a step-by-step process,” Santiago said, and the group’s first meeting was just the first step.

“We want to create a whole network,” Lopez said.  The group will be a  place to share ideas, and eventually, even help finance films.

“We want to help our membership promote and distribute films and have access to equipment and studio facilities,” she said. “Our members will be part of a movement.”

To find out about the independent movie group and time and place of future meetings, go to www.asifunit

ed.org or call Ariel Santiago at 407-492-4689.