The January 8th Explore Minnesota Film Town Hall revealed to all in attendance that Deputy Director Melodie Bahan has lost the confidence of Minnesota’s filmmaking community and is no longer equipped to continue in her leadership role.

While we acknowledge and thank the Deputy Director for the valuable work she has done to create a transferable tax credit, increase funding, and establish the state film office—efforts our community has long advocated for—the devil is in the details. It is clear that Ms. Bahan does not understand our industry or community and does not grasp what makes a truly competitive and successful film production tax credit. She has done well to get us this far, but we do not have faith in her ability to make the necessary changes to the incentive, meaningfully engage diverse communities, restore trust with the local film community, and effectively position Minnesota’s film industry to be the national leader it once was—and can be again. It’s time to pass the baton.

As members of Minnesota’s film community, we are united in our belief that new leadership is needed. We write collectively to express our deep concerns about the leadership and direction of Explore Minnesota Film.

As experienced, professional, independent producers, directors, writers, actors, and small business owners who rely on a steady stream of film production work to support our livelihoods, we have individually approached Explore Minnesota Film with our concerns in the past—only to have our voices dismissed, our experience disregarded, and our practical pleas fall on deaf ears. The current incentive and guidelines were created with no meaningful input from working professionals; rather, it’s been crafted by people who have no filmmaking experience. So it is no wonder that the incentive is flawed and has not yet brought significant film production work to Minnesota. Given the lack of engagement and respect we’ve received, we are compelled to share this open letter. If we are dismissed individually, perhaps we will be heard when we speak with one unified voice.

This group is comprised of voices from every sector of our industry:

• Minnesota’s independent career producers, who are collectively responsible for over $100 million in film production, with experience shooting in virtually every state across the U.S.
• Acclaimed writers, directors, and actors with decades of experience.
• Small business owners who depend on the film industry to keep their businesses open and their employees paid.
• Career professionals from every sector of our industry.

Our work employs Minnesotans and is essential to Minnesota’s storied and vibrant artistic community. We, our work, and our careers deserve respect and support. After the recent Town Hall we are all in agreement: Minnesota’s current film production tax credit is not competitive, hinders our ability to bring projects to Minnesota, and unfairly excludes emerging Minnesota artists at a time when they need support the most. The current administration does not understand this and is ill-equipped to continue leading Explore Minnesota Film.

It is clear that there is a profound misunderstanding of the film industry within Explore Minnesota Film and of the critical role that independent films play in the health and growth of a successful film ecosystem. Independent films—unfairly categorized by the Deputy Director as unprofessional and of no value in job creation—are as vital to a healthy ecosystem as blockbuster films. These films provide consistent work, on-the-job training, entry-level opportunities, and leadership positions for individuals trapped in lower-level positions.

Perhaps the most telling fact is that of the forty states and territories in the U.S. offering film incentives, only one state has a higher minimum spend threshold than Minnesota. Meanwhile, 34 states have a minimum spend requirement between $0–$500k and 16 of those states go to great lengths to ensure they support their homegrown talent by offering additional incentives for low-budget films and local, emerging filmmakers. These states nurture and value emerging filmmakers, allowing independent films to thrive and local artists to build successful careers.

Minnesota’s current incentive stands as an outlier in the U.S., almost exclusively targeting big-budget films in a state that lacks significant film industry infrastructure. As film industry experts, we know that the solution is not to chase a single big-budget film production or television series but to embrace and welcome films of all budget sizes, including those made by Minnesota filmmakers. We need to lower the barrier for smaller productions to take root and provide a pathway for growth—one that nurtures a vibrant, homegrown film industry.

With the incredible talent and diversity of Minnesota artists, we must ask: Why does Explore Minnesota Film not only fail to recognize this talent or meaningfully engage Minnesota film professionals, but actively and intentionally minimize and disrespect the state’s industry leaders? The fact that Minnesota’s $500k cash rebate program for lower-budget films was approved by the State, but has been intentionally mothballed, indicates that Explore Minnesota Film does not value Minnesota filmmakers. 

We must also consider the broader picture: supporting Minnesota filmmakers does not preclude going after bigger-budget films and television series. If Minnesota’s minimum spend was set at $100K, we would likely see only 4-5 qualifying Minnesota projects per year, accounting for less than $500–600k of the state’s $25M annual allotment. Can we not create room for us? If the worry is that too many smaller films from outside Minnesota would apply, we can do as other states have done and make this opportunity only available to projects with a Minnesota producer, director, or writer attached. 

Time and again at the recent Town Hall, Ms. Bahan made clear that she does not respect our work and opinions. With no meaningful film experience, she wants to dictate, not listen or engage experienced film professionals. 

New leadership is needed. Our community deserves a Deputy Director with real-world production experience. Someone who has the respect and trust of the community. Someone with a plan. Only then will we have a Deputy Director who understands that a thriving film ecosystem consists of films at all budget levels, that her experienced constituency should be engaged not dismissed, and that a successful film production tax credit targets more than just blockbusters. Every other state knows this, it’s time Explore Minnesota Film does, too.