CT Digital Media Business Network - CT Digital Media News, Entrepreneurs, Film and Digital Media Production, Marketing and PR, Member News & Announcements

Investors Pursuing New Deal For Film Studio In Stratford

ctmedia — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:29:33 +0000

The Harford Courant's article on plans to convert an abandoned Army engine plant in Stratford into a movie studio with 30 soundstages.

Digital Media Industry Grows in Connecticut

ctmedia — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:53:23 +0000

As Connecticut lifted its cap on tax credits for film and digital media production – while likewise establishing minimum investments to claim them – a fledgling digital-media group is bringing the industry together in Stamford to showcase its rapid emergence.

CT Digital Media is scheduled to hold its second annual business conference Nov. 11 at the University of Connecticut Stamford, featuring a keynote address by Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy and panels with managers from Bristol-based ESPN, Stamford-based World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. and the state film office, among others. Click here to more at the Fairfield County Business Journal.

Proposed Angel Investor Tax Credit Includes Digital Media Investments

ctmedia — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:07:16 +0000

The Day.com has an article providing an overview of the Economic Strategic Plan released by Gov. M. Jodi Rell and produced by Joan McDonald, commissioner of the state Department of Economic and Community Development. The plan includes a propsoed “Angel Investor Tax Credit” which would include investments in digital media. Click here to read the article.

Connecticut State Lifts Cap on Film and Digital Media Tax Credits

ctmedia — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 23:24:59 +0000

The State of Connecticut lawmakers agreed to lift the cap of the film and digital media tax credits. Instead, changes have been made to attract more money and help ensure it is spent in-state. The changes include the following (from The Hartford Business Journal):

The Department of Economic and Community Development will now oversee the tax credits.
The minimal film and digital animation productions must spend to qualify is now $100,000 (it was formerly $50,000).
No out-of-state expenses will count and the credit amount will vary based on total expenses or costs.
In-state expenses or costs between $100,000 and $500,000 are eligible for a 10 percent credit; between $500,000 and $1 million are eligible for a 15 percent credit; over $1 million continue to be eligible for a 30 percent credit.
Lawmakers also changed the infrastructure tax credit to a flat 20 percent credit that is available only to companies that spend a minimum of $3 million. Infomercials will also no longer qualify for the film production tax credit.

Local Incubator Startup Ripple100 Launching

ctmedia — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:40:39 +0000

Andre Yap, who has incubated multiple area startups through the CUBED incubator, is launching Ripple100 on Tuesday, September 15. You can peek at pre-launch version (98% there!): www.ripple100.com.

For anyone interested in social media, marketing and PR, this company is well worth a close look. It presents a fresh new way of initiating and spreading via word of mouth marketing. You can learn more and see what metro areas they are in (yes, they are local) at http://www.ripple100.com/blog/2009/09/10-faqs-before-its-on/.

They are also running running "metro-based ambassadors" program - http://www.ripple100.com/blog/2009/09/wanted-metro-ambassadors/ .

Peer Group - Digital Media Entrepreneurs

The Stamford Advocate - Stamford Building a Mini Media Meca

ctmedia — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:03:38 +0000

The Stamford Advocate outlines how Stamford is building a "mini media meca" with new shows like The Jerry Springer Show moving in as well as companies such as A&E and WWE operating out of Stamford. Read more at The Advocate here...

155,000 production and soundstage facility to open in Stamford

ctmedia — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:02:19 +0000

Connecticut Film Center will be launching a production and soundstage facilities at a recently purchase 155,000-square-foot building at 300 Stillwater Ave. The 7 acre location is at the center of a $20 million expansion according to the president of CT Film Center, Kevin Segalla. Segalla credited the digital media and film tax credit for the industry growth that led to this latest investment.

Read more at The Stamford Advocate here.

NYC Fights to Strengthen its Media Sector

ctmedia — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:28:42 +0000

New York City announced an economic development program to give the city's media sector a boost. The program is part of MediaNYC 2020, which aims to strengthen the city's position as a media capital. The new initiatives, projected to create 8,000 jobs, are as follows: and support the growth of the City’s media sector over the next decade.

NYC Media Lab - a research center for media companies and universities
Media Tech Bond Program - to help companies purchase new manufacturing, research or production facilities, retrofit existing building to accommodate hi-tech servers, or make large IT purchases.
The Media and Tech Fellowship - to be awarded to approximately 20 “rising star” media and technology entrepreneurs on an annual basis. The Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications will encourage local start-ups and established firms to team up on bidding for City IT contracts, and promote other City contracting opportunities for start-ups.
NYC BigApps - an annual software competition for individuals or companies with operations in New York City to develop functional digital applications that utilize City data.
Media Freelancer Hive@55 - the City is partnering with the Downtown Alliance to launch a center for media freelancers including workspace for 50 freelancers at a time and workspace and services for as many as 1,850 part-time and drop-in workers per year.
JumpStart New Media - a training program to assist displaced or entrepreneurial junior to mid-level employees in exploring opportunities in new and digital media.

CT Film Fest Goes Interactive

ctmedia — Sun, 24 May 2009 15:00:11 +0000

The CT Film Fest is going interactive. There is a full set of tracks and content on interactive media. Go to - http://interactive.ctfilmfest.com/ for more information.

New Haven Register Supporting the film, television and digital media production tax credit

ctmedia — Thu, 14 May 2009 21:23:46 +0000

With the state looking at ways to save, film production and infrastructure tax credits have come under attack from both budget cutters and advocacy groups that want the money for human services.

However, cutting the tax credits is an extraordinarily bad idea in a state that has lost 58,000 jobs in this recession. Film, television and digital media productions, which are covered by the tax credit, have added 2,000 jobs in the state since the credit went into effect in 2006, says the Connecticut Production Coalition, made up of the state’s media producers. Read more...