Meghann Bridgeman announced as next Alabama Film Office director
The Alabama Department of Commerce announced last week the selection of Meghann Bridgeman, president and CEO of Create Birmingham, as the next Director of the Alabama Film Office. With extensive experience in arts and economic development, Bridgeman will lead the state’s efforts to attract, support and promote general entertainment productions across Alabama. Bridgeman brings a wealth of knowledge from her work with Create Birmingham’s Film Birmingham Initiative, where she spearheaded numerous initiatives aimed at fostering creative industries and driving economic growth in the film industry. She has a proven track record of building public-private partnerships and collaborating with entertainment professionals and local communities to create opportunities for growth and innovation. In her new role, Bridgeman will oversee the Alabama Film Office, working to position the state as a premier destination for filmmakers and producers. She will begin her new duties in January 2025. Alabama Commerce Secretary Ellen McNair expressed her confidence in Bridgeman’s leadership and vision for the state’s entertainment industry. “Meghann’s background in creative industries and her passion for economic development make her the perfect fit to lead the Alabama Film Office,” Secretary McNair said. “We are excited about her innovative approach and her commitment to leveraging Alabama’s unique assets to attract more entertainment projects, which will ultimately benefit our local businesses and communities,” she added. The Alabama Film Office, which was established in 1978, has been instrumental in the development of the state’s film and entertainment industry. Over the past several decades, it has attracted a variety of high-profile productions, including films such as Big Fish, 42, and Selma. More recently, Alabama has been the site for a growing number of television productions, documentaries and independent films, which have contributed significantly to local economies through job creation, tourism, and infrastructure development. “In partnership with entertainment industry stakeholders across our state, I look forward to joining the Alabama Department of Commerce as the director of the Alabama Film Office,” Bridgeman said. “The entertainment industry has the power to spark transformational economic growth, and Alabamians should be the beneficiaries of that growth. “I am grateful to Secretary McNair for the opportunity to lead this important effort and excited for the work ahead,” she added. The state’s film incentive program, which includes a competitive rebate structure, has helped to establish Alabama as a compelling destination for production companies. These incentives, along with the state’s diverse locations ranging from picturesque coastlines to historic cities, have made Alabama a go-to option for filmmakers seeking authentic, versatile backdrops. Last year, the industry spent nearly $60 million in Alabama on entertainment productions that included The Rivals of Amziah King, starring Matthew McConaughey and Kurt Russell, and The Shift, featuring Sean Astin. Rebates valued at $16.5 million were extended to productions in 2023, according to data from the Alabama Department of Commerce. Under Bridgeman’s leadership, the Alabama Film Office will continue to build on its success by strengthening partnerships with industry stakeholders, expanding production opportunities, and ensuring that Alabamians benefit from the state’s growing entertainment sector. Future plans could include expanding the office’s traditional focus to encompass additional forms of entertainment, including music productions and video games. The office will also maintain a concentration on workforce development and training, ensuring that Alabama remains competitive in the fast-evolving film and media industries. The Film Office’s longtime director, Kathy Faulk, will remain in charge of the office in the interim. “Kathy’s contributions to the Film Office have been significant over many years, and she has been an untiring champion for expanding Alabama’s presence within the entertainment industry,” Secretary McNair said. “Thanks to her, the Film Office is positioned for exciting new developments in the future.” This story originally appeared on Made in Alabama written by Jerry Underwood. Made in Alabama is a project of the Alabama Department of Commerce.
EDPA’s ‘imerge’ event honors Alabama’s top innovators
Alabama’s top innovators gathered in Birmingham recently to celebrate the region’s thriving entrepreneurial scene and collaborate on ways to make it stronger. The Economic Development Partnership of Alabama’s 2018 “imerge” event awarded $151,000 to winners of an Alabama Launchpad startup pitch competition and honored industry leaders with EDPA’s annual Innovation Awards. Attendees networked over food and drink as EDPA transformed the covered parking area of its office on First Avenue South into a pop-up performance venue. Entrepreneurs who have helped fuel the growing innovation ecosystem in Birmingham and across the state talked about how the Magic City has shaped their companies’ culture and played a role in their success. “Birmingham, and particularly the South, has a certain way of putting people first and really caring for people,” said Bill Smith, founder and CEO of Shipt, the same-day delivery marketplace that last week announced a plan to create 881 jobs in Birmingham over the next several years. Smith said Shipt, which was acquired byTarget last year, has been able to scale that culture to locations and shoppers across the country as it aggressively expands. “That’s been a huge part of our success and will continue to be part of our success in the future.” $1 billion reasons Smith was part of a panel discussion – “$1 Billion Reasons to Believe in Alabama” – so named because the companies that were a part of it represented more than $1 billion in recent transactions. Also part of the panel were Shegun Otulana, founder and CEO of Theranest, and Chad Trull of Hospicelink. Otulana offered encouragement to entrepreneurs who are just getting started. “It’s a journey, and it’s not going to be easy. Don’t be afraid to fail,” he said. “Keep at it and seek counsel and hopefully it gets you to the right place.” Birmingham auto racing software developer Apex Pro won $100,000 in the seed category of the startup competition, as well as the $1,000 audience choice award. Global Inspections of Mobile won $50,000 in the concept category. Other special guests at imerge included Henrique Dubugras, co-founder of San Francisco-based financial technology company Brex and Nashville singer-songwriter and entrepreneur Holly Williams. EDPA President Steve Spencer said imerge brings together the many facets of Alabama’s vibrant entrepreneurial scene in one place to foster even more growth. “These are the stars of Alabama innovation here tonight. We want to create an environment where people can work with each other, learn from each other and celebrate each other,” he said. The 2018 EDPA Innovation Award winners are: Lifetime Achievement in Innovation: Art Tipton, Birmingham, is president and CEO of Southern Research, one of the leading research organizations in the U.S. in the areas of drug discovery and development, engineering and energy and environmental sciences. Startup of the Year: XpertDox, Birmingham, is a free web-based resource that connects patients to expert doctors, hospitals, ongoing clinical trials and peer-to-peer support. Outstanding Achievement in Innovative Manufacturing: Alignment Simple Solutions, Pelham, manufactures portable, affordable and accurate wheel alignment products and accessories for all vehicles. Corporate Innovator of the Year (small company, 10-50 employees): Inventure Renewables Inc., Tuscaloosa, pioneers process technologies for the rapid, low-cost, high-yield extraction of natural, biochemical and material building blocks from low-value/waste to provide cost-effective, carbon-neutral biofuels, biochemicals and biomaterials. Corporate Innovator of the Year (large company, 50-plus employees): Shipt, Birmingham, is a membership-based online grocery marketplace delivering fresh foods and household essentials through a community of shoppers and a convenient app. Startup Executive of the Year: Dr. Karim Budhwani, Birmingham, is CEO of CerFlux Personalized Medicine, which aims to reduce the pain, reduce the discomfort and reduce the cost of cancer treatment. Business Executive of the Year: Miranda Bouldin Frost, Huntsville, is president and CEO of LogiCore, which since its inception in 2002 has been an innovative resource for Department of Defense, government and commercial clients. Social Entrepreneur of the Year: Buddy Palmer is president and CEO of Create Birmingham, which has a mission to invest in imagination and invention. Through its programs, Create Birmingham constructs and supports diverse avenues for commercial and nonprofit creative success. “imerging” Young Leaders awards: Dustin Embrey, Connie Griesemer, Wayne Heard, Trent Kocurek, Chris Maurice, Ben Podbielski and Jeff Zeiders. Republished with the permission of the Alabama Newscenter.
