Wave Maker: Limelight Fades to Black

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Wednesday, June 29, 2005

Limelight Fades to Black

A while ago, we reviewed the seamy underbelly of the feud between Mark Drago and Robin Dawson over who would be quarterbacking the development of film business in Massachusetts. In the meantime, both have gone to the Governor's office and been told to "straighten it out between yourselves," which they clearly didn't, running to the newspapers to resume bad mouthing each other.

Now, with the passage of the 2006 budget, both Drago and Dawson discover this little gem:

The ugly dispute over who is in charge of film production in the state appears to be over - and the winner is, Gov. Mitt Romney.

The $23.9 billion state budget sitting on Romney's desk contains language establishing a new state film office under the gov's Executive Office of Economic Development.

"The office shall be the primary governmental office or agency to facilitate motion picture production and development within the commonwealth,'' the measure reads.

The new budget leaves funding for Robin Dawson's Mass. Film Bureau on the cutting room floor. The budget language also appears to put Mark Drago and the Mass. Sports & Entertainment Commission out of the film biz.

If, as expected, Romney signs off on the measure, it will put an end to an embarrassing public feud that insiders say was hurting the state's chances to attract major motion pictures.

"It's a good conclusion,'' said Senate Minority Leader Brian Lees, who proposed the measure. "We worked with the House and the Sports Commission and everybody felt it was important to have a state agency to be in charge of film and to let the Sports Commission handle sports.''

Lees said the new film office will have an executive director who will be the state's official point person for film production. The budget also leaves intact funding for Drago's position at the Sports & Entertainment Commission and sources say he'll be told to refocus his efforts toward attracting major sporting events to the state.

What is not known, however, is whether Drago will go quietly. Yesterday, his people were insisting he would remain in charge of film and that the new office was inconsequential. But Dawson's people begged to differ.

"Saddam Hussein thinks he's still in charge of Iraq, too,'' said film bureau flack George Regan.
Meanwhile, Dawson, the former head of the state film office, said she's not interested in returning to that role but promised to work with the new agency.

Lovely ending to a sordid story. Heh heh.

Posted by: Wave Maker / 4:57 PM/ |