When the film, television and entertainment technology numbers came out last year about this same time, one thing, in particular, stood out in the minds of local economic development officials: Digital media is becoming big business for Central Florida.
Now, those same officials are hopeful that a new study done by Pittsburgh-based Catalytix will further define that industry sector — and provide a blueprint for regional growth.
Starting in October 2005, Catalytix went on the prowl so to speak, to find out the extent to which Central Florida’s work force was involved as digital media suppliers — even if that activity was done after hours.
The findings: As many as one in every three or four people surveyed are doing entertainment technology-related work.
“Orlando is in great position to build the critical mass of companies it needs to be a leading digital media sector leader,” says Lou Musante, Catalytix’s “chief thinking officer” and one of the study’s project managers.
“Now, the question becomes: What else needs to be done to make that happen?”
‘HARD-CORE LOOK’ AT INDUSTRY
The big challenge, Musante says, was to first “get our arms around the sector itself and who comprises it.”
That was important, says Suzy Allen, vice president of film and digital media development with the Metro Orlando Film & Entertainment Commission, because while entertainment-related revenue numbers for Central Florida are impressive — more than $850 million, according to a 2004 study — no one has looked closely yet at the type and amount of digital media work being done locally.
“This (study) now gives us a hard-core look at what our work force needs are,” Allen says.
Although all the numbers aren’t crunched yet, the study — sponsored and funded by the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission, the University of Central Florida, the Florida High Tech Corridor, United Arts and the city of Orlando — offers four areas of recommendations:
- Expand the region’s midsize and small film and entertainment technology businesses through better sales and marketing, the establishment of a contracting consortium and expansion of the existing educational cluster
- Attract new businesses and talent via existing business initiatives and better regional partnerships
- Create a friendlier business environment through an arts “greenhouse” to spur partnerships, the development of an interactive technology incubator, the establishment of a patent and intellectual property repository at UCF, the creation of an insurance intermediation for independent artists, and the establishment of a research and development tax exemption
- Increase the “quality of place” through programs such as the Red Chair Project, which seeks to increase community participation in the arts; the creation of affordable work force housing and encouragement of diversity
NEXT STEPS
While details on how to accomplish the recommendations will be worked out in increments, Allen says, once the final report is issued by Memorial Day, “we will at least have in hand a blueprint for what needs to be done.”
The good news, Musante says, is that “Orlando is at the head of the pack of other cities” looking to build a film and entertainment technology sector, and “has an opportunity to gain market share.”
The key: getting the area’s educational institutions, arts groups and local businesses to work together to strengthen regional resources.
“Artists are at the heart of this whole study,” says United Arts of Central Florida President and CEO Margot Knight. “We have to figure out how to connect the dots … where we need to go and become a first-class place to live and work.”
Original Post by Cindy Barth, Managing Editor at The Orlando Business Journal