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James (Jimmy) Tashie - Chairman of the Board
Vice-President and General Manager of Malco Theatres, Inc., Jimmy Tashie oversees the success of over 300 screens in five states. In operation for over 95 years, Malco Theatres, Inc. ranks among the top fifteen theatre chains in the United States. A long-time leading supporter of Memphis filmmaking, Tashie hosts all the city’s not-for-profit film festivals: The Indie Memphis Film Festival; On-Location: The Memphis International Film Festival; and The Outflix Film Festival. Tashie conceived and opened one of the South’s most unique art/independent/foreign film theatres: Malco’s Studio on the Square. As per Tashie’s dream, the theatre offers the Mid-South’s emerging filmmakers an accessible but professional venue in which to book premiere screenings of their films. |
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Linn Sitler - Memphis & Shelby County Film Commissioner
Film and Television Commissioner since 1987, Linn Sitler is one of the longest-serving film commissioners in the world! Sitler brings to the job not only her previous professional experience as a local and nationally syndicated television producer-writer-host, but also her 8,000+ (and still counting) days of film commission work. She holds an M.A. in Radio-TV-Film from the University of Memphis and a B.A. (cum laude) in English Literature from the University of Tennessee.
Click here to read Linn's compete bio |
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Sharon Fox O'Guin - Deputy Film Commissioner
At the Commission since 1995, Sharon Fox O’Guin holds a B.A. in Media Arts from the University of South Carolina. As Deputy Film Commissioner, Fox –O’Guin directs the Commission’s college internship program…provides “first response” to all location photograph requests and production needs…and gives personal attention to all projects from recruitment through production.
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Together, the combined experience of both Sitler and Fox-O’Guin represents almost 35 years of on-hand film and television commission experience. Together, the team has worked with such studio projects as “Walk the Line” and “The People vs. Larry Flynt” – along with acclaimed independent films such as Craig Brewer’s Academy Award-winning “Hustle & Flow” and Ira Sachs’ Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner, “Forty Shades of Blue.”
Commission Legal Advisers
For over a decade, The Commission has been fortunate to have as legal advisers not one, but two highly qualified attorneys, who dispatch their Commission-related duties with unusual enthusiasm and dedication!
John Ryder, Esquire, of The Shelby County Attorney's Office serves as The Commission's staff attorney. Among John's many achievements: the re-routing of The Presidential motorcade in order not to interrupt a network t.v. series filming on Beale Street.
Dorothy Osradker, Esquire, of The City Attorney's Office approves filming on city property and is always available as The Commission's liaison for legal questions specifically pertaining to these properties, city neighborhoods, and city ordinances relevant to film and video productions.
Commission Mayoral Liaisons
A city/county agency equally funded by both governments, the Commission is directly assisted by The Offices of The Mayor of Memphis and The Mayor of Shelby County. The Commission has historically relied on both mayoral staffs for guidance and for powerful, "deal-making" assistance. Providing these invaluable services in County Government's Kelly Rayne, Esquire and City Government's Gale Carson.
Commission Advisory Board of Directors
The Commission's 22-member volunteer advisory Board of Directors serves by appointment only - half are appointed by The Mayor of Memphis and half by The Mayor of Shelby County.
The Commission Board's activities are governed by strict city/county conflict-of-interest policies. The majority of Board members are not from the film and television industries, but rather from the marketing, public relations, and legal professions.
An Executive Committee of current officers and past board chairmen meet frequently with the film commissioner to discuss policies and procedures and to help plan long-term staff activities. The entire Commission Board of Directors meets quarterly to review staff marketing and recruitment activities.
The entire Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Board of Directors includes citizens from impressive and diverse backgrounds: production professionals; attorneys; a playwright; a hotel executive ; the executive director of The Recording Academy-Memphis chapter; several marketing/public relations professionals; an internationally-known songwriter; a music and broadcast mogul; a endontiist; a CPA/film festival organizer; a university dean; educators; an entertainment booking agency head; and, an internationally-known blues singer. The individual board members' names and board positions are as follows:
City of Memphis
Office of the Mayor of Memphis: Toni Holmon-Turner
Office of Intergovernmental Relations: Tajuan Stout-Mitchell
Office of the City Attorney: C.C. Drayton, Esquire
Office of Contract Compliance: Carlee McCullough, Esquire
Shelby County
Office of the Mayor of Shelby County: Kelly Rayne, Esquire
Office of the Mayor of Shelby County: Gwendolyn McClain
Office of the County Attorney: John Ryder, Esquire
Board of Directors
Chairman James (“Jimmy”) Tashie
Vice-Chairman Les Edwards, CPA
Treasurer Isaac Singleton
Secretary Dr. Susan Murrmann
Budget & Finance Director Dr. O’Farrell Shoemaker
Board of Directors Executive Committee
Chairman Emeritus Herb O’Mell
Chairman Emeritus Donna Darwin (Ex-Officio)
Chairman Emeritus Dr. Richard Ranta
Chairman Emeritus Knox Phillips (Ex-Officio)
Chairman Emeritus Calvin Miller
Chairman Emeritus Blanchard E. Tual, Esquire
Chairman Emeritus David Porter (Ex-Officio)
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Board of Directors at Large
Joyce Blackmon
Tonya Butler, Esquire
Gale Jones Carson
Paul Chandler
Bill Carrier
Ike Griffith
Jerold L. Klein
Ken Nelson
Tommie Pardue
Pat Kerr Tigrett
Mary Unobsky
Ruby Wilson
Annabel Woodall
