House Resolution 5

A RESOLUTION PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE CAREER AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF MR. WARD EMLING, THE LONGEST-SERVING NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL FILM COMMISSIONER, UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AFTER 30 YEARS AS DIRECTOR OF THE MISSISSIPPI FILM OFFICE.

WHEREAS, since its establishment in 1973 as the second film commission in the world, the Mississippi Film Office has successfully endeavored to produce and capture hundreds of films, television projects, documentaries and commercials in every corner and county of the state, having built a solid foundation in the film industry by focusing on its greatest attributes: people, places and an unparalleled storytelling heritage; and

WHEREAS, for 30 years Mr. Ward Emling has served as Director of the Mississippi Film Office, first from 1980-1983, and returning in 1990, and serving dutifully until the announcement of his retirement this year in 2017, which garners him the esteemed title of the longest-serving Film Commissioner ever, anywhere in the world, and one of the longest-serving industrial developers in Mississippi history; and

WHEREAS, born in New Orleans and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, Ward Emling was educated in the Jackson Public Schools and earned a bachelor of arts degree in English from Millsaps College, and later pursued two years of study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, England; and

WHEREAS, during Mr. Emling's 30 years of notably profound and unmatched service, film production has touched every county in Mississippi, creating opportunities for tens of thousands of Mississippians and lifelong careers in the film industry for hundreds, accounting for more than 320 films and documentaries, and innumerable commercials being produced in Mississippi, which in turn has resulted in total production budgets for the film and television projects to a tune of almost $500 million, with a financial impact of well over $1 billion, and incalculable public relations and community development, and in the four years between 2012 and 2016, Mississippians working on Mississippi films rose from just over $600,000.00 to $6.6 million; and

WHEREAS, Ward has guided in-state film productions, including "Huck Finn," "A Time To Kill," "The Chamber," "Ghosts of Mississippi," "My Dog Skip," "Cookie's Fortune," "O Brother, Where Art Thou?," "The Ponder Heart," "Big Bad Love," "Ballast," "The Help," "Get On Up" and "Dixieland," in addition to many short films, documentaries and commercials; and

WHEREAS, Ward, who has represented Mississippi film and culture around the world, on four continents (North America, Asia, Australia and Europe), is a two-term past President of the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI), the 300-member organization of film commissions from around the world, and the recipient of the 2008 Arthur Lowe Crystal Vision Award for Outstanding Service to the AFCI; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to acknowledge the exceptional works of an ambassador of Ward's caliber, and it is with great pride that we commend this remarkable Mississippian who is a respected member of his profession and has maintained a competitive business environment for filmmaking in Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby pay tribute to the career and contributions of Ward Emling, the longest-serving National and International Film Commissioner, upon the occasion of his retirement after 30 years as Director of the Mississippi Film Office, and extend best wishes to Mr. Emling for future successes in the lighter days of his retirement.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mr. Ward Emling and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.