MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2017 1st Extraordinary Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Horhn, Burton, Blount, Dearing, Frazier, Jackson (32nd), Michel, Stone
A RESOLUTION PAYING 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.
WHEREAS, the Mississippi Film Office was established in 1973, the second film commission in the world. Since that time, hundreds of films, television projects, documentaries and commercials have filmed in every corner and county of the state and Mississippi has built a solid foundation in the film industry by focusing on its greatest attributes: people, place and an unparalleled storytelling heritage; and
WHEREAS, for 30 years Ward Emling has served as Director of the Mississippi Film Office (1980-1983, 1990-2017). He is the longest-serving Film Commissioner ever, anywhere in the world, and is one of the longest-serving industrial developers in Mississippi history; and
WHEREAS, Ward Emling was born in New Orleans and raised in Jackson, Mississippi. He was educated in the Jackson Public Schools and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Millsaps College. He then studied two years at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London, England; and
WHEREAS, during Ward Emling's 30 years, film production touched every county in Mississippi, creating opportunities for tens of thousands of Mississippians and lifelong careers in the film industry for hundreds. During those years, over 320 films and documentaries, and countless commercials were produced in Mississippi. The total production budgets for the film and television projects were almost $500 Million, with a financial impact of well over $1 Billion, and incalculable PR and community development. 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 Apart 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 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. He has represented Mississippi film and culture around the world, on four continents (North America, Asia, Australia and Europe); and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize a 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 SENATE 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 our best wishes to Ward for future successes.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Ward Emling, forwarded to the Executive Director of the Mississippi Development Authority and the Governor, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.