Stonecrest film commission names new economic development director, sets monthly meetings and seeks clarity on event funding

Stonecrest’s Film & Entertainment Commission on Oct. 16 introduced Lance Randall as the city’s new economic development director and spent the meeting discussing how the commission will operate, how events and sponsorships will be funded and whether the commission can collect and hold revenue from ticketed events.

The most immediate change approved during discussion was a meeting cadence: the commission will meet monthly on the third Thursday, with its advisory board convening quarterly. Members also discussed a $50,000 film-and-entertainment line item in the city’s economic development budget and asked Randall and city staff to clarify whether revenue from events should be deposited into a separate account or retained under the city’s budget structure.

Why it matters: The commission is positioning itself to promote filming, events and related economic development in Stonecrest. How the commission can receive, hold and spend money — and whether it needs a separate account or EIN — will determine whether it can seed events, accept sponsorships or run ticketed screenings without delays that previously hampered vendor payments.

Lance Randall, introduced at the meeting as Stonecrest’s new economic development director, summarized his background in economic development and film permitting work in other cities and described his immediate priorities. “I’m an economic development practitioner…that’s my specialty,” Randall said, noting decades of experience working with film and music offices to secure permits, locations, police support and community notification.

Commission members and guests raised recurring operational questions. Commissioners want clearer processes for: submitting invoices; getting pre-event approval for seed funding; whether the commission must direct prospective event producers to the commission or allow them to proceed independently; and who will handle social media and public communications. Randall said the current budget for the commission is a line item in the city’s economic development budget and that he will discuss account structure and payment processes with the city manager and finance staff.

“We have a line item in the economic development budget,” Randall said. “I need to talk with the city manager and the finance person. We’ll get it straight now to how it should be.”

Commissioners described prior delays in paying vendors and said those delays damaged the commission’s reputation with contractors. Several members asked whether the commission can retain revenue generated by events. Randall said a separate account (and an EIN) may be required if the commission will collect receipts, and he will follow up with finance and the development authority to determine the correct structure.

Commissioner Chet Brewster outlined a proposal to host an outdoor viewing-and-event site for the FIFA World Cup and asked whether the commission could seed and sponsor such a production. Brewster described the proposal and asked how to submit cost estimates for security, vendors and staging. The commission discussed using sponsorships and ticket sales to cover event costs and urged a focus on projects that can generate revenue rather than ad hoc events.

Diane Taylor, who said she is a filmmaker and audio-engineering graduate living in the Stonecrest area, introduced herself during the meeting and said she is interested in both film production and “the messaging of the movies and the business behind movies so that we can control more of the narrative.”

Members also discussed public-facing tools and promotion: a commission website and social media presence tied to the city’s communications team, a pull-up banner and branded T-shirts already in limited use, and a business-directory page on the city’s economic development site. Randall said he will coordinate with the city’s communications staff, Teresa, to set up social accounts and determine who will manage content and branding.

The meeting included an update on a potential redevelopment of the local mall theater. Randall said an independent operator is exploring a roughly $70,000,000 investment to reconfigure the mall theater from its current layout into a 12-screen, full-service venue (down from 16 screens) with food and beverage service. That project is contingent on securing about $2,000,000 in private investment to close the deal.

No formal votes or ordinances were adopted at the meeting. Commissioners asked staff to return to a future meeting with clarified procedures for: how to submit proposals and invoices; whether the commission may collect and retain event revenue or should route it to the Stonecrest development authority or city accounts; and options for establishing a separate account and EIN if needed.

The commission also discussed volunteer recruitment and the advisory board’s role in executing events. Randall and members emphasized that advisory-board members will be asked to do more than advise — they will be asked to provide volunteers and operational support for events. The commission closed by scheduling follow-up work on the strategic-plan implementation, budget questions and confirmation of advisory-board membership.

“Once we get that consistent cadence, then we’ll be in business to be able to do some great things,” Randall said.

The meeting adjourned with direction to staff to return with specifics about budget structure, social media setup and a confirmed schedule for future meetings.