State’s film agency finds new location, director

If Film Indiana were a movie, it would have a new studio and director.

State officials have moved the office in charge of supporting and promoting Indiana’s film, TV and commercial-making industries from the purview of the Indiana Economic Development Corp. to the Office of Tourism Development.

“It fits nicely with our broader strategy for marketing Indiana assets and destinations,” said Mark Newman, executive director of IOTD, in a prepared release. “We have a diverse mix of natural landscapes, rural settings and urban places that appeal to site selectors. Our ambition is to ultimately offer grants and other resources to local communities to bolster their recruitment efforts.”

In addition, Film Indiana now is headed by Amy Howell, who also serves as IOTD’s director of communications and media relations.

Howell began working for the IOTD in July after 19 years in the television industry as a producer, according to her LinkedIn page. She most recently was an executive producer for special projects for WISH-TV Channel 8 in Indianapolis.

One of Film Indiana's focuses will be managing an online location database and production services directory that provides technical support to the film industry.

“I feel that IOTD’s relationships with visitor bureaus, chambers of commerce, businesses, historic sites and others will only enhance our location database,” said Howell, who was named director of Film Indiana. “Indiana is a production-friendly state. My goal is to showcase our assets, our Hoosier hospitality and bring in business to grow our economy.”

While under the IEDC umbrella, Film Indiana was headed by Erin Schneider, who also served as the IEDC’s director of business development for the state’s central region.

Schneider left the dual posts for a job in the private sector in the middle of this year, and the role of leading Film Indiana was not formally filled, according to an IEDC spokeswoman.