Film Commission gets new life, mayor new career

At a hastily called press conference, Mayor Mike Ragsdale joined Commissioner Greg "Lumpy" Lambert in announcing a new lease on life for the Film Commission and a career change for the soon-to-be former mayor.

"Lumpy made  a convincing argument," Ragsdale told reporters. "During the budget debate, he insisted that I take over as director of the Film Commission. Since the county plans to kick me to the curb in 16 months anyway, it was a prospect I couldn't refuse."

"I'm grateful to the mayor," Lambert said, "and to our CFO, John Troyer. Although the Film Commission received zip in the new budget, John assures me that with a line item transfer we can make it right."

In FY 2009, the Film Commission received $50,000. This year, $1 million was split among 66 non-profit organizations.

"To simplify matters, we'll transfer the entire $1 million FY 2010 non-profit budget to the Film Commission," Ragsdale explained. "Later - if I feel like it - I may spread some of the money around to non-profits who can donate gaffers, best boys, a key grip or a Foley artist."

"He won't get away with this," vowed David Butler, Executive Director of the Knoxville Museum of Art. "I've seen the man's YouTube productions - not exactly Sundance material. Remember the scene in his 2007 flop, Night of the Living Audit, where he denied calling that Lewis Cosby fellow a 'showboat?' The audience wasn't buying what the mayor was selling."   

Ragsdale brushed aside the critics.

"They'll whistle a different tune when my new productions hit the silver screen," he said.

Several screenplays are completed or in the works, he added, including Cleared!, Whatever Happened to Baby Cynthia?, Dr. Mayorlove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love My Staff, and Raiders of the Lost General Fund Balance. Negotiations to purchase the rights to Scott McNutt's epic adventure, Charter-Hater: Salvation are underway as well, Ragsdale said.