Comment / By Annamoose / July 9, 2009, 10:02 p.m.

I must say I’m fairly new to the area and enjoy the insightful comments of Hank Sims and the NCJ. I did want to comment on the Film Commission. I’ve had the opportunity to meet a few and with all due respect they seem to be a bunch of bitter old lesbians and a couple gay guys (oh wait…maybe that was the high school drama club). They originally were part of the Convention and Visitors Bureau but thought Tony Smithers was a dildo and have now gone on to obtain their own financing (Federal, Headwaters, County and Municipal…all tax dollars in one way or another - quite resourceful). I would point out that most of them likely started there “film careers” in a dark room. Like any good pyramid scheme they prosper from the funds obtained to keep themselves employed at the expense, and or, exclusion of the new, innovative and talented film makers in this area.

Comment / By Carol / July 10, 2009, 10:52 a.m.

This sort of issue would never have come up with the former Film Commissioner, unfortunately thrown out of the position.

What a difference good ethics and a genuine desire to improve the community would make about now, as opposed to what seems like the very self-serving agenda of the current regime. It was — and is— pretty obvious to lots of - though sadly not enough- people that the ‘friends of’ organization was — and is — ethically flawed.

Comment / By OldGuardFriend / Feb. 17, 2010, 6:52 p.m.

The Humboldt Film Commission has gone bye-bye, and has been replaced by self serving vultures. Mary Cruse used the non-profit status of the Film Commission to underbid all the truly credible, and actually “local” video producers around the area to get this project. Yes some are really living here - but not good enough to support themselves in the open market. She hired only family and close friends to produce, rather amateurishly I might add, these videos. “Director” Maria Matteoli is Mary Cruse’ half sister, and Maria’s brother Mario got to do the music, good friends from LA Andy Rydzewski and Kennith Thomas ran cameras (Directors of Photography) and another close friend, but locally failed videographer, Montel Vanderhorck got to “produce” and “write” on the project - all getting paid well. For what?

http://www.youtube.com/user/mariamatteoli

Maria’s youtube page has some of these sad works, but cleverly disabled rating and comments because she knows in the real world what she has made is weak.

To anyone wanting to spend money to market your business - do not trust amateurs with good looking credentials. Use the truly local professionals even if it means spending a little more. None of the videos produced with this large budget will accomplish anything as far as marketing goes. Just search “Love, Humboldt” on youtube and watch with your own eyes. Judge for yourself. You’ll only see 2 videos because they are putting them out slowly to make it seem like they are building buzz and wonderment - but it’s because they need serious fixing. This is going to take much more tax payers’ money to fix.

We got trouble! Right here in Humboldt County.

Comment / By HFC WebPage / Feb. 17, 2010, 7:27 p.m.

The Commission should have used some of the money they wrenched out of local video makers hands to at least update their own web page. There’s not even a way to link local pros interested in working with commission projects - to commission projects! There are a few people that were allowed to list, but is there any chance these people are kept abreast of any projects without knowing personally, or being related to Mrs. Cruse? How about a Newsletter? Job board? Something they can at least try to bid on and show their portfolio? For a couple thousand bucks they could have made the site work - but I think they want it broken. That way they can blame it on the web page when nothing happens for local pros. They have made a wall rather than a hall with that site. At first glance it looks like they are helping locals, but at closer look it’s just lip service. For shame!

http://iss-tech.humboldt.edu/filmdev/index.php

If they could put down the wonderful wine produced right here in Humboldt long enough to throw even a small scrap of anything to at least SOME of the great and truly talented people around here, instead of just FAMILY and FRIENDS, I might have a little respect for them. But as of now I don’t.

Fix it now or lose all credibility with the real locals. Or should I say, “Fix it now if you want to regain the credibility you lost from the real locals”. Spread some of that hidden grant money around. You’re a non profit for Christ sakes - you’re using public money for your personal crony back-scratching party. We are watching you now “Humboldt” Film Commission - and silence will not make us go away, in fact it will get you replaced sooner.

You need to be transparent now.

Comment / By Disclose the Finance! / Feb. 18, 2010, 9:19 a.m.

Mary Cruse paid herself $4,000.00 a month with the public funds. Period.

I hope the title “INTERIM Humboldt County Film Commissioner” is accurate, and we get the real Commissioner in soon. Please God let someone honest and helpful to the community take this seat of power! Please Lord let the talented get the jobs they deserve. And please Lord-God-Krishna-Jesus-Buddha, allow Karma to wash over the bureaucrat that went with the Film Commission for this job, as that bureaucrat took the lowest bidder and not the best qualified. The non-profit HFC was able to underbid all the locals because they are supported by our Tax money. How’s that for Ironic? And who exactly accepted the HFC’s low bid? Who Lord? That is really the person everyone should be mad at. I mean, do you get mad at a shark for biting you when you stick your bloody hand in the ocean? No. I have no real qualms with the HFC sharks that blew all that useful money on themselves rather than their community. I blame the ones with no sense of discernment who allowed the sharks to have the money in the first place.

Comment / By Big Daddy / Feb. 18, 2010, 2:15 p.m.

Whoa!!! Somebody’s bitter and angry. Lesbians? Gays? What?