Arrive Magazine - January/February, 2007

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Rhode Island ♥s Underdog

RICHARDMCCAFFREY.COM

extensively there.
“That’s me just thinking
up ways to make them feel like they’re
part of our neighborhood,” says Fein-
berg of his red-carpet treatment. “That’s
how I perceive Rhode Island, and I try to
pass that along.”

He even managed to get the support and cooperation of the notoriously uncooperative teamsters union, which handles all transportation on film shoots. The fact that many teamsters have worked more in the past two and a half years than they had in the past 10 certainly must have helped. After taking on the role at the Film and Television Office, one of the first things Feinberg did was ask Teamsters Local 251 Principal Executive Stuart Mundy to write to Hollywood’s studios letting them know Rhode Island was a film-friendly state.

“I’ve given [filmmakers] an open-door policy that they can come to me with anything,” says Mundy, who adds that not one grievance with the union has been filed since Rhode Island started the incentive program. “I’ve developed a pretty good relationship with Warner Brothers,” he says, sounding like a Hollywood insider. “I even talked to them

about looking at Rhode Island for other projects.”

BRING ON THE FILM SQUAD

Although filming has taken place throughout the Ocean State, Providence has been inundated with so many films of late that Mayor Cicilline created a Film Squad to coordinate permits, road closures and other assistance for filmmakers. He even vacates his own office occasionally for crews who want to film there. His cooperation netted him a nice perk—he had speaking parts in episodes of Brotherhood and Waterfront, and he recently got his Screen Actors Guild card.

Cicilline makes sure, though, to warn filmmakers not to get too used to all the hospitality in Providence.

“We’ve really worked hard to be really accommodating, so in addition to having economic value of coming to Providence, the word is out that the town rolls out the red carpet,” says Cicilline. “I’m always joking with the film people. I say, ‘Enjoy it while it lasts because in 20 years, when it’s not such a new industry, we won’t be so terrific.’ People will be like ‘again?’”