NEWBURYPORT — Nick Paleologos, executive director of the Massachusetts Film Office, will lead a discussion on the growing filmmaking industry in the state at the Jan. 8 Breakfast Forum of the Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce.
Massachusetts was one of the first states to establish an official state film office in 1979. Since then, the Massachusetts Film Office has welcomed more than 80 feature filmmakers to the Bay State — including Norman Jewison, Sydney Lumet, Steven Spielberg, Clint Eastwood and Martin Scorsese.
In July 2006, the state placed the new film office alongside the Massachusetts Sports Partnership under the umbrella of the Massachusetts Sports and Entertainment Commission, a private, non-profit organization charged with the responsibility of attracting major sporting and entertainment events to the state. Some of the most notable films recently made were "21," "Pink Panther Deux" and "Gone Baby Gone."
Paleologos is a cum laude graduate of Tufts University and received his master's degree in public administration from Harvard University. In 2007 he was the recipient of an honorary doctorate from the Boston Conservatory. A two-time Tony Award-winning producer, Paleologos was also the recipient of an Emmy Award nomination for the HBO film "In the Gloaming," which marked the directorial debut of the late Christopher Reeve. Feature films include "Hurlyburly" and "Ghosts of Mississippi." He is a producer of the London, Broadway and touring productions of Ian Fleming's classic movie musical, "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang."
Before becoming a producer, Paleologos was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives where he served for 14 years. During his tenure on Beacon Hill, he was selected six times as "Legislator of the Year" for his work on reforming public education, cleaning up toxic waste and televising House sessions. He was House chairman of the Committee on Education, Arts and Humanities from 1985 to 1990. In 1998 he received the Humanitarian Award from the National Conference on Communities and Justice. Most recently, he was the recipient of the 2007 Thomas "Tip" O'Neill, Jr. Award from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees for his lifetime service to public education.
The Breakfast Forum will be held at the Mission Oak Grill, 26 Green St., from 7:30 to 9 a.m., and is being sponsored by Essex National Heritage Area, North of Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Greater Newburyport Area Cultural Heritage Committee.
A full breakfast will be served to all who attend; reservations are required. Admission is $20 for Chamber members, $25 for non-members and walk-ins.
To reserve a seat, call the Chamber for more information at 978-462-6680.
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