State Film Commission director forced out

Bredesen appointee resigns under pressure, admits lobbying activity that he denied in April

Email | Print By Ken Whitehouse

David J. Bennett

David J. Bennett, executive director of the Tennessee Film, Entertainment and Music Commission, has resigned from that position at the behest of Gov. Phil Bredesen's administration.

Bennett, a well known figure in the state's film community, was appointed to the post in early 2003.

Over the weekend, Bennett told the Memphis Commercial Appeal that he was forced out over "political pressure."

Bennett cited the passage of an economic incentives package last year by the state legislature for the entertainment industry. The measure was not part of Bredesen's legislative agenda. The film promotion measure "was not the governor's initiative, and he did not endorse it when it occurred," Bennett told the C A. "There were people in his administration who then expressed their fury when the incentives passed."

Bennett told NashvillePost.com at the time the legislation was being considered, last April, that he was not lobbying for the bill, and that "the governor has no opinion on this particular piece of legislation, but he has been a long-time supporter of this industry and wants to see it grow."

The Commercial Appeal article says Bennett and other local film commissioners did lobby for the package, an assertion his comments appear to uphold.

Before Bennett took over at the Film Commission, he was general manager of the Filmworkers Club in Nashville, a post-production facility. He was previously with Motion Picture Laboratories and Carden and Cherry Advertising.