Lights, cameras, money

Mayor Kevin Faulconer and fellow San Diego politicos who seem on the verge of losing the Chargers to Los Angeles are busy plotting at least one form of revenge: a new movie-making push to draw productions from Hollywood and intended to put a positive spin on the town and its football-challenged elected officials.

They just don't know quite how to do it or how much it will ultimately cost.

"The San Diego region has a unique opportunity to re-envision the manner in which the region is promoted to the [movie] industry and to develop a model that addresses current industry trends and needs," says a "request for ideas" issued October 29 by San Diego's city purchasing and contracting office.

A hoped-for new regional film operation "will be a dynamic organization structured to address a wide variety of issues and opportunities associated with the film industry (inclusive of motion pictures, television, commercials, and other forms of media), utilizing the most modern and effective digital and social media tools available to ensure that the San Diego region becomes a preferred location for multiple facets of film, television, commercial, and digital media production," the solicitation says.

"Ideally, the [movie office] will build and enhance the competitiveness, profile, and growth potential of San Diego’s film industry, positioning our region to capitalize on filming trends of the future."

Continues the call for concepts, "We seek to be the place for film of the future, where we will be known as the most creative and pioneering location to create and innovate within the film industry."

While those may be tall ambitions for a city still wrestling with the Chargers challenge and the loss of its hometown newspaper printing presses to Los Angeles, the city appears undeterred:

"We seek entrepreneurial ideas for how to stimulate and facilitate the film industry in the San Diego County region."

The request sets out a wish list of possibilities, including a city hall tax-spending favorite, "infrastructure development," and "attraction of production studios/services in order to attract larger and more complex filming projects."

"Advocacy," otherwise known as the practice of lobbying and schmoozing at cocktail parties, also is big on the agenda, "to address local, state, federal, and bi-national issues."

Not far behind is "marketing/public relations, promoting the region as a destination."

Money may be an object, but total costs of the effort have yet to be established, at least for public consumption.

"Please provide a suggested budget and recommended time frame, including revenue and expenses, that incorporates implementation and support of any proposed portfolio of services," says the document.

"The budget may be a broad outline but should identify the major categories needed to establish and run such an endeavor, including, but not limited to, anticipated personnel expenses, strategic planning, information technology, advertising, facility costs, etc."

Even before the new operation gets off the ground, Faulconer and the city council are already throwing public money at the cause, putting up "$100,000 to fund a staff member to reinstate the City’s Film Commission," as noted by a June 8 news release from the office of Democratic city councilman Todd Gloria.

"It is anticipated that for long term success and sustainability, funding and fundraising beyond public agencies (i.e. Government) will be required. Proposed budget(s) should reflect financial options to ensure sustainability and may include public funding, private funding, earned income opportunities, non-traditional funding sources, sponsorships, grants, etc.," says the request for ideas.

The city's original film commission was folded back in July 2013 in the midst of a long-running fight over use of taxes collected from hotel occupants, according to a U-T San Diego report.

The deadline for submissions is December 15, the idea request says.