Amerikai Magyar Hírlap, 2004 (16. évfolyam, 5-50. szám)
2004-06-18 / 25. szám
AMERICAN Hungarian Hungary Aims for Film Dollars with Big New Studio By Sándor Pető HUNGARIAN COINS Official Representative Office P.O. Box 1057, Clifton, New Jersey 07014 Contact: A. Friedberg (973) 471-1441Telefax (973) 471-1062 Cherished Memories of Reagan As we Hungarian Americans watched the nation’s magnificent tribute to Ronald Reagan, the 40a President of the United States, personal recollections came to mind to those who had the honor to meet him. While I met him several times, my favorite is from 1985, when President Reagan began his second term as president. He and Vice President George Bush met with us - a dozen national Republican ethnic leaders - in the historic Cabinet room to thank us for our support during the 1984 election campaign. Our group made a special presentation of Ethnic community leader Dr. Frank De Balogh receives a handshake and thanks from President Ronald Reagan a few months after he began his second term in office in 1985. The Hungarian and other ethnic organizations campaigned hard for his victory. a wonderful portrait of the President by Hungarian American artist, our own Ferenc Daday. Hungarian American leaders who were there included László Pásztor, Julius Belső and myself (all in the right of the photo). President Reagan is shown with his back admiring the portrait. Vice President Bush is on the left. In further recognition, President Reagan was to later appoint us all to positions in his administration. I had the honor of serving as chairman of the National Selective Service Appeals Board which had to do with the military draft. Many Hungarian American leaders including those from Southern California such as Alex and Ella Stiglitz, Ilona Reksz, and Julius and Susan Jancso, met him or went to his inaugural in Washington, D.C. The memory of this great American President, Ronald Reagan, who was a valued friend to all Hungarians, will be cherished with respect, admiration and affection by our Hungarian American community for many years to come. Commissioner Dr. Frank de Balogh County of Los Angeles RENDELESERT hívják Arthur Friedberget: Toll Free 1-800-421-1866. Fax (973) 471-1062 E-mail: mail@coin-currency.com Website: www.coin-currency.com/hungary.htmI . vagy küldjék be az összeget és $4.50 kezelési és postaköltséget (New Jersey-i lakosok 6% taxet is) a következő címre: The Coin & Currency Institute, Inc. P.O. Box 1057, Clifton, NJ 07014. Hungary becomes a member of the European Union BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungary, long an exporter of film talent, wants to attract moviemakers with a giant 150 million euro ($184.2 million) film complex which its backers say will have the biggest studio in the world. “Film makers are moving to the East,” said Hungarian-born Hollywood filmmaker Andrew Vajna, a co-sponsor of the project, and producer of Evita, the Terminator and the Rambo series. The complex will be named after Sándor Korda, who became Britain’s first movie mogul as Sir Alexander Korda and taps a tradition which includes Mihály Kertész, later better known as Casablanca director Michael Curtiz and Dracula star Bela Lugosi. While film-makers are drawn to eastern Europe by lower production costs, Hungary has been left behind by Prague and Bucharest in the battle to attract film dollars. The new complex, to be built in Etyek, 25 km (16 miles) from the Hungarian capital Budapest, will be completed by 2005 and will cover 10.6 hectares (26.1 acres). It will have six studios, including one covering 6,070 square meters, which the investors said would be twice as big as the largest in the world operated by Pinewood in London. It will also offer the biggest water and underwater facilities in the world. “We will build it so big just because nothing similar exists and this will remain true for some time,” Vajna told a news conference on Wednesday. Vajna will build the complex with Sándor Demjan, a financier born in Etyek, who has built shopping malls worth billions of euros in central Europe, with backing from Hungarian expats. “World film-making needs bigger and bigger studios and there are not enough of them,” Vajna said, adding producers had to wait for more than a year to get on set in a big studio. Competing with Prague, Bucharest Hungary’s film-making history combined with its skilled and relatively cheap labor pool as well a new law giving tax breaks to film-makers would all help pull in business, Vajna said. Other cheap, historic central European capitals like Prague and Bucharest, who built studios earlier, have attracted a flood of Western film-makers in recent years. Prague has hosted the filming of blockbusters such as Vin Diesel's XXX, Hugh Jackman's Van Heising, Tom Cruise's Mission Impossible and Sean Connery's League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. (BUDAPEST) Although the vision of a united Europe has fascinated philosophers and dreamers for more than a century, in order for it to become reality, it first had to be expressed as a political idea. Moreover, Europe first had to put an end to the violence and bloodshed that marred the first half of the 20th century, and then had to figuratively and literally tear down the Iron Curtain. Next, the countries in central and eastern Europe which regained their independence had to embrace the principles of democracy and a liberal market economy. With the end of the Cold War, the European Community, (known the European Union since 1993) became the symbol and institutional framework for the reunification of Europe. On May 1, 2004 the European Union undertook the most challenging enlargement in its history when it increased its member states from fifteen to twenty-five. To mark this historic event, the Magyar Nemzeti Bank (National Bank of Hungary) issued a 50,000 forint gold proof commemorative coin and a 5,000 forint sterling silver proof one celebrating Hungary’s accession to the Union. Both coins, designed by László Papp, depict the mythical stag of Hungary’s legendary prehistory, an allusion to the nation’s cultural and historical heritage. Of the proceeds from the sale of the coins, HUF 5,000 for each gold coin and HUF 500 for each silver one is being donated to support the Hungarian Association of the International Children’s Safety Service. The gold coin is struck to the same standards as Hungary’s old 4 Ducat coin - .986 gold (23.67 kt.) and 13.964 grams. It is 25 mm (1 inch) in diameter. 7,000 pieces were struck. The price is $415.00 (US). The silver coin weighs 31.46 grams and is 38.61 mm in diameter. It has a mintage limit of only 10,000 pieces, which has already been sold out in Hungary. They remain available in No. America while allocations last, at a cost of $49.50 each. In a statement, the Hungarian Mint called May 1, 2004 a date of great significance in Hungarian history comparable with the coronation of Saint Stephan, when Hungary was first accepted into the family of Christian nations in Europe. The National Bank also issued a special 50-forint coin, adorned with stars symbolizing the European Union and the inscription “Republic of Hungary, member of the European Union.” This coin is included with the seven “normal” circulating coins in the 2004 Mint and Proof Sets. Mint sets are limited to 8,000 sets and cost $32.50. Proof sets are $42.50 with a limit of 7,000 sets. A limited number (12,000) of the BU 50 forint coins are also available individually in “first day of issue” packaging. While supplies last, they cost $12.75 each. To order, or to be placed on the mailing list for all Hungarian coins, contact the National Bank of Hungary’s official North American coin sales representative, The Coin & Currency Institute, Inc., P.O. Box 1057, Clifton, NJ 07014. Toll free 1-800-421-1866. Fax (973) 471-1062. E-mail: mail@coincurrency.com. New Jersey residents should add 6% sales tax. Major credit cards are accepted. June 18,2004 ENGLISH PAGE TO OUR READERS: PLEASE NOTE THAT THE HÍRLAP WILL NOT BE APPEARING ON JULY 9 AND 16, 2004, BECAUSE OF THE ANNUAL SUMMER BREAK. i’nalish ifaf/c Journal Add $4.75 to each order for shipping and handling. These and other coins of Hungary may be seen on the Institute’s website, www.coincurrency.com/hungary.html. AMERIKAI Magyar Hírlap
