Two Year Tax Credit Extension
Signed Into Law
As reported by the California Film Commission website, here.
Assembly Bill 2026 (Fuentes) and Senate Bill 1197 were signed into law today by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. to extend funding for California's Film & Television Tax Credit Program. The two-year, $200 million extension ensures that tax credits will be available through fiscal year 2016-17.
The original five-year Program enacted in 2009 was part of an economic stimulus package to increase film and TV production spending, jobs and tax revenues in California. Last year, the Program was extended for a single year through fiscal 2014-15 when the Governor signed AB 1069 into law. The new two-year extension provides added continuity and certainty to a program that has proved very successful.
Status for the Current 2012-13 Fiscal Year:
The Film & Television Tax Credit Program is fully subscribed for the current 2012-13 fiscal year. The Film Commission maintains a waiting list for any projects that apply. Applications for the next fiscal year's $100 million allocation of tax credits will be accepted starting June 1, 2013.
About the California Film & Television Tax Credit Program:
Since it was enacted in 2009, the California Film & Television Tax Credit Program has helped keep scores of productions and tens of thousands of jobs in California. Based on spending estimates by approved film and TV projects, the Program is responsible for generating an estimated $3.9 billion in direct spending statewide, including $1.3 billion in wages to 27,000 "below the line" crew members. More information about the California Film & Television Tax Credit Program is available at
http://film.ca.gov/incentives.htm
Entertainment Weekly's website, EW.com, showed off The Big Bang Theory with a highlight tour by Set Decorator Ann Shea. Check it out here.
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
There will be phone banking at Local 80 located at 2520 West Olive Ave. on the stage from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM. It is imperative that we turnout big to defeat Prop 32 which, if passed, would silence union brothers and sisters and their families when it comes to political issues that affect unions and working conditions state wide.
A fraud is an intentional deception made for profit or to gain some unfair or dishonest advantage. Proposition 32 on the November 2012 California ballot is a fraud.
Los Angeles Times --
"Proposition 32:A fraud to end all frauds"
LA Times columnist Michael Hiltzik didn't mince words when he described Prop 32 in last Sunday's paper. He called it out for what it is: "a lie" and "a fraud to end all frauds."
"In this state, we've come to expect ballot initiatives sponsored by business interests to be, essentially, frauds. But it's hard to conceive how one could be more fraudulent than Proposition 32. If there was any doubt left that the initiative process has been totally corrupted by big business and the wealthy, this should put it to rest for all time."
Hiltzik's incisive and in-depth look at all of the the big-money interests behind Prop 32 -- as well as all of the hidden exemptions for those exact same corporate special interests and billionaires -- led him to this eye-opening conclusion:
"The message the perpetrators of Proposition 32 are sending to you, the California voter, is that they think you're stupid. Really, really stupid. When you go to the voting booth or fill out your mail ballot this November, stop for a moment and ponder this question: Should I hand over my vote to people who think of me that way?"
Tell your fellow crew members. Tell your friends and family. Proposition 32 is NOT about reforming campaign finance laws. It's not about taking corporate money out of California politics. Prop 32 will allow billionaires and corporate CEO's to dump money into legislation and politics while silencing the voices of working Californians.
What happened in Wisconsin could happen here. Even worse than Wisconsin, Prop 32 would shut down the legislative voice of all labor unions -- private and public sector alike.
Do you want to be the victim of fraud? Do you want to hand your vote over to people who think you're really, really stupid? Vote No on 32.
Yours in Solidarity,
Ed Brown
Business Agent
Local 44, IATSE
Anthony Pawluc
Secretary-Treasurer
Local 44, IATSE
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Bill passed Assembly Floor 70-4
For Immediate Release
August 16, 2012
Unions & Guilds Applaud Passage of AB 2026
Los Angeles – As a broad coalition of unions and guilds representing labor and the entertainment industry, we join together today to applaud the passage of AB 2026 by the California State Assembly.
The bill, authored by Assembly Member Felipe Fuentes, extends the very successful California Film & Television Tax Credit Program for an additional 2 years, ensuring that tens of thousands of skilled and talented Californians can continue to work in the state's heritage industry – entertainment – and that the entertainment industry can continue to be an integral part of California's economy.
Without the extension, the State of California will have no chance of competing with more than 40 states and many foreign countries that offer generous incentive programs to retain and attract qualified motion pictures and television programs, resulting in the loss of tens of thousands of middle class jobs and all the ancillary economic benefits that a thriving entertainment industry brings to the economy.
We thank Assembly Member Fuentes for his commitment to the men and women making a living in the entertainment community and we urge the California State Senate to do all it can to keep jobs in California by voting to approve the extension of the California production tax incentive bill.
# # #
Contacts:
• California Teamsters Public Affairs Council
• Directors Guild of America
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees
• International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 399
• Laborers' International Union of North America, Local 724
• Professional Musicians Local 47
• Recording Musicians Association
• SAG-AFTRA
The Local 44 California Entertainment Jobs Committee has started another letter writing
campaign to Senator Kehoe and Senator Lieu. When received in large numbers, these letters express the importance of supporting SB 1167. You can help. Copy and print the letters below and send them to Senator Kehoe and Senator Lieu.
These letters must be received by Friday, August 10.
================= Letter to Senator Kehoe =================
August 6, 2012
The Honorable Christine Kehoe
Chair, State Senate Appropriations Committee
State Capitol, Room 5050
Sacramento, CA 95814-4900
SB 1167 – SUPPORT
Dear Senator Kehoe:
I am writing to you as Chair of the California State Senate Appropriations Committee.
I strongly urge you to vote for SB 1167 (Calderon) - California Film and Television Tax Credit.
The California Film and TV Tax Credit program is a proven jobs program that preserves and expands good-paying middle-class jobs in one of California's signature industries.
As a member of the IATSE and a Californian who has worked many years in TV and features, I know first-hand the critical importance of these Tax Credits to the film/television production and post-production community in our state.
I also know that these tax credits pay for themselves by returning city and state tax and fee revenues to fund vital government services up and down this great state.
On behalf of my family, friends and neighbors, I urge you to show great leadership for all of California by supporting SB 1167 in your Committee and on the Senate floor.
Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
================= Letter to Senator Lieu =================
August 6, 2012
The Honorable Ted W. Lieu
State Capitol, Room 4090
Sacramento, CA 95814-4900
SB 1167 – SUPPORT
Dear Senator Lieu:
I am writing to you as a member of the California State Senate Appropriations Committee, and as a leading fighter on behalf of California's Film and Television workers.
Thank you so much for your past strong support for Film and TV Tax Credits in California. We need your leadership again in support of SB 1167 (Calderon) - California Film and Television Tax Credit.
The California Film and TV Tax Credit program is a proven jobs program that preserves and expands good-paying middle-class jobs in one of California's signature industries.
As a member of the IATSE and a Californian who has worked many years in TV and features, I know first-hand the critical importance of these Tax Credits to the film/television production and post-production community in our state.
I also know that these tax credits pay for themselves by returning city and state tax and fee revenues to fund vital government services up and down this great state.
On behalf of my family, friends and neighbors, I thank you for your great leadership for all of California and I thank you, in advance, for supporting SB 1167 in your Committee and on the Senate floor.
Thank you, Senator.
Sincerely,
The 2012 Emmy Nominations are in and Local 44 members are all over them. Here's this year's nominees:
Outstanding Art Direction For A Multi-Camera Series
How I Met Your Mother - Now We're Even, The Magician's Code, Part One • The Magician's Code, Part Two - CBS
Susan Eschelbach, Set Decorator
Mike & Molly - Goin' Fishin', Valentine's Piggyback, The Wedding - CBS
Lynda Burbank, Set Decorator
2 Broke Girls - And The Rich People Problems, And The Reality Check, And The Pop Up Sale - CBS
Amy Feldman, Set Decorator
Outstanding Art Direction For A Single-Camera Series
Justified - Cut Ties • Loose Ends • Measures - FX Networks
Shauna Aronson, Set Decorator
Mad Men - At The Cod Fish Ball - AMC
Claudette Didul, Set Decorator
Outstanding Art Direction For A Miniseries Or Movie
American Horror Story - Open House (Part 7) - FX Networks
Ellen Brill, Set Decorator
American Horror Story - Part 1 - FX Networks
Ellen Brill, Set Decorator
Hemingway & Gellhorn - HBO
Jim Erickson, Set Decorator
Outstanding Special Visual Effects
The Walking Dead - Beside The Dying Fire - AMC
Darrell Pritchett, Special FX Supervisor
Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Supporting Role
Breaking Bad - Face Off - AMC
Werner Hahnlein, Special Effects Coordinator
Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
65th Primetime Emmy Award Winners
Congratulations to these Local 44 members for being recognized for excellence in their fields.
Outstanding Art Direction For A Multi-Camera Series
Winner
Heidi Miller, Set Decorator, for MasterChef • 3-20 • FOX
Outstanding Art Direction For A Miniseries Or Movie
Winner
Barbara Munch Cameron, S.D.S.A., Set Decorator, for Behind The Candelabra • HBO
Outstanding Achievement In Art Direction/Set Decoration/Scenic Design For A Drama Series
Winner
Fred Cooper, Andrea Joel, Joe Bevacqua, Set Decorators, for The Young and the Restless • CBS
Outstanding Achievement In Art Direction/Set Decoration/Scenic Design
Winner
Kristen O'Malley, Set Decorator, for The Talk • CBS