Posted 30 July, 2009 in KY News
http://www.kentucky.com/181/story/866531.html” target=”_blank”> Getting a Piece of the Movie Action – article
Posted 29 July, 2009 in Uncategorized
As printed in FilmLA 7-29-09
This is L.A. Nearly everyone knows someone who wants to “make it” in showbiz — as a singer, actor, writer, director, etc. But there are numerous local businesses that serve the entertainment industry that are also trying to “make it” — by keeping their doors open and staff employed, as the struggling economy and the flight of the industry to out-of-state locales take their toll.
The filmed entertainment industry is a uniquely decentralized community of small businesses and entrepreneurs. According to a Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) study, the industry is comprised of more than 115,000 businesses nationwide, 81 percent of which employ fewer than 10 people.
These small businesses are vital to the local area economy. Entertainment is the third largest industry in L.A. County. A 2008 Los Angeles Economy and Jobs Committee report identified 129,728 jobs directly involved in the industry countywide. For each of these, there are 2.7 jobs supported by the industry, which has an annual economic impact of $57 billion for the region.
FilmL.A.’s quarterly and year-to-date location production figures (see story above) substantiate the drop in business borne out by so many anecdotal stories. We’ve seen ample media recently about the decline of filming locally and the resulting impact on workers and businesses, such as 20th Century Props, one of the larger prop houses, which was driven out of business after forty years.
The props house is, sadly, not an isolated case. According to FilmL.A. President Paul Audley, “The closure is symptomatic of the challenges facing numerous entertainment-related businesses struggling to survive as other states and countries build their own studio, crew and support-business infrastructures.”
Ted Moser, owner of L.A.-based Picture Car Warehouse, which supplies police cars, period cars, muscle cars and other custom-built vehicles to film and TV productions such as 2 Fast 2 Furious, Rush Hour 3 and The Bucket List, has felt the impact of the industry’s downturn.
Moser has managed to retain all 22 of his employees, though it hasn’t been easy.
“My business is off 40 percent over the last two years,” Moser said. “There’s not much work here. I’m shipping a lot more vehicles to places like Shreveport and Boston, where the filming is.”
Posted 28 July, 2009 in Uncategorized
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 29, 2009
Contact: Dave Worrell, (907) 269-8491
The State of Alaska’s Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development
recently announced the appointment of Dave Worrell to lead the Alaska Film Office. He was
previously the Director of Communications & Planning with the Alaska Travel Industry
Association where he worked closely with travel media and filmmakers. As the Alaska Film
Office’s Development Specialist, he will oversee the State’s Film Production Incentive Program,
film industry marketing and infrastructure development assistance.
Joe Austerman, Director of the Office of Economic Development said, “Dave comes to us well-
grounded with experience in both government and the private sector. We look forward to
working with him as he applies his creativity, talents and enthusiasm to lead the efforts of the
new Alaska Film Office.�
Re-established through legislation sponsored by Senator Johnny Ellis in 2008, the Alaska Film
Office is charged with working closely with private sector businesses to grow and strengthen the
film industry in Alaska. Senate Bill 230 also created the new Alaska Film Production Incentive
Program and transferable tax credits. With one of the most substantial film production incentive
programs available in the country, the Alaska Film Office is poised to attract new film projects
and welcomes the jobs, infrastructure development and economic growth that these productions
can provide to Alaska’s residents and communities.
Regulations for the incentive program, which offer production incentives of between 30-44% for
projects filmed in Alaska, became effective on June 18, 2009. The Alaska Film Office is
currently processing the first applications. The regulations can be viewed at
www.film.alaska.gov.
One of the economic benefits the Alaska Film Office expects to see from implementation of
Alaska’s Film Production Incentive Program is a rapid growth in new businesses and
infrastructure. “The program is already working, several film projects have already been pre-
qualified for incentives and more are inquiring daily� said Worrell.
Infrastructure development is also in the works. Dave pointed out that, “an Anchorage
production company is investing in technology to keep high-end post-production work in Alaska.
A large sound stage for the film community is also being developed by private investors.� Other
Alaskans have created a business which will help train residents for the crew jobs needed on
production sets. “We are eager to attract the film productions that, in the past, have gone to other
states. With a re-established film office and an industry leading incentive program, Alaska has
the tools necessary to make that happen� he said.
A list of Alaskan business providing film production-related services can be viewed at
www.film.alaska.gov .
Posted 28 July, 2009 in Uncategorized
As printed in the Location Guide 7-28-09
Wisconsin’s hard-earned and effective film tax incentives became history, for the time being anyway, when Governor Jim Doyle used his veto authority in the biennial budget.
Ignoring thousands of supportive incentive calls and signatures asking him to retain the film incentives, Doyle slashed a proposed limit on the 25% refundable tax credit, from USD1.5 million to USD500,000 a year, which has been made retroactive to the beginning of 2009.
Although the veto was not unexpected, since Wisconsin is USD8 billion in debt, Film Wisconsin executive director Scott Robbe, called Doyle’s action “one of profound disbelief. Robbe went on to say: “It bewilders us as to why the governor would kill the only industry showing any growth within the state.”
Since the tax incentives were enacted in 2008, Wisconsin benefited from USD75 million worth of studio and independent movie and TV production. Those revenues, in turn, helped build a film infrastructure throughout the state.
However, Strata Pictures’ USD5 million feature, No God, No Master, is shooting in the state so the industry carries on.
Posted 22 July, 2009 in Uncategorized
Michigan has prepared a spreadsheet, specifically showing what expenses qualify for the Michigan transferable tax credit (also up to 42% of qualified expenditures). The information is now posted on the Michigan website, http://www.michiganfilmoffice.org/For-Producers/Incentives/Default.aspx.
Posted 21 July, 2009 in Uncategorized
Entertainment Partners advises that Kansas recently suspended it’s tax credit program until 2011.
Posted 20 July, 2009 in Uncategorized
LINK TO ARTICLE
Posted 13 July, 2009 in Uncategorized
LA Times article on state of Hollywood
Posted 10 July, 2009 in Uncategorized
As of Tuesday, June 30, 2009, New York City’s tax credit for qualified film and television production has reached its full allocation of $192.5 million and funds are no longer available for new applications. The City proposed an extension of the program in May and is awaiting passage of its legislation in Albany. Pending legislative action, applications can still be sent in to the City. However, at this time, it is unclear whether new legislation will cover applications received during the interim.
Joe Bessacini
Vice President, Film & TV Production Incentives
Posted 10 July, 2009 in Uncategorized
Here’s a link to EP’s latest incentive information summary:
EP Incentive Updates
« Previous
