FilmUSA Producer Survey

Have experience working in the United States?

Take our 2-minute survey!

Recent Updates

Latest News

Jump to a State...

English Arabic French German Italian Japanese Russian Spanish Thai

TV Drama Production Plummets While Commercials Climb in L.A.

Details
Published on Thursday, 14 March 2013 21:13

Courtesy of FilmLA:

On-location filming across all categories increased 1.7 percent in 2012 (46,254 permitted production days [PPD] in 2012 vs. 45,484 PPD in 2011), according to a report FilmL.A. released earlier this month. Compared to the same period a year ago, the year saw an increase in on-location feature film production and a drastic decrease in the local production of television dramas.

See Full Article here

2012: Another Year Fighting Runaway Production

Details
Published on Thursday, 14 March 2013 21:12

Courtesy of FilmLA:

Earlier this month, FilmL.A. released its year-end 2012 report covering on-location film production in Los Angeles.  The total number of Permitted Production Days (PPDs) for all categories saw a marginal increase of 1.7% in 2012 compared to 2011.  But the overall numbers for all categories conceal what’s happening in the key production subcategories that matter most in terms of employment and economic impact.

http://filmworks.filmla.com/2013/01/31/2012-another-year-fighting-runaway-production/

VIRGINIA-Proposed Bill Requires Quarterly Payroll Reports

Details
Published on Thursday, 14 March 2013 21:08

Courtesy of Cast & Crew's The Incentive Program a/o 1/31/13:

Senate Bill 1320 proposes to require any production company applying for the grant program to submit quarterly payroll reports to the Virginia Employment Commission. 

OKLAHOMA-Proposed Bill Reduces Rebate but Increases Annual Cap

Details
Published on Thursday, 14 March 2013 21:06

Courtesy of Cast & Crew's The Incentive Program a/o 1/31/13:

Senate Bill 330 proposes to amend the existing incentive program as follows:

  • Reduce the existing rebate from 35% to 25% for expenditures made on or after July 1, 2013;  
  • Increase the annual cap from $5 million to $10 million for the fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2013 and each fiscal year thereafter; and,
  • Extend the sunset date through June 30, 2022.

NEW YORK-Proposed Bill Makes Eligible Some Types of Relocated TV Productions

Details
Published on Thursday, 14 March 2013 21:04

Courtesy of Cast & Crew's The Incentive Program a/o 1/31/13:

Assembly Bill 3009 and Senate Bill 2609 propose the following changes to New York's current incentive program:

  • Include relocated television productions as eligible productions for the film production tax credit;
    • To qualify as a relocated television production the production must: be a talk or variety program that filmed at least five seasons outside the state prior to its first relocated season in New York; film episodes before a studio audience of 200 or more; and, incur at least $30 million annually in New York production costs or at least $10 million in capital expenditures at a qualified production facility in New York; 
  • Extend the $420 million state annual cap for each year through 2019 provided that, of the $420 million, $7 million is made available in each year for the post production tax credit in 2013 and 2014 and $25 million is made available in each year starting in 2015 through 2019; 
  • If the aggregate amount of tax credits available for the post production tax credit have been allocated and applications for the film production tax credit are not sufficient to utilize the balance of unallocated film production tax credits, allow all or part of the unallocated film production tax credits to be made available for allocation under the post production tax credit;  
  • For the post production credit, when determining whether post production costs incurred at a qualified post production facility are at least 75% of total post productions costs incurred in any post production facility, post production costs for visual effects and animation must be excluded
    • Qualified post production costs for visual effects and animation would be eligible for the post production tax credit only if qualified post production costs for visual effects and animation incurred at a qualified post production facility are at least $3 million or equal 20% of total post production costs for visual effects and animation incurred in any post production facility, whichever is less; and,
  • Extend the sunset date through December 31, 2019.

NEW HAMPSHIRE-Prosposed Bill Creates Credit Against BPT

Details
Published on Thursday, 14 March 2013 20:58

Courtesy of EP Financial Solutions3/8/13

House Bill 540 would create a credit against the Business Profits Tax (BPT) for up to 25% of a company's expenses in producing a movie, television show, or commercial.

 

Additional Information Courtesy of Cast & Crew's The Incentive Program a/o 1/31/13:

House Bill 540 proposes to create a film incentive program in New Hampshire. Highlights of the proposed program are:

  • A refundable, transferable tax credit equal to 25% of total aggregate payroll that constitutes New Hampshire source income;
  • An additional credit equal to 25% of New Hampshire production expenses and qualified non-New Hampshire expenses (excluding payroll) if the production is eligible for the 25% payroll credit and meets one of the following:
    • New Hampshire production expenses equal more than 50% of total production expenses;  
    • At least 50% of total principal photography days occur in New Hampshire; or, 
    • More than $500,000 in eligible New Hampshire production expenses are incurred;
  • A minimum in-state spend requirement of at least $50,000;
  • The ability to carry forward the tax credit for five years;
  • The first $2,000,000 in wages (including per diems, housing and other allowances) will qualify for the credit; 
  • The production  company must enter into an agreement with the film office by submitting an application along with a $100 nonrefundable application fee and any other required information; 
  • A requirement that work on the production must commence within 90 days of the date of the agreement otherwise the agreement will expire (additional 90 days may be granted for cause); 
  • A screen credit requirement acknowledging that the motion picture was filmed in New Hampshire along with the a logo prescribed by the film office; 
  • A CPA audit requirement; 
  • The production company must apply for the tax credit no later than 90 days after the end of the annual period or after the last production expenses are incurred; 
  • An eligible production would consist of a feature-length film, video, digital media project, television series with no more than 27 episodes per season, or a commercial made in New Hampshire, in whole or in part, for theatrical or television viewing or as a television pilot; 
  • Qualified non-New Hampshire expenses is defined as the cost of purchase or rental of equipment or the procurement of production insurance from outside New Hampshire that may not be otherwise obtained from within New Hampshire; and,
  • No state annual cap, per project cap, or sunset date.

INDIANA-Proposed Bill Would Create New Film Incentive Program

Details
Published on Thursday, 14 March 2013 20:56

Courtesy of Cast & Crew's The Incentive Program a/o 1/31/13:

Senate Bill 107 would create a new film incentive program in Indiana. Highlights of the proposed legislation are:

  • Define qualified media productions as: feature length films, including short features, independent or studio productions, or documentaries; television pilots, series, programs, or features; digital media productions that are intended for reasonable commercial exploitation; audio recordings or music videos; advertising message broadcasts on radio or television; and, media productions concerning training or external marketing or communications;
    • Television coverage of news or athletic events and productions that are obscene would not qualify for the incentive;
  • Productions that claim less than $6 million in qualified production expenditures in a taxable year may earn:
    • A refundable, nontransferable tax credit equal to 40% of qualified production expenditures incurred in a municipality or county in which 25% of the households are below the poverty level or that has an average unemployment rate for the most recent 18 months that is at least 1.5 times the average statewide unemployment rate; or,
    • A refundable, nontransferable tax credit equal to 35% of qualified production expenditures incurred in any other municipality or county;
  • Productions that claim at least $6 million in qualified production expenditures in a taxable year may earn a refundable, nontransferable tax credit of up to 15%; 
    • These productions must apply to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation prior to incurring any qualified expenses in the state and enter into an agreement with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation;
  • Wages, salaries, and benefits paid to Indiana residents would qualify; 
  • A minimum in-state spend requirement of $50,000;
  • A state annual cap of $2.5 million per fiscal year but no per project cap; and,
  • A sunset date of December 31, 2016.  

HAWAII-Proposed Bill Specifies Minimum Spending Requirement

Details
Published on Thursday, 14 March 2013 20:54

Courtesy of Cast & Crew's The Incentive Program a/o 1/31/13:

House Bill 1135 proposes the following changes to the current incentive program:

  • Specify that the minimum spending requirement for qualified digital media projects or qualified independent and emerging media projects is $50,000; 
    • The minimum spend requirement for qualified productions would remain at $200,000; 
  • Provide definitions for "qualified digital media project" and "qualified independent and emerging media project"; 
  • Clarify that, for film productions, the end credits must include a five-second long "Filmed in Hawaii" or "Produced in Hawaii" logo that is placed before the below-the-line crew crawl or, for television productions, a five-second long Hawaii promotion must be included in each broadcast worldwide for the life of the project, and include a link to Hawaii's website on the project's website; and,
  • Extend the sunset date to December 31, 2027.

HAWAII-Proposed Bills Define Qualified Wages

Details
Published on Thursday, 14 March 2013 20:51

Courtesy of Cast & Crew's The Incentive Program a/o 1/31/13:

House Bill 698 and Senate Bill 401 propose the following changes to the current incentive program:
  • Increase the tax credit from 15% to 20% of qualified production costs incurred on the island of Oahu;
  • Increase the tax credit from 20% to 25% of qualified production costs incurred on any island other than Oahu;
  • Earn an additional 5% of qualified production costs incurred in any Hawaii county for qualified productions that film at least 50% of principal photography or at least nine consecutive episodes of a TV program in Hawaii;
  • Earn an additional 10% of qualified production costs incurred in any Hawaii county for qualified productions that build a set and film for a minimum of one week (for productions with budgets of $30 million or less) or two weeks (for productions with budgets greater than $30 million) at a qualified production facility;  
  • Define qualified wages and salaries as those paid to above-the-line crew (cast, directors, producers, and writers), musicians, and below-the-line resident crew; 

  • Include below-the-line nonresident crews' wages and salaries as qualified production costs only if a waiver is granted by the  applicable local union or guild and certified by the film office;  
  • Waivers are issued only when a resident crew member from the Hawaii qualified crew roster is not available or proficient at a specialized craft position;
  • Establish the "qualified persons crew training and advancement program" that would rebate 50% of the hourly wages (up to 900 hours) of each resident participating in the program if certain requirements are met;
  • Increase the per project cap from $8 million to $25 million;
  • Impose an application fee equal to .5% of the qualified production costs or $75,000, whichever is less;
    • The fee would be refunded if the production does not qualify for the tax credit;
  • Include the costs of set construction and operations, purchases or rentals of wardrobe, props, accessories, food, office supplies, transportation, equipment, and related services that are not available in Hawaii as eligible production costs only if obtained through an existing resident vendor that provides similar services and a mark-up and general excise tax are paid on the services; and,  
  • Extend the sunset date through December 31, 2017.

ARIZONA-Proposed Bill Provides $70M to Qualifying Productions

Details
Published on Thursday, 14 March 2013 20:46

Courtesy of EP Financial Solutions 3/8/13

If passed, Senate Bill 1242 would provide up to $70,000,000 per year to productions spending at least $250,000 within the state. Under the proposed plan, qualifying expenditures could earn up to a 20% tax credit, with possible additional bonuses for using state-certified production facilities and for wages paid to Arizona residents. SB 1242 would also provide infrastructure funds for new production facilities in the state.

Additional Information Courtesy of Cast & Crew's The Incentive Solution a/o 1/31/13:

Senate Bill 1242 proposes to create a film production incentive program in Arizona. Highlights of the proposed program are:

  • A refundable tax credit equal to 20% of qualified production expenditures exceeding $250,000 including the first $1 million earned by each resident and nonresident for services performed in Arizona;
  • An additional 5% of the qualified wages paid to Arizona residents for services performed in Arizona;
  • An additional 5% of the amount of qualified production costs if, for at least 50% of the production, the production company uses a certified privately funded production facility;
  • A state annual cap of $70 million per fiscal year with $10 million of that amount reserved for an infrastructure credit;
  • A per project cap of $15 million;
  • A minimum spend requirement of $250,000;
  • A requirement that, within 90 days of preapproval, the production company must provide documentation that expenditures in Arizona are equal to the lesser of 10% of the estimated total budget or $250,000;
  • An on screen credit requirement acknowledging the production was filmed in Arizona;
  • A CPA managed review;
  • The program would be administered on a first-come, first-served basis with the exception that a television series that was preapproved in a previous year will be given priority placement before any new applicant in the following year; and, 
  • A sunset date of December 31, 2022.

PUERTO RICO-Proposed Bill Would Repeal Film Incentive

Details
Published on Thursday, 14 March 2013 20:38

Courtesy of EP Financial Solutions a/o 3/8/13


SB 365; This bill, if passed, will repeal film incentive legislation in Puerto Rico.

 

Additional Information courtesy of Cast & Crew's The Incentive Program a/o 2/15/13

Senate Bill S 365 proposes to repeal the recently enacted incentive on below-the-line nonresident labor.

City of L.A. Requires Use of Track4LA® to Submit Certificates of Insurance for Filming

Details
Published on Thursday, 14 March 2013 20:34

Courtesy of FilmLA a/o 11/19/12

Effective immediately, the City of Los Angeles Risk Management Department is requiring that film production companies use Track4LA®, the City’s online insurance and bonds compliance system, to submit Certificates of Insurance (COI) for approval. Going forward, this will be the only approved method of submission for production insurance certificates for filming at City locations.


Track4LA® (www.track4LA.lacity.org) is a self-service insurance approval and verification system that is used by insurance brokers and allows online submission of film company insurance documents on a 24/7 basis. Documents submitted using Track4LA® receive immediate, electronic approval of insurance that meets the City’s minimum insurance requirements. Production company representatives can also use the system to verify certificate submission by their brokers and confirm insurance approval.

Los Angeles County Fire Fee Increase

Details
Published on Thursday, 14 March 2013 20:32

Courtesy of FilmLA a/o 2/28/13

Effective March 1, 2013, the Los Angeles County Fire Department will raise the hourly pay rate for Fire Safety Advisors (FSA). The pay rate will increase from $40.00 to $45.00 per hour. The $5.00 increase is based on the 40-hour rate for a top step fire specialist.
As a reminder the following criteria remain in effect regarding FSAs:
1. All job assignments are for a minimum of four (4) hours per day; time-and-one-half applies after an 8 hour day and double-time is received for jobs that last 12 hours or longer. Daily general overtime provisions apply as specified by State Law.
2. Hours worked shall be continuous from call time to wrap. No split shifts or deductions for meal times are allowed.
3. Once an FSA has been assigned, the production company is responsible to pay the four-hour minimum rate. To cancel the request for an FSA, production representatives must notify the FSA Dispatch Center that the FSA is no longer needed before 12:00 noon, one business day prior to the beginning of production.
4. FSAs shall receive meals at no cost to the FSA.
5. FSAs are former County of Los Angeles Fire Department employees and are not covered by the Los Angeles County Fire Department Worker’s Compensation Insurance.

NEW YORK-Proposed Bill Includes Eligibility of Writing Fees for Tax Credit

Details
Published on Thursday, 14 March 2013 20:28

Courtesy of EP Financial Solutions3/8/13

Senate Bill 3191 is an act to amend the tax law, in relation to eligibility for the Empire State film production credit. The purpose of SB 3191 is to include writing fees as an eligible expense to receive a credit under the Empire State film production credit for a movie or television show produced in New York State.

2013-2014 Executive Budget to Maintain Fiscal Responsibility and Continue to Invest in Economic Growth
This proposed plan would extend the Empire State film production tax credit of $420,000,000 per year for an additional five years. Restrictions on claiming the post-production portion of the credit would be reduced and additional reporting would be required to document the effectiveness of the credit in creating jobs.

 

Additional Information Courtesy of Cast & Crew's The Incentive Program a/o 3/1/13

Senate Bill 3791 proposes the following changes to the current incentive program:

  • Define writer as a writer employed or retained to write or revise scripts, screen plays, teleplays, dialogue, sketches, routines or narrations;
  • For feature film and television productions, allow writer's fees and salaries up to $50,000 per writer to be eligible production costs if the writer is a New York resident;
  • Allow up to $70,000 of fees and salaries per writer to be eligible production costs when more than three writers are hired on an eligible production and at least one writer is a minority group member or a woman; and,
  • For each tax year, not more than $5 million in tax credits for writers' fees and salaries shall be granted.

INFORMATION AT FILMUSA.ORG IS PROVIDED BY THE APPROPRIATE FILM OFFICE AND ROUTINELY VERIFIED BY THE FILMUSA COMMITTEE.
THE PRODUCERS GUILD OF AMERICA IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INACCURACIES. PLEASE VERIFY ALL INFORMATION WITH THE FILM OFFICE DIRECTLY.