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Max the Trax: Musicians Turn Up Volume on Scoring Tax Credit

California Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon addresses the crowd at the AFM “Keeping the Score in California,” with (from left) RMA’s Marc Sazer, RMALA’s Steve Dress, AFM Local 47’s John Acosta, LA County Federation of Labor’s Rusty Hicks, and Local UNITE HERE Local 11’s Jordan Fein. (Photo: Paula Parisi / MaxTheTrax)

– Published by Max The Trax, Aug. 28, 2017

With three top California assemblyman singing their tune at the American Federation of Musicians’ “Keeping the Score in California” event, it appears as if the tax incentive designed to keep recording work in the state is destined for passage. “I don’t see it as a question of if it’s going to happen, I see it as a question of when it’s going to happen,” said Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon, who in April introduced the measure, AB 1300. Continue reading

Orchestration II with Dr. Norman Ludwin

Saturdays, Sept. 30 – Nov. 18, 10am-1pm

@ AFM Local 47, 3220 Winona Ave. Burbank CA 91504

FREE class exclusively to AFM Local 47 members.
Space is limited! 

Dr. Ludwin provides access to online resources with an interactive website that includes essential class materials, scores and listening samples. Even if you have limited or no experience in orchestration, Ludwin strongly encourages you to attend to learn this important craft that can boost your career.

Students will continue the study of orchestration and elements of texture and form by looking at contemporary concert music, analysis of different composers’ methods of orchestration, and extensive study of film music. Using classic scores and scores he himself has recently worked on, Ludwin will instruct on cues and selections from Michael Giacchino, John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, and Thomas Newman, among others. The ending course project is a recording of the students’ original compositions by the Symphony 47 orchestra.

You must be an AFM Local 47 member in good standing to attend this free course.

World-Acclaimed Cellist Lynn Harrell Stars in New Film ‘Cello’

Free screenings in September for Local 47 members

Hannoah Entertainment announces a free film screening of “Cello” for members of Local 47. The new 17-minute short dramatic film about one man’s battle with ALS and the choices he faces, stars renowned soloist and cellist Lynn Harrell in his acting debut. Continue reading

Calls needed to Keep the Score in CA!

Photo: Linda A. Rapka

Thank you!

Musicians, labor allies and community leaders came together last Saturday at our “Keeping the Score in CA” kickoff concert. Thanks to Rickey Minor, Siddhartha Khosla, and all of our esteemed Assemblymembers and guest speakers for showing our local legislators, and AB 1300 author Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon, that music scoring tax credits are a key issue to our community. View the photo gallery and media coverage on the event.

Now let’s thank our Assemblymembers.

Call Majority Leader Ian Calderon and Assemblymembers Sebastian Ridley-Thomas and Jim Cooper to thank them for being champions only for our event, but for our entire industry. Continue reading

LAYWC: Mobilizing Young People – Tuesday, Aug 29

Dear labor leaders, members, community activists and friends:

Please join us to hear from two dynamic young leaders on how young workers can take on leadership roles and become more politically involved in your community.

What: Los Angeles Young Workers Committee meeting

Who: Guest speakers Mike Fong, Vice President, LA Community College District; & Teri Holoman, Political Director, CA Teachers Association

When: Tuesday, August 29, 6-8pm

Where: The LA Fed, 2130 James M. Wood, Los Angeles CA 90006

Open to young workers 40 and under and young workers at heart. There is no cost to attend, and a light dinner will be served. RSVP to layoungworkers@gmail.com.

Variety: Musicians’ Union Members Stage Free Concert to Bring Scoring Jobs Back to L.A.

By Jon Burlingame, Shirley Halperin

As part of an ongoing effort to return scoring jobs to California, some 150 music professionals supporting Los Angeles musician unions gathered on Saturday (Aug. 19) at Los Angeles City Hall for a free concert. They included members of Local 47 of the American Federation of Musicians, SAG-AFTRA and IATSE; and other music groups including the Society of Composers and Lyricists, the American Youth Symphony, the L.A. Chamber Orchestra, and the Recording Academy of Los Angeles.

Longtime “American Idol” music director Rickey Minor led a six-man band in music throughout the event, and songwriters Siddhartha Khosla and Chris Pierce performed “We Can Always Come Back to This,” the Memphis-soul-style song that proved popular during the past season of “This Is Us.” Continue reading

Final Note: Glen Campbell

Life Member. Singer-songwriter/guitar
4/22/1936 – 8/8/2017

Glen Travis Campbell was an American singer, guitarist, songwriter, television host, and actor. A Life Member of AFM Local 47, he was best known for a series of hits in the 1960s and 1970s, and for hosting a music and comedy variety show called “The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour” on CBS television, from January 1969 through June 1972. Continue reading

LA Times: Hollywood musicians are backing a new bill that seeks to stop runaway film scoring

by David Ng, Los Angeles Times

The livelihoods of Hollywood musicians have long been under siege as major movie and TV productions continue to outsource scoring to other states as well as abroad.

Local instrumentalists have tried pressuring the major studios to bring more scoring back to Los Angeles and many are backing a new state bill from Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon (D-Whittier) that would increase tax credits doled out to movie productions that choose to do their music scoring in California.

On Saturday, musicians will step up their protest by staging a free concert at L.A. City Hall, starting at 10:30 a.m. The event is designed to raise awareness of the state bill and bring attention to the issue of runaway scoring. Continue reading

Randy Newman Backs Music Tax Credit Bill, ‘Keeping the Score in CA’

Free concert Saturday at LA City Hall to promote AB 1300 to feature Rickey Minor (‘American Idol,’ ‘The Tonight Show’), composer Siddhartha Khosla (‘This Is Us’), surprise musical guests  

LOS ANGELES, CA (August 16, 2017) — Los Angeles film and television musicians will perform a free concert at City Hall on Saturday, Aug. 19 to raise awareness of AB 1300, the Music Scoring Tax Credit Bill aimed at bringing back more of the entertainment industry’s scoring and composing work to California.

As momentum for the bill builds, Randy Newman is the latest high-profile musician to back the legislation. “The studio musicians here in Los Angeles are one of the greatest resources this city has,” said the legendary singer-songwriter and composer. Continue reading