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LOS ANGELES, CA (AUGUST 28, 2014) — The American Federation of Musicians Local 47, the labor union representing more than 7,000 Los Angeles musicians, and the Recording Musicians Association of Los Angeles applaud the announcement by Gov. Jerry Brown and other state leaders affirming their commitment to expanding California’s Film and Television Job Retention Act.
Members of the California Film & Television Production Alliance, AFM Local 47 and RMALA stand alongside fellow entertainment guilds and thousands of hard-working men and women up and down the state in commending the governor and a band of state legislators who yesterday confirmed that California’s film and television production incentive program will be expanded, extended, and improved through the passage of AB 1839. The bill gives the program additional funding of $330 million per year for five years, more than tripling the current annual allocation.
Musicians are happy about language included in the legislation that will increase the credit for qualified expenditures relating to music scoring and music track recording by musicians. Further, the bill will urge Congress and the International Trade Commission to investigate aggressively and impose sanctions and tariffs on elements of production, including music scoring, visual effects and virtual photography, protected by the Tariff Act, to combat unfair and illegal competition from international parties.
“Gov. Brown’s announcement is a positive move not just for California musicians, but for everyone in the state whose livelihoods depend on the jobs created and supported by our entertainment industry,” said AFM Local 47 Vice President John Acosta. “We wholeheartedly thank AB 1839 authors Raul Bocanegra and Mike Gatto, as well as Kevin de León and all of the bill’s supporters, for their tireless efforts and commitment to bringing good jobs back to California.”
“On behalf of the thousands of musicians who rely on jobs creating the soundtracks to motion pictures and TV shows as a way to earn a living, we are grateful for the leadership shown today in committing to the passage of AB 1839,” said Andy Malloy, president of RMALA. “Hollywood is at serious risk of losing this work if California cannot compete with more competitive production incentives elsewhere. We look forward to Gov. Brown signing into law this key legislation that will help California retain jobs so critical to our economy.”
Expanding California’s tax incentive program is supported by Listen Up!, a national campaign of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada endorsed by Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti that works to combat the outsourcing of film music jobs from North America. “The problem of offshoring of film and television music scoring is real,” said AFM President Ray Hair. “We must act to ensure musicians’ work is valued by all companies at the same professional standard as other cast and crew, and the passage of AB 1839 will greatly aid in this pursuit.”
About AFM Local 47 – American Federation of Musicians Local 47 is a labor organization formed by and for musicians over a century ago that promotes and protects the concerns of musicians in all areas of the music business. Local 47 is affiliated with the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada, the largest organization in the world representing the interests of 85,000 professional musicians. About RMALA – RMALA is the Los Angeles chapter of the Recording Musicians Association, a player conference of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada representing recording musicians who work in the studios and help create the soundtracks to thousands of recordings including motion pictures, television shows, video game soundtracks, record albums, jingles and commercials. ###
