Hit HBO series signs agreement with AFM Local 47
Democracy wins for the musicians of HBO’s Emmy-winning political satire “Veep,” who starting this season will be covered by an American Federation of Musicians agreement.
AFM Local 47 approached “Veep” producers in July following the show’s relocation from Maryland after being awarded $6.5 million in tax credits from the California Film Commission’s revamped film and TV tax incentive program. Continue reading
Agreements mark new efforts by the musicians union to create more flexible contracts
by Linda A. Rapka
The AFM and Local 47 recently inked two innovative agreements.
One new deal with Los Angeles-based company Confidential Music allows for unique provisions regarding trailer music. Musicians receive a payment when creating the music beds for trailers, then a second scale payment when the music is licensed into a trailer.
“Being able to record orchestras in Los Angeles has always been something Confidential Music was very interested in,” said co-founder Kyle Biane. “The world of movie trailer music is a constantly developing and competitive market. We are always striving to develop a new and unique approach in both our writing and production. We do this not only to stay competitive, but to expand the art form. Now that we have the ability to call upon the talents of Local 47 here in Los Angeles, the possibilities are truly endless.” Continue reading
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Press contact: Linda A. Rapka 323.993.3162
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. Continue reading
At an advance screening for Lionsgate-released film “Step Up All In,” Hong Kong campaign supporters distributed leaflets to moviegoers in both English and Cantonese that described how the company is offshoring music jobs on U.S. taxpayers’ dime by accepting millions in tax subsidies. Photos & images: Courtesy Listen Up!
Activist and labor groups in Hong Kong show support for American musicians calling for Lionsgate to stop offshoring film scoring jobs on U.S. taxpayers’ dime
Hong Kong-based Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehavior (SACOM) and several other Chinese activist groups have announced support of the American Federation of Musician’s Listen Up! campaign calling to end offshoring film scoring jobs.
At an advance screening for “Step Up All In,” the fifth release in the motion picture franchise, Hong Kong campaign supporters distributed leaflets to moviegoers in both English and Cantonese that described how Lionsgate Entertainment is offshoring music jobs on U.S. taxpayers’ dime by accepting millions in tax subsidies. Continue reading
On July 19, 2014, the AFM International Executive Board adopted a policy regarding dual capacity Federation members’ participation in Local and International union meetings open to the general membership concerning Federation collective bargaining agreements and campaigns. Read the full policy here.
The Executive Board of AFM Local 47 passed a resolution June 24, 2014 reaffirming its support and commitment to the AFM’s Listen Up! campaign.
In a unanimous vote it resolved to communicate this support and participation to its members urging that they also endorse this campaign.
For more information about Listen Up! and to get involved, visit listenupnow.org.
“Listen Up! is our flagship campaign, and we invite all Local 47 musicians to join, to participate, to get informed and to make a difference.” — Vince Trombetta, President
“Let’s bring together fellow musicians, labor and community and say no more to outsourcing, no more to exploitation of musicians, and yes to Listen Up! and AFM musicians!” — John Acosta, Vice President
“The Listen Up! campaign is all about creating employment for musicians by building our strength and developing support among organized labor, elected officials and community leaders.” — Gary Lasley, Secretary/Treasurer
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 11, 2014
Press contact:
Linda A. Rapka 323.993.3162
linda.rapka@promusic47.org
LOS ANGELES, California (June 11, 2014) — Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced today his support for the American Federation of Musicians’ Listen Up! Campaign, which calls upon film production companies that benefit from taxpayer-funded film credits to score their films in the United States.
“I’m fighting for good paying middle-class jobs across California, and our work to pass legislation – which will boost production and music scoring – must be with that goal in mind,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti.
Halting the bleed of film and television production jobs out of California has been a top priority for Mayor Garcetti. Alongside the musicians union and other entertainment guilds, Garcetti has taken a leading role in advocating for the passage of AB 1839, the bill that would enhance the state’s Film and Television Tax Credit Program and provide a bump in the incentive for film soundtrack scoring in California. Continue reading
Musicians hand-deliver more than 12,000 petition signatures to Lionsgate to stop
offshoring film scoring work
by Linda A. Rapka
Momentum continues to grow for the American Federation of Musicians’ member-driven Listen Up! campaign aimed at stemming the offshoring of film scoring and bring more music jobs back to the United States.
“Listen up, Lionsgate!” — The Listen Up! campaign hand-delivered more than 12,000 petition signatures to Lionsgate Entertainment’s Santa Monica headquarters May 13 calling on the company to uphold industry standards for musicians and end its practice of offshoring film scoring work. Lionsgate executives accepted the petitions but refused to meet with the musicians. Photo courtesy of Listen Up!
Musicians made a special delivery at Lionsgate’s Santa Monica headquarters May 13 of a petition signed by over 12,000 supporters of their Listen Up! campaign. Around 40 musicians gathered at Stewart Street Park about a mile from Lionsgate for a pre-delivery rally. Speakers included Los Angeles County Federation of Labor Executive Secretary-Treasurer Maria Elena Durazo, Santa Monica City Councilman Kevin McKeown, Pastor Bridie Roberts of Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice, and rank-and-file AFM musician Neil Samples. Continue reading
“Listen up, Lionsgate!” — The Listen Up! campaign hand-delivered more than 12,000 petition signatures to Lionsgate Entertainment’s Santa Monica headquarters May 13 calling on the company to uphold industry standards for musicians and end its practice of offshoring film scoring work. Helping with the delivery were L.A. County Federation of Labor Executive Secretary Maria Elena Durazo, Santa Monica City Councilman Kevin McKeown, and Pastor Bridie Roberts of Clergy and Laity for Economic Justice. Lionsgate executives accepted the petitions but refused to meet with the musicians.
Petition calls on Lionsgate to uphold industry standards and end practice of offshoring film scoring work
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA (May 13, 2014) — Today members of the American Federation of Musicians made a special delivery at Lionsgate corporate headquarters in Santa Monica of a petition signed by over 12,000 supporters of their Listen Up! campaign. Los Angeles County Federation of Labor Executive Secretary-Treasurer Maria Elena Durazo, Santa Monica City Councilman Kevin McKeown, and Pastor Bridie Roberts of Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice were present to support the musicians and be part of the delivery delegation.
“L.A. is the entertainment capital of the world,” says Durazo. “Working women and men in our communities demand that working musicians get treated with the same level of professional respect as other workers. Today, we are asking Lionsgate to listen up and do the right thing.” Continue reading
National campaign seeks to bring motion picture and TV film music work back home
by Linda A. Rapka
Musicians in Los Angeles, Atlanta and New York kicked off the nationwide Listen Up! campaign April 10 seeking fairness for musicians working in the motion picture and TV film industry.
AFM President Ray Hair speaks out against film-music offshoring at the Listen Up! campaign launch in Los Angeles.
Led by rank-and-file members of the American Federation of Musicians, the campaign calls upon the entertainment industry to stop the offshoring of film and television music scoring and to ensure musicians’ work is valued by all companies at the same professional standard as other cast and crew. Continue reading