New legislation will save jobs for California film and TV musicians
SACRAMENTO, CA (May 18, 2015) — Today members of the American Federation of Musicians from Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Francisco hosted a live musical performance and press conference outside the state capitol in support of AB 1199, a bill proposing changes to the Film & Television Tax Credit Program they say will bring more music work to the state. Continue reading
On April 28, in Sacramento, AB 1199 was heard before the Committee on Arts & Entertainment. Local 47 Vice President Rick Baptist and rank-and-file member Clifford Tasner presented all of your letters of support and testified before the committee in support of the bill. We are pleased to report it passed unanimously!
JOIN US AT THE STATE CAPITOL ON MAY 18
AB 1199 now moves on to its next hearing before the Committee on Tax& Revenue on Monday, May 18. For this hearing, we are coordinating a media event to take in Area 22 (Capital Park, next to pond), complete with a live musical performance. We will meet at the above location at 12:30 p.m. We hope to see as many of our supporters possible there. Please contact our Communications Director at linda.rapka@promusic47.org for further information.
We thank you for your continued support!
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 Dear Local 47 Members:
For those Local 47 members unfamiliar with him, Richard Kraft is an agent who represents composers. He believes film/TV tax credits don’t work for musicians, and has in fact supported and promoted a slick campaign, complete with a big-money, Fox-News style video, against them. The thrust of his campaign is that we musicians should not try to seek jobs, or follow the lead of actors, writers, engineers, electricians, directors, grips and others in legislating tax credits to support our employment. This is a response to some of his many misinformed statements. Continue reading |
What are film/TV tax credits?
Movie and television production incentives are tax benefits offered by various regions in the U.S. and abroad to encourage film/TV production in that region. These incentives came about in the U.S. in the 1990s in response to the flight of movie productions to countries such as Canada. Today they are offered around the world, including several states in the U.S. such as California, New York, Louisiana, New Mexico, Virginia, Georgia and Ohio; and abroad including Canada, Australia, and the U.K. Continue reading
AB 1199 author Adrin Nazarian, Assemblymember, California District 46
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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LOS ANGELES, CA (MARCH 30, 2015) — Thousands of California musicians suffering from the effects of runaway production are encouraged by a new bill that aims to close loopholes relating to music scoring in the California Film and Television Job Retention Act.
AB 1199, authored by Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian, introduces language that would for the first time require a specified amount of the total expenditures relating to music post-production be done in California in order for a production to qualify for an added rebate. Musicians applaud this preliminary language as a significant step in the right direction, and are optimistic that further development of the bill will continue to improve upon the existing tax credit program as it relates to music scoring in California. Continue reading
With much fanfare from the local entertainment industry, Gov. Jerry Brown signs AB 1839 into law at a ceremony outside the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood Sept. 18. Photo: Courtesy IATSE Local 600
Entertainment workers up and down the state celebrate Gov. Brown signing into law AB 1839
by Linda A. Rapka
On Sept. 18, Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law AB 1839, a bill that strengthens our state’s film and TV tax credit program to bring more entertainment jobs back to California.
This effort has been years in the making. Local 47 and the Recording Musicians Association of Los Angeles worked closely with SAG-AFTRA, IATSE, Teamsters, DGA and others to form a coalition to lobby and pass this important legislation. Continue reading
Entertainment workers take to Sacramento to bring jobs back to California
Words + photos by Linda A. Rapka
The behind-the-camera workers of th e film and television industry transformed the California State Capitol into a production studio on what was dubbed “Mobilization Day,” demonstrating to lawmakers how the jobs that bring our favorite movies and television shows to life also vitalize the state’s economy.
Hundreds of entertainment workers descended upon the steps of the Capitol Aug. 20 in an impressive show of support for AB 1839 (Bocanegra/Gatto), a bill that will strengthen California’s film and TV tax incentive program. Continue reading
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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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
by Linda A. Rapka
Actions shining a spotlight on California’s hemorrhaging film and TV industry continue to garner widespread support for new legislation that would sweeten the state’s production tax incentive program.
Hundreds of Californians affected by runaway production attended a series of demonstrations in recent weeks pushing for the passage of AB 1839, which supporters say will help stem runaway production and put Hollywood back on the map as a leading player in the film and TV production industry.
photos by Linda A. Rapka
CLEVELAND, OH (May 22, 2013) — Tomorrow at noon, members of the American Federation of Musicians will form an informational picket line outside a location shoot for “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” to protest Marvel Entertainment’s outsourcing of musical score work to Europe.
Musicians are outraged that rather than employ local musicians, Marvel pockets millions of taxpayer dollars from U.S. tax credits meant to keep work in the United States and instead hires foreign musicians on the cheap.
Continue reading