California is on the war path to "Bring Blockbusters Back to California with Increased Film
Incentives" Bill AB 1839 passed
its first legislative test as California's Assembly’s Arts, Entertainment,
Sports, Tourism, and Internet Media committee voted unanimously in support of
the measure.
Deadline.com
reports that "many Tinseltown-based professionals find themselves working
out of California in richer tax incentive states". And only 3 states
were mentioned. Georgia, New York and of course, Louisiana.
If you don't think that our film tax incentive program is working, just look at the desperate measures California is taking to retain its film industry. According to reports, various committee members want to see an increase from the current $100,000,000 incentive program to $430,000,000 to $500,000,000 in incentives. This would surpass New York's $420,000,000+ program. The fact that New York's governor has antagonized Hollywood by bragging about the amount of jobs they have taken from California has only added fuel to this fierce retaliation by state legislators.
“At the end of the day this is a jobs bill,” said Bocanegra before the committee. “We need to hold the line and keep these jobs, many of them union jobs in California,” Deadline.com reports.
“This is our industry to keep or lose,” said Assemblyman Richard Bloom (D – Santa Monica) “The Governor of New York brags about the jobs he is taking out of the state of California, he added. “And we have to say, it stops here. We’re taking a stand, we’re fighting for this industry and we’re going to do what it takes to keep the industry here. And I say that is in excess of $430 million dollars.”
That sounds like they are taking a stand to me. And you can feel the anger. But is it too late? Have the transplants taken root in Hollywood South?
This is the argument that
all film incentive proponents have been making from day one. This is the
overwhelming proof that the incentives worked and need to keep working.
And what a bargain. It’s estimated(by some) that our program costs
$176m, which is even arguable since it’s a credit and not a cost. By comparison
to $430,000,000, I would say that's a deal.
If the Louisiana film tax
credit program was a short-term, quick fix, we would not have a real benefit.
But it’s not, its real jobs, real people, real moving vans and yes, REAL
JOBS. Please forward this to everyone you know that cares about this
industry. Make it known that the film industry matters to Louisiana.
More than ever we need the spot light to remain on us. If it
doesn't, all of the progress made will recede, and unfortunately......fade to
black.
New Film & TV Tax Credit Bill Unanimously Passes First Hurdle In Sacramento
http://www.deadline.com/2014/03/california-state-film-tv-tax-credit-assembly-committee-vote-jerry-brown/
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