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Burbank-based Matthews Studio
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The Virginia Film Festival (VFF) recently
unveiled its new logo at a special event held at the Paramount Theater in Charlottesville, Va. Created by the
Virginia-based...
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger recently announced that the California Film & Television Tax Credit Program that was a part of last year’s budget agreement has achieved...
As part of a drive to cut costs and increase transparency, accountability and efficiency, the United Kingdom government has announced its plans to abolish the U.K. Film Council.
The Virginia Film Festival (VFF) recently
unveiled its new logo at a special event held at the Paramount Theater in Charlottesville, Va. Created by the
Virginia-based Design Army, the new graphic features an outline of the Commonwealth
complemented by light to dark shades of blue interspersed with three angular filmstrips
stretching across the image.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger recently announced that the California Film & Television Tax Credit Program that was a part of last year’s budget agreement has achieved its goal of keeping scores of film and TV productions in the state –– tens of thousands of jobs have been created to generate spending in California.
The governor signed legislation enacting the tax credit program in 2009 as part of a targeted economic stimulus package to increase film and TV production in California. The program authorizes the CFC to allocate $100 million in tax credits each fiscal year (or up to $200 million in its first year of operation) to eligible productions through fiscal year 2013-14. Productions will receive their tax credit certificates once postproduction is completed, and the tax credits are not effective before January 1, 2011.
In its first year, the California Film Commission (CFC), which administers the Program, allocated $200 million in tax credits to 77 projects. This year, another 30 projects are set to receive an additional $100 million in tax credit allocations. All these projects are estimated to bring $2 billion in direct spending to California communities, which includes $736 million in wages paid to below-the-line crew members (such as electricians, grips, drivers and costumers), according to the CFC. “This is exactly why I fought so hard for tax credits in last year’s budget,” said Gov. Schwarzenegger. “It is the private sector that will bring California’s economy back, and our tax incentives are clearly helping employers along the way. That’s why it’s important that we continue to be a partner to employers and not a roadblock.”
The CFC reports that the 77 approved first-year projects will hire 18,200 crew members, 4,000 cast members and over 100,000 background extras. These projects include 51 feature films (studio and independent), 7 television series and 14 TV movies. “For three years, I’ve been trying to make Red State,” said Filmmaker Kevin Smith. “It wasn’t until my project qualified for the tax credit program that the flick fast-tracked into reality. A film [that] seemed would never get made is now lensing right here in California.”
As of June 1, 2010, production companies can apply to California’s tax credit program for allocations from the program’s second year. The 30 productions that have been approved for these allocations have exhausted the fiscal-year funding, so remaining applicants will be added to a waitlist. The 30 projects include 19 feature films, 8 television series and 3 TV movies. “The enormous interest in our tax credit program shows that a targeted incentive can keep tens of thousands of high-paying jobs in California,” said CFC Executive Director Amy Lemisch. “I am thrilled with how effective this program has been.”
As part of a drive to cut costs and increase transparency, accountability and efficiency, the United Kingdom government has announced its plans to abolish the U.K. Film Council.
The California Film Commission gathered the state’s film commissioners together with Film Liaisons In California Statewide (FLICS) to update them on the state film incentive. So far the new state incentive qualified 73 projects, which translated to an 18-percent increase in production statewide. It was reported that $1.1 billion was spent as a result of the incentive. Below-the-line salaries accounted for $400,000 while $10 million is set aside for independent films. The overall consensus was that the incentive program is a success.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
With the looming threat that the New
Hampshire House of Representatives was voting
to eliminate the entire $113,000 budget of
the Granite State’s one-person Film & Television
Office, a plea went out to the enter tainment
industry to contact their representatives and
convey the importance of keeping the film office’s
infrastructure intact. Van McLeod, commissioner
of the New Hampshire Department of Cultural
Resources, and Film & Television Office Director
Matthew Newton asked for testimonials on how
productions have had a positive impact. To learn
more, go to www.nh.gov/film.
MISSOURI
Along with several local productions, the popular
CBS reality show “Undercover Boss” recently
filmed in Branson, Miss. The show followed Joel
Manby, president and CEO of Herschend Family
Entertainment, which owns the Silver Dollar City
theme park and the Showboat Branson Belle.
Winter’s Bone, a winner at the 2010 Sundance
Film Festival, also filmed in Branson. Directed
by Debra Granik, who co-wrote with Producer
Anne Rosellini, Winter’s Bone was celebrated as
the opening night film of the Kansas City FilmFest.
For more information, go to www.mofilm.org.
MASSACHUSETTS
The Massachusetts legislative committee’s
rejection of a bill that would have drastically cut
the state’s film-industry tax credit is seen as a victory
for the state’s film community.
The Advanced Imaging and Visualization
Labor ator y (AIVL) at the Woods Hole
Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) –– the
world’s largest, private, nonprofit ocean research,
engineering and education organization –– is
expanding its 3D/HD production services unit
called Woods Hole Imaging Systems. The unit
operates as a vertically integrated 3D production
and postproduction service, and its 3D camera
rigs will now be available to outside groups. To
learn more, go to www.whoi.edu.
The San Diego Film Commission continues to
attract new productions, such as “Terriers,” a new
20th Century Fox television series that is filming
multiple episodes. Film Commissioner Cathy
Anderson reports that each episode of “Terriers”
takes about seven days to film and the production
makes about three to four moves a day. The
series is representing Ocean Beach while filming
at locations throughout the county, employing
many San Diegan crew and talent. An average of
over 200 local vendors also benefit from working
with the show.
The San Diego Film Commission attracts, regulates
and provides oversight to productions
while balancing the needs of the project with
the impacted communities and local government.
Anderson notes that one of the most challenging
issues for the commission is making certain that
this economic engine is protected from unfair
charges stemming from people trying to make a
profit merely because they’re located near film
activity. A Toyota advertising campaign targeting
the Hispanic market recently shot footage in San
Diego, as did the Travel Channel’s reality show
“Man v. Food” and HGTV’s “Bang for Your Buck”
and “Proper ty Virgins.” Additionally, “The Ellen
DeGeneres Show” sent a camera crew to film
B-rolls of iconic San Diego locations. For more
information, contact
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.
The California Film Commission hosted a breakfast for production executives, producers, and statewide film commissions to update them on the state film incentive.
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