Bring Film Work Back to the United States!

It’s strange to think how much United States exports; even the film industry has always found a cheaper home outside American territory. With so many people looking for work along with the beautiful terrain which allows so many different shooting styles our country offers us it is strange to think we don’t take advantage of these things and use it to pump dollars back into the economy. For those that aren’t familiar production companies choose to shoot where they can find the higher tax incentive, that is, the money they receive back if they meet the minimum requirement of that location for expenditures, crews, equipment, etc.   Many ask, “Why travel so far to shoot a movie, wouldn’t that cost more?”  The answer is no if they find the right location with the right tax rebate and utilize locals for the cheaper cost which benefits both parties; the producer spends less to make the film and local crews get work which pumps the dollar back into that particular state’s economy. So why wouldn’t more states jump on the bandwagon? The reason isn’t so clear. What is clear is that Canada seems to be raking all the benefits for US productions.

“Ontario’s film and TV sector racked up $964.3 million in overall production activity in 2010, up from a year-earlier $946.4 million and $671.2 million spent locally in 2008 when Hollywood studios pulled back amid the 2008-09 market meltdown. British Columbia continues to attract the bulk of foreign location shooting and service work nationwide, with Hollywood production in and around Vancouver last year clocking in at $485 million, up sharply from $248 million in 2009.”

How can US state governments not want a piece of this lucrative pie? Maybe they are not seeing these numbers and don’t realize what a great Film incentive can do for their state.  I urge any readers to petition their governments for film incentives to bring the US film industry back to the United States!

Vlessing, Eaton. (18 February 2011). U.S. Tax Credit  Chill Sends Hollywood To Canada.

Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved from http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/us-tax-credit-chill-sends-101503

Interesting Articles for the 1st week of February

          I read a couple of interesting articles this week, the first of which is about the American Humane Association taking legal action against the Oscar nominated film, "The King's Speech."
What I always took as a free phrase at the end of films or as one to ensure safety on set is actually trademarked. In order to use the phrase NO ANIMALS WERE HARMED® you have to have work with the AHA. This was interesting to read because I had no realization of this fact.  Neither did producer Emile Sherman who just wanted to ensure the public that every safety precaution was taken to make sure the animals were not harmed. To further this fact he released a statement verifying that he is a director of an animal protection agency called Voiceless. So as a warning to future producers, always make sure that you are not using a trademarked phrase and are going by the books so as to avoid a costly lawsuit. 

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/blogs/thr-esq/kings-speech-threatened-legal-action-96849
Image Courtesy of http://www.americanhumane.org/

         Another article I read is called, "Hulu Pays at Least $40 Million to Get John Stewart Back." This was an interesting read because the article talks about how Hulu CEO Jason Kilar's head may be getting to big for his trousers. In a blog post where he announces "The Daily Show" content will return to Hulu he also made insinuations that his business model may be better than that of ABC, NBC, and Viacom.  While he may be correct he should not be making claims about a business model that is directly affected by the content that is given to him by those major media corporations. He also claims that his 2011 year could be the most profitable year ever giving his shareholders a number of $500 million to salivate for by the year's end.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hulu-pays-40-million-jon-96361
http://www.hulu.com/
http://blog.hulu.com/

          The final article for this week is titled, "Sony Profit Declines 8.6% in Latest Quarter." It states that for the 2011 year, "Sony recorded a quarterly profit of $893 million. Operating profit fell 5.9 percent to $1.70 billion. Revenue came in 1.4 percent lower at $27.24 billion, or 2.2 trillion yen. However, in local currency terms, revenue grew 6 percent as the yen had appreciated 8.7 percent against the dollar and 18.5 percent against the euro over the year-ago period."  Companies across the board are experiencing huge hits in their home entertainment division as DVD sales have continued to drop. There is no exception for Sony however they have succeeded in other divisions. Their video game market has continued to hold a strong profit for five years as well as the sale of their Playstations.  They've seen a drop in their LCD TV's as well but only because of the drop in prices with the release of 3d TV technology. What is good about Sony is that, "Kato said Sony was taking a “conservative” view and not raising its overall full-year operating profit forecast." This is good because they may see a good 2011 profit year since they are keeping their profit forecast down. This conservative approach may help Sony in the end. 

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sony-profit-declines-86-latest-96215
http://www.sony.com/index.php

Art Directors Guild

"Production Designers are artists who adapt their style to all types of films. The scope of their talent is limitless. Their imaginations soar within a practical and economic framework. They make seemingly impossible things possible for filming, all the while under the pressures of money and time."


The Art Directors Guild is a branch off of the IATSE, the International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees. This organization is one I strive to become a part of but membership is not an easy one to attain. It was interesting to read that in 1924, sixty-four of the men and women behind the set designs decided to get together to discuss the business and inform each other of new and creative designs in their trade.  In the 1930's Art Directors were given little to zero credit for their major contributions to the film industry. It wasn't until the grand production of Gone With the Wind and the amazing sets behind it and the storyboards that went scene by scene that people started to give credit to the hard work designers do. After WWII the Guild aligned with IATSE and become a strong and powerful guild, one that every art director aspires to a part of much like Directors wish to be in the DGA. 


To be granted entrance into the Art Directors Guild you must do the below which was taken from the website:



Eligibility for application and admission into Local 800 as an Art Director or Assistant Art Director is typically triggered by working for a signatory company in a Local 800 covered classification. Thirty calendar days from the start date the employee is required to join Local 800. And there are four typical scenarios:

a. When a project starts out non-union then signs an IA agreement; that is, it's organized." Employees working in a Local 800 covered classification when the project is organized are "grandfathered" into the union. Please contact the Guild's Membership Department.

b. Employees also become eligible when they work on signatory commercials and music videos.

c. If a signatory company not covered by b), above (say one doing a television show or feature film), wants to hire an Art Director or Assistant Art Director, and the individual is not on the Industry Experience Roster, the company may petition the Local to do so under the applicable Off-Roster sideletter to the Local 800 Basic Agreement. If the petition is granted by the Off-Roster Hiring Review Committee, the individual may be hired and is eligible for admission into the Union.

d. If the individual in c), above, is already on the Roster at the time he/she is hired by the signatory company (see below), the company doesn't require the Guild's permission for that hire, and the individual is eligible for admission into the Union and is required to join after thirty calendar days.


Once in the guild you receive the following benefits also taken from the website:



Workplace grievances resolved by union
- Guaranteed prominent placement of screen credit
- Training and education (seminars, symposia, etc.)
- Access to employment information
- Annual ADG Membership Directory and semi-monthly newsletter
- Annual Awards Banquet
- Film Society screenings


Being a production designer I am working towards the qualifications of membership. The rewards behind the membership are great and incredibly appealing.



Art Directors Guild website
http://www.adg.org/

Business Storytelling with Ted

"He tells me film can change the world. He tells me you can build companies based on trust. He speaks softly."

Stephen Gaghan in Time
Jeff Skoll was the first President of Ebay and left the company to find a way to promote positive change in the world. He discovered that the way he can reach the most people is through the medium of film. In the video he talks of his move from Silicon Valley to Los Angeles and that he felt as if he may be laughed out of town with his talks of creating a production company geared around social change and the promotion of different groups that make a difference in the world.  He also makes a joke that the fastest way to become a millionaire is to start out as a billionaire then move to Los Angeles and make movies, which I found to be a clever joke.

What I find to be particularly amazing about his story is that with success the company is still committed to change. Sometimes we find that success changes a companies values and mission in Hollywood and find that putting out movies for strictly entertainment purposes actually make more money than those that are attempting to affect people in a certain way that causes them attach themselves to a particular purpose.  If you go to the company's website, http://www.participantmedia.com/index.php, you'll find that on the right side of each film they have produced and are promoting you'll find the "make a difference" panel where they list at least three different ways and links to get involved with a particular movement associated with the film. That is an amazing commitment to promoting what they believe in as they are not only showing what they have created but the inspiration behind it and how the consumer can get involved.

Jeff Skoll is an inspiration to me as he has proven that you can stay true to who you are, promote change, and create films with meaning and be a success. I dream that I may be a billionaire turned millionaire so I can form a production company with similar values.


His Ted Video
http://www.ted.com/talks/jeff_skoll_makes_movies_that_make_change.html

His Bio
http://www.ted.com/speakers/jeff_skoll.html

Get Involved!
http://www.takepart.com/