Perhaps you’ve heard of the plan to deny films (like all the oscar nominated movies this year) that don’t promote “family values” which to some mean gay characters.
Luckily some people are doing something about it. For a start you can sign this petition started by R. Michael McWhorter (thank him by following him on Twitter) :
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/no_florida_film_censorship/
I should of posted this days ago, but as today was day that was already filled with commitments I knew I couldn’t go, but if one of you reading this blog decides to go, I will feel a whole lot better. So please, if you can, drop what you are doing, rsvp as directed below, get on the bus, and tell our representatives what you think.
Location: Lincoln Park, Albany, NY
Street Address: Corner of Park Avenue and South Swan Street (Map)
The event basically breaks down as follows:
11am – Truck Rally
Noon – Press Conference
The press conference will be taking place on the West Capitol steps, which is approximately a 15-minute walk from Lincoln Park.
I have been wanting to explore Nexo, and now have the perfect reason to do so — thanks to Derek Yip. Derek’s started a “Save NY Film & TV” social network on Nexo. To join, go here:
This group was established to be a resource for updates on the latest developments and organizational efforts to save the production tax incentives for motion picture industry in New York State and New York City. Now that we understand how vital the incentives are to our livelihood, hopefully this group can be a unified front to call for transparency and accountability in the incentive programs and to further educate ourselves about them.
01. Although not mandatory, we hope all new members will briefly introduce themselves. This is so we can understand what kind of a stake you have in the future of New York’s economy.
02. Posts here should be on the topic of the New York production incentives and how it relates to New York’s economy. Although it’s fine to reference your projects in relation to this, please refrain from blatant promotion of your projects, your company, job offers, job requests, or links to such. Links to articles covering the latest news on the production incentives are encouraged.
03. Lively discussion and intelligent debate is welcome, but please refrain from ad hominem attacks. Please carefully proof and re-read what you are about to send before posting out to the group.
04. If you haven’t done so, you are encouraged to go to the following link and sign: http://www.petitiononline.com/Zablocki/
05. Write and mail letters to your elected officials for an additional impact:
• Download a template for your letter:
http://trevanna.com/nypa/images/misc/crew_letter_2009.doc• Write to Governor Paterson:
http://www.ny.gov/governor/contact/index.html• Write to your Assemblyperson:
http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/• Write to your Senator:
http://www.senate.state.ny.us/senatehomepage.nsf/senators?OpenForm
I don’t think I need to tell anyone reading this what a boost the credits have been to NY State, or how many jobs they have created, or how horrible it will be for the industry if they are not reinstated.
http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/petition-sign.cgi?Zablocki
http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/
To: Governor David A. Paterson
CC: Speaker of the Assembly/Assemblyman Sheldon Silver,
Senate Majority Leader Malcolm A. SmithWe are writing to you today, on behalf of the thousands of men and women employed in the film and television industry in New York State. A recent article in the New York Post, titled “Cut! And Run Looms: NY Out of Film Lures“, reported that the successful state program that provides tax credits to lure television and film productions to New York has run out of money. The report goes on to say that “A Paterson spokesman said yesterday that there is no additional funding for the tax credits included in his latest budget proposal.” This is alarming.
With an unemployment rate of over 7%, now is not the time to cut programs that create jobs and foster new businesses in our state. This program is proven to be highly successful and at a time when this industry needs all the help it can get, you must rethink the true impact of not funding this valuable program.
According to a 2007 study by Ernst and Young, the state and city combined have issued $690 million in tax credits and have collected $2.7 billion in taxes from movie and television productions. This program pays for itself! It helped create over 7,000 jobs, directly, in 2007 and over 12,000 jobs indirectly.
As you are aware, New York City has seen a surge in new television, motion picture and commercial filming in recent years. The Mayor’s Office of Film, Theater and Broadcasting reports that in 2002, there were 14,858 NYC location shooting days and in 2008, we reached over 27,250 days. There is a direct correlation between the growth of this industry and the tax credits provided from the state – we need to keep the momentum going, especially during tough economic times.
New York City and New York State have become”Hollywood of the East”. We are finally a player in the international film industry. Please, Governor Paterson, fund the New York State Tax Credit program for television and motion pictures. Real jobs depend on it!
Sincerely,
22. Financiers are collaborating with each other. Groups like Impact Partners that provide regular deal flow, vetting, and producerial oversight for investors with common interests lowers the threshold number for investors interested in entering the film business. IndieVest is another model based on subscription, deal flow, and perqs. The high amount of capital needed to enter the film business has limited its participants. The film business has its own vernacular, and mysterious business practices. It is an industry of relationships. Collaborative ventures like this help to solve many of these threshold issues.
23. The US Government, at the city, state, and federal levels, recognize the positive economic impact of film production and have created a highly competitive market for tax subsidies and credits. The vast amount of experimentation in this field has allowed for it to grow forever more efficient. Although these benefits are designed to attract the highest amount of spend, and are thus most beneficial to Hollywood style models, the steady employment these credits have helped to deliver, develop a crew and talent base more able to also take risks on projects of more limited means. The “soft” money they provide a project is often key to getting the green light.
24. A greater acceptance of a variety of windows in terms of release platforms is emerging. Filmmakers were once the greatest roadblock to a pre-theatrical release DVD. Filmmakers are experimenting with everything from free streaming to the filmic equivalent to a roadshow tour. It is only through such endeavors that we will find a new model that works.
25. Industry leaders have said publicly that they will share the meta-data that a VOD release generates with the filmmakers. Although license fees have dropped considerably, filmmakers have new options on what to ask for in return. I spoke on a panel with two notable industry leaders who said they would put it in their contracts that filmmakers can receive and share the data the VOD screenings of their films generate. This information will become important the more filmmakers seek to maintain direct communication with their audiences.
