Runaway production and new broadcasting strategies have really cut into one of the backbones of Los Angeles’ TV industry, a new report out today from FilmL.A. says. For the first time since records have been kept, the home of Hollywood’s share of total pilot production has fallen below 50% according to the nonprofit local-permitting organization. In fact, with a 6% drop from 2012/2013, the total share for 2013/2014 is 44%. ...
This comes as a big contingent of union members and union reps (me included) is up in Sacramento pushing for passage of AB 1839 (the t.v. and feature tax incentive bill designed to counter the free money being handed out by Canada, New York, Georgia, Louisiana, etc.)
Today we traipsed to different State Senators offices in the state capitol, seeking support for 1839. And over the last couple of weeks, TAG and other IA unions have been doing this:
[IA unions] sent out packages to members urging them to sign letters to two state Senate committees and the Governor to stop runaway production and pledge support and passage of the multi-sponsored Film and Television Job Creation and Retention Act. “We are in a fight to save our families and our livelihoods,” said the letter to Brown
At this stage, the prospects for the bill's passage out of its first Senate committee hearing look (we're told) pretty good. Tomorrow, a lot of us will be in the capitol bright and early to see how AB 1939 does in its first Senatorial test. There's still a lot of work to do, and more hurdles over which to jump. In August, when the legislature reconvenes, there are more committee hearings (and votes), then the final Senate up-or-down, and lastly negotiations with the governor that will (everyone hopes) leads to final passage and the guv's John Hancock.
We'll just have to see how it goes.
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