Democrat Cheryl Brown courageously and responsibly joined two Republicans in voting for AB 1780 in committee; two other Democrats abstained or were conveniently absent to deny the bill four votes to pass, so it failed 3 yes to 1 no.
AB 1839 which is supposed to save Hollywood from the continuing attrition of jobs to anti-union states like Louisiana is in serious need of amendment now that the competing bill sponsored by the Bring Hollywood Home Foundation has been killed on orders of the Democratic Party leadership in the Assembly. Just as Republican leaders in Washington recently killed Senator Jeanne Shaheen’s bipartisan jobs bill for the purely partisan purpose of helping former Massachusetts Senator Brown defeat her in New Hampshire (where he’s become a carpet bagger), California’s Democrats didn’t want to hand tea-party Republican gubernatorial candidate, Assembly Member Tim Donnelly, a victory for his much better AB 1780-which was much better for jobs and independent production rather than Hollywood corporate Moguls.
This situation is truly ironic. I disagree with Tim Donnelly on almost every issue…except this one.
Proposed Amendments for AB 1839
People contacting their legislators to support AB 1839 should take a position of “SUPPORT IF AMENDED.” AB 1839 in its current form was originally written by Hollywood corporate lobbyists. It was amended to make it modestly closer to AB 1780 but still is not adequate to accomplish its professed purposes.
Is CFC a hero or a culprit in the fight to keep jobs in California? Former CFC member Bill Duke quit and is now Secretary for the BHHF…..what does that tell you?
Amend the bill to take the California Film Commission out of the “lottery business” and out of the “gatekeeper role” for who gets tax credits. Right now they are working for the studios the CFC is not the right leadership to stop runaway production. The studios don’t make movies anymore. Independent TV and movie producers who reside in California have to leave here to work and the CFC has not stopped the nonsense by failing to include tax credit incentives for small and medium sized productions.
BHHF recommends a new governing board to oversee a 1.4 billion dollar California Film Fund (AB1839 has a 400 million limit which keeps big movies from being made in California). Lift the cap to include big movies. 1839 has only 10 percent earmarked for independent productions. BHHF would amend the bill to give independents 50 percent of the tax credits because independents make most of the movies. We would amend 1839 to include a lower ceiling so more women and minority productions could qualify to 500 thousand and include MUSIC Videos and Video Game Productions. Also to allow for bundling of projects to get to 500 thousand this would create new entrepreneurship and a new MUSIC Video industry for California.
A 1.4 billion dollar tax credit with NEW oversight taking the CFC out of the main drivers seat and bringing more indie producers into the selection process for projects would change the game and truly END runaway production. Billions would come into California from global investors and our youth would see a world of opportunity open up for them. Now they are seeing their futures sold out to job outsourcing.
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