ACTION ALERT:

TELL GOVERNOR BROWN TO SAVE CALIFORNIA’S FILM INDUSTRY BY FULLY FUNDING AND SIGNING AB 1839 INTO LAW!

The California State Senate is expected to vote as early as Thursday to enact AB 1839 which will extend and expand the California Film Tax Incentive program.

Over the past 15 years, California’s bedrock film industry has been increasingly threatened by film and television productions fleeing the state in search of better financial conditions. As other states have ramped up their incentive programs, California has lost nearly all big budget feature film production and most television production to other locations with attractive tax credit programs, like Louisiana, Georgia – and New York, that has a $420-million tax credit program.

AB 1839 recently passed the Senate Appropriations Committee with a $400-million dollar cap on incentives. The expansion over the $100-million program which currently exists in the State, will go a long way to ensure that California is once again competitive and will help to bring our industry jobs back home!

However, before the bill becomes law, it still has a few major hurdles to overcome. Most important is that the $400-million cap remain intact, as the bill moves to the Full Senate and on to the Governor for signature.

The Hollywood Chamber is asking its members to please contact the Governor and express your support of the full $400-million allocation for the film credit program.

A draft letter has been provided for you, however please feel free to tailor your message.

ADDITIONAL TALKING POINTS:

•Every $100 million in credits results in $792 million in direct spending in California, and roughly 8,500 new middle-class jobs, utilizing 10,000 vendors and employing more than 67,000 daily hires as extras.

•Film and television production supports more than 50,000 businesses in local communities in every corner of the state.

•In 2012, Louisiana reported their film tax incentives generated over $1.1 billion in sales for businesses, $53.9 million for the state treasury, $34.7 million for local government and created more than 15,000 jobs. North Carolina reported their tax program generated $254 million in spending and 4,000 jobs.

•In New York, there has been a 40 percent job growth as result of their tax incentive program.

You may contact Governor Jerry Brown at:

Governor Jerry Brown
c/o State Capitol, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814

Phone: (916) 445-2841

Fax: (916) 558-3160

E:mail:

Los Angeles Office

300 South Spring Street, Suite 16701

Los Angeles, CA 90013

Phone: 213-897-0322

Fax: 213-897-0319

{Insert Date}

The Honorable Governor Jerry Brown
c/o State Capitol, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814

Re: Fully Fund and Sign AB 1839, extension of the California Film Incentive Program, into law

Dear Governor Brown:

I am a Californian concerned about the plight of the film and television industry and I urge your support of AB 1839. Specifically, I ask that you support the Senate Appropriations Committee allocation for the Tax Incentive Program at $400-million. It is imperative that passage of this bill includes funding that will put California back on a competitive playing field with such states as New York, Georgia, and Louisiana that have used their more robust programs funding to lure jobs away from California over the past 15 years.

While California’s current program has generated more than 50,000 jobs and $4.7 billion in direct spending since its inception in 2009, it does not go far enough and it does not include large budget features and one-hour television series. We have lost the market share of these types of productions, and with them, thousands of good-paying jobs and millions in tax dollars. Meanwhile, the states with greater tax incentives boast of the unprecedented job growth, brag of having “stolen”jobs from California’s iconic industry, and take great pride in advertising the millions of dollars their tax incentives have brought into their state and local economies.

The amount of film and television dollars spent outside of California is continuing to grow. California needs to enhance its program in order to recapture this signature industry and compete with other states and countries. By sticking with the status quo, California will be known as the place where movies and TV shows were once made.

Film and television production is not only a major source of employment, but it also plays a significant role in the economic vitality of California. We are losing thousands of good-paying, middle class jobs and with them, we are losing out on millions in tax dollars for critical public services.In order to once again be competitive, California must put in place a meaningful, expanded credit that will bring back jobs, increase revenue, and support small businesses and vendors all across the state.

Please do all you can to assist in passing this critically-important legislation with the fully funded $400-million allocation.Too much is at stake for the people of California to let this heritage industry slip away. Thank you for your consideration of this vital legislation.

Sincerely,

Name:______

Address:______

______