WHY DID HOLLYWOOD GET A TAX BREAK? L.A. COLUMNIST ASKS

“The extension of a federal tax break for movies and TV shows shooting in the U.S. typifies the giveaway mentality that still pervades Congress,” writes Mark Lacter, the business editor of LAObserved.com. Lacter notes that the tax incentives, which went on the books in 2004, were designed to discourage “runaway production” but that there is […]

PUERTO RICO, LOUISIANA OFFER ENHANCED TAX BREAKS TO FILMMAKERS

It’s 3,600 miles between Puerto Rico and Hollywood and the average flight time is nearly eight hours, but legislators in the U.S. territory and its governor are attempting to offset the daunting travel burden by offering a new package of tax breaks to lure film and television producers. On Monday Gov. Luis Fortuno predicted that […]

CAL GOVERNMENT GROUP SLAMS STATE’S FILM TAX INCENTIVES

A report by California’s nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office questions the findings of the Los Angeles Economic Development Corp. and UCLA that supported the state’s tax incentive program. Far from resulting in growing revenue for the state as those findings concluded, the tax incentive program, it said, actually brings in “well under $1.00 for every tax […]

VETERAN PRODUCER HURD URGES BOOST IN CALIFORNIA TAX INCENTIVES

Producer Gale Anne Hurd, whose credits include The Terminator, The Hulk and Aliens as well as AMC’s hit drama The Walking Dead, is urging the California legislature to expand state tax credits to compete more effectively against other states that offer them. Saying that she has not filmed a movie or TV show in California […]

JOHN CARTER: GOOD FOR BUSINESS — IN UTAH

Not everyone connected with John Carter is disappointed with the film’s performance. Today’s (Monday) New York Times quotes a news release from Utah’s economic devleopment agency as saying that the movie has created “interest in the state as a tourism destination” and has broaght $20 million in economic benefit to the state and created 175 […]

JOHN CARTER: GOOD FOR BUSINESS — IN UTAH

Not everyone connected with John Carter is disappointed with the film’s performance. Today’s (Monday) New York Times quotes a news release from Utah’s economic devleopment agency as saying that the movie has created “interest in the state as a tourism destination” and has broaght $20 million in economic benefit to the state and created 175 […]

CALIF. TAX INCENTIVES NOT SO BIG A DEAL, SAYS STUDY

A UCLA study has challenged oft-cited estimates by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. that for every incentive tax dollar earmarked to film producers to keep them from moving their productions out of state, it gains back $1.13. The new study concludes that the amount is actually only $1.04. Moreover, the study by UCLA’s […]

BRITAIN RENEWS TAX CREDITS; HOLLYWOOD CHEERS

Citing the “massive success” of films produced in the U.K. during the past year, British Prime Minister David Cameron announced today that the country’s tax incentives to the film industry will be extended through 2015. Those incentives helped attract producers of such films as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, Captain America, Pirates […]

FILMING SOARS IN L.A. AS LAWMAKERS CONSIDER CUTTING INCENTIVES

For filmmakers, this may not be the best time for FilmL.A. to be announcing that location shooting in the Los Angeles area has risen 60 percent so far in the third quarter versus last year, with last week showing a 66-percent rise in location production days. The state Senate is expected to vote shortly on […]

L.A. MAYOR SEEKS TO HALT RUNAWAY PRODUCTIONS

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has promised Hollywood filmmakers that he will take further action to halt runaway production. Speaking at a forum organized by Variety, the mayor acknowledged that the city could do more to make the city more friendly to producers. “This is one of the most important industries for us,” he said. […]

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