A coalition of entertainment industry groups, politicians and community members rallied Saturday to support legislation that would extend and expand California’s film and TV tax credit, which is due to expire in 2017.
Hundreds of people gathered at Independent Studio Services, a prop house in Sunland, to push for the recently proposed AB 1839 at the California Film & Television Production Alliance's Small Business Kick Off Rally.
The bill, written by Assemblymen Raul Bocanegra (D-Pacoima) and Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles), who were among the local politicians who spoke at the rally, seeks to extend California's film tax credit and expand its scope.
ON LOCATION: Where the cameras roll
Under a program enacted in 2009, California allocates $100 million annually to film and TV productions, which are eligible for up to a 25% tax credit toward qualified production expenses.
However, industry officials have been vocal about substantially increasing the annual funding to become more competitive with programs offered by states including New York, New Mexico, Louisiana and Georgia.
"It's no longer our birthright as Californians to expect the film industry is going to stay here," Independent Studio Services founder and event co-host Greg Bilson said to the crowd. "We have to have incentives that are going to make us competitive with other states."
http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-79633762/
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