Gov. Perry Signs HB 873 to Provide Incentives for Entertainment Industries

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry today signed House Bill (HB) 873 by Rep. Dawnna Dukes and Sen. Robert Deuell, which promotes the entertainment industry in Texas by providing incentives for the film, television, video and digital interactive media production industries.

“The passage of House Bill 873 is an important step in helping Texas regain its footing in the moving image business,” Gov. Perry said. “With this legislation, we are strengthening our state’s investment in a vital industry that not only shows off our state to the rest of the world, but also draws investment and creates jobs for Texans.”

The governor was joined by lawmakers, filmmaker Robert Rodriguez, members of the Texas Motion Picture Alliance, and representatives of the film, television, commercial and video game industries from across the state at Rodriguez’s Troublemaker Studios for the signing.

Texas has lost approximately 7,000 crew positions and $500 million in production spending to states with more competitive film incentives, such as New Mexico, whose feature film and television productions contributed $242 million to its state economy in 2008, and Louisiana, which earned $350 million in production in 2007. Currently, about 25 percent of Texas-based film professionals are working in these states, some starting to relocate permanently.

The moving image industry has brought more than $1.2 billion dollars to the state in the past 10 years. Gov. Perry noted that these investments would not only boost the entertainment industry in Texas, but would also indirectly affect other industries and businesses that support these productions.

SAG NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVES TENTATIVE TELEVISION AND MOTION PICTURE CONTRACTS AND RECOMMENDS RATIFICATION

From the real world .. not sure if this was the answer indie producers needed but will let you know from my world.

Los Angeles (April 19, 2009) - The Screen Actors Guild National Board of Directors today voted 53.38 percent to 46.62 percent to approve and recommend to members, new, two-year successor agreements to the 2005 Producer-Screen Actors Guild Codified Basic Agreement and 2005 Screen Actors Guild Television Agreement.

The proposed agreement, covering actors in motion pictures and television delivers 3.5% effective annual increases comprised of a 3% wage increase and a .5% pension and health contribution increase upon ratification, and a 3.5% wage increase in year two.

The board passed the below motion shortly after 4:00 p.m. today:

It was moved and seconded that the National Board directs the Interim National Executive Director to send the tentative agreement between the Producers represented by the AMPTP and the Screen Actors Guild for successor agreements to the 2005 Producer-Screen Actors Guild Codified Basic Agreement and the 2005 Screen Actors Guild Television Agreement to the membership for ratification, with a recommendation from the Board to vote ‘Yes.'
Approved: 53.38% -46.62%

"I urge members to carefully review both the pros and cons in the referendum materials, and exercise their right to vote," said Screen Actors Guild National President Alan Rosenberg.

Interim National Executive Director David White said: "We are pleased that Screen Actors Guild members will soon be voting on a deal for television and motion pictures. We're eager to get our members back to work and to focus now on the challenges ahead, particularly on initiating a comprehensive effort to thoughtfully plan for the future.

"Our negotiating committee, task force and professional staff have worked countless hours on this agreement over the last year. On behalf of the National Board, I thank them for their time, commitment and expertise."

Chief Negotiator John McGuire stated: "This tentative agreement delivers increased contributions to the SAG pension plan, increased minimums, a significant gain in background actor numbers from 50 to 55 over the term of the contract, and it tracks the new media provisions achieved by other entertainment industry unions. The term of the agreement puts SAG in sync with the other unions, and does not include the extended term recently proposed by the AMPTP."

Provisions of the proposed deal include:
• A two-year term of agreement concluding June 30, 2011.
• Effective annual increases comprised of 3.0% in wage increases and .5% in pension contributions upon ratification, and a 3.5% wage increase one year following ratification.
• A new media structure that tracks those achieved by other industry unions, resulting in gains for actors including:
o Jurisdiction on all derivative, made-for new media productions; automatic jurisdiction on all high-budget, original, made-for new media productions; plus jurisdiction on low budget original, new media productions that employs at least 1 covered performer.
o Residuals for exhibition of TV and Theatrical motion pictures on consumer pay platforms (Electronic Sell Through) at a greater percentage than those paid for DVD distribution.
o Residuals for ad-supported streaming of feature films and television programs.
o Residuals for derivative new media programs.
• Additional 5 covered background actors in feature films. From 50 to 53 covered background positions upon ratification of the contract, and from 53 to 55 covered background positions in year 2. Adds 1 covered background position in TV, from 19 to 20, upon ratification.
• Increased compensation for guest star premium from 7.5% to 10%.
• Increased trailer money break from $2,500 to $3,000, or more per week.
• Increased overtime money break for three-day performers from $2,700 to $3,000.

Ratification ballots will be mailed to eligible SAG members in early May, with an expected return date at the end of the month. Tabulation will occur immediately upon the conclusion of balloting.

Bargaining for a successor agreement to the 2005 SAG TV/Theatrical Contract began on April 15, 2008.

Bobby Field Treats Music As Character in New Film

(PR) Actor/Writer Bobby Field returns to his musical roots to create his upcoming rock-n-roll drama, "The Bridge." In a strategic marketing tactic, Field is rolling out songs from the film months before its release with live performances at Hollywood's most respected venues and a CD sampler.

"The Bridge" is a coming-of-age tale that chronicles the unlikely rise of a small town music prodigy. Faced with a choice that leads him to a life-changing crossroads, he must decide whether to cross his 'bridge' or stay crippled in fear forever. Driven by its powerfully moving original soundtrack, "The Bridge" portrays an arduous journey of the human spirit.

"The Bridge" is also a personal journey for Field, who spent years training under world renowned classical guitarist Carols Molina, while also singing with the hard rock band Dark Descent. Field explains, "I stayed away from music for a long time because I was on a creative path as an actor and filmmaker. So when I started this project, I didn't realize how much I missed creating music. I'm thrilled to be playing and recording again and am having the time of my life with the live shows." Field's music performs an essential role in the film, often serving as the inciting catalyst for a character's evolution.

Field burst onto the indie scene back in 2005 when he wrote, produced, and starred in the critically acclaimed comedy feature "Guy in Row Five"; also starring Claire Kramer, Colin Ferguson, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Rachel Miner and Jennifer Aspen. The film screened to high praise at numerous festivals, winning awards at the Cinequest Film Festival, SoCal Independent Film Festival, and Westwood International Film Festival.

For "The Bridge," Field decided to join forces with production duo, Ray Ellingsen and Jean-Luc Martin of Factor Media Group, as well as associate producer Natalie Avital. Avital states, "His songs are infectious. Having watched Bobby cross his own bridge back to music makes it all the more electric to see him performing them live. The classical guitar, violin, cello, Bobby's voice and innate modern, rock and roll edge, blend together so that the music really moves you."

To hear "Songs from: The Bridge," a CD sampler containing five original songs created by Field for the film, in its entirety, go to:
MySpace.com/songsfromthebridgelive

For upcoming live performance dates, to purchase a sampler CD, or
for further information about the upcoming film "The Bridge," please visit:
www.TheBridgeTheMovie.com

Texas gets its 12.5% incentive

Walkaway Joe does not want to walk from Texas so lets hope the bill is real and keep it in Texas.

HB 873 Passed by Senate and on to the Governor for signature

The film incentive bill, HB 873 is now passed by Senate and on to the Governor for signature on April 23rd in Austin. Stay tuned for details about the bill signing. Get ready!

SAG, AMPTP reach tentative deal

Guild's national board expected to approve

In a move that had been widely expected, SAG leaders and the congloms have reached a tentative agreement on a new two-year feature-primetime contract -- opening the door for a pitched battle over ratification.

Announcement of the tentative deal came Friday afternoon, nearly 10 months after the previous pact expired, via a brief joint statement from the Screen Actors Guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

The last major point to be settled centered on SAG insisting on an expiration date in June 2011 in order to stay in synch with the WGA, DGA and AFTRA expirations. Three days of official talks cratered in mid-February over the expiration date - even though both sides had agreed on other issues -- with the companies demanding a three-year deal that would have expired in 2012.

The statement said that no details would be disclosed until Sunday following review by SAG's national board at its previously scheduled meeting. That panel, which saw control shift last fall to a moderate coalition, is expected to approve the terms of the pact and trigger the mailing of ratification ballots to its 120,000 members.

The ratification process will take about three weeks. SAG president Alan Rosenberg and his allies in the hardline Membership First faction, which lost its board majority to the moderates, has vowed it will urge members to vote down the deal on grounds that it falls short in on on multitude of areas, particularly new media.

The deal comes following two months of back-channels talks between SAG toppers and moguls such as Disney's Robert Iger and Warner Bros. Barry Meyer with SAG's chief negotiator John McGuire and AMPTP exec VP Carol Lombardini executing the specifics of the new pact. SAG's board ousted Doug Allen in January as SAG national exec director for allegedly botching the negotiations, replacing him with David White as interim national exec director and McGuire as chief negotiator.

Membership First has been protesting the presumed deal ever since Allen was fired and the negotiating committee was abolished and replaced with a task force. Scott Wilson, a SAG member who was on the negotiating committee, told Daily Variety that he'll continue advocating a "no" vote in order to persuade the companies to sweeten the terms.

"If all that's been changed is the term of the deal, it is up to the members to step up and claim their union by voting this down," he said.

The AMPTP's counter on its website asserted Thursday that SAG actors have lost $66.6 million in pay gains as a result of spurning the final offer, which it valued at $250 million. The counter had been taken down on Friday.

SAG members have worked since the expiration under terms and conditions of the expired deal.

To Screen Actors Guild Guaranteed Completion Agreement (GCA) Signatories

It has come to the Guild's attention that some distributors of Guild-covered projects have expressed concerns about risks associated with distributing projects covered by GCAs in the event of a Guild work stoppage. As you know, one of the benefits of being signatory to a Guild GCA is the assurance that any work stoppage would not affect the continued production of the picture.

GCA signatories and distributors have the Guild’s full and complete assurance that there will be no disruption of distribution of projects properly covered by Guild GCAs due to any work stoppage.

Signatories or distributors with questions should feel free to contact the Guild’s Theatrical Contracts Department at (323) 549-6828.