Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1536017
By Kristin Marguerite Doidge F or more than a century, California has served as the heart of the global film and television industry, sup- porting hundreds of thousands of creative production and postproduction profes- sionals and helping to fuel a vast network of local businesses, encourage tourism, and support ongoing economic growth in local communities. But in recent years, increasing com- p e t i t i o n to e n t i ce p ro d u ce rs to m a ke projects in other states and countries has put California's entertainment workforce at risk. The contraction of projects being greenlit during the pandemic, followed by the dual labor strikes and recent dev- astating wildfires, have only made things worse for many people working at all levels in the industry. That's why the Guild has joined in to help the IATSE California Council support the "Keep California Rolling" initiative of the Entertainment Union Coalition. The purpose of the EUC's campaign is to help legislators understand the importance of passing Assembly Bill 1138 in the State A s s e m b l y a n d S e n a te B i l l 6 3 0 i n t h e California State Senate. Governor Gavin Newsom has proposed both bills to expand the state's current television and film tax credit program. On a Sunday last April in Sun Valley, 1,500 film and TV workers joined together in support of the "Stay in LA" grassroots c a m p a i g n t o e n c o u r a g e l a w m a k e r s to boost film and TV production in South- ern California.. The rally comes after more than 90 people from various IA locals traveled to Sacramento to attend hearings in March. Every person was provided 30 seconds to speak to the panel of legislators. On the second day of their visit, union mem- bers broke into smaller groups and met individually with various legislators in their offices. "I'm a picture editor and a mother of two," said LA-based Shannon Baker Davis, a Local 700 board mem ber, when it was her turn at the microphone to speak with the lawmakers. "And as hard as it is to work long hours in a dark room, it's harder not to work. You can't support your family. You can't keep your health insurance." The EUC, which is made up of 165,000 union members, is advocating for in - creased tax incentives to keep production in the state and prevent further job loss. Many skilled workers have been out of work for extended periods due to a slow- down in production. Alenis Balderrama, Western Region associate director at the Guild and part of the coalition, traveled with the group to Sacramento and offered her lobbying expertise on behalf of the Guild's members. Hopeful that a specific postproduction component might get added, Davis said: "Women and people of color have been en- couraged to enter postproduction, and we are the first people to leave when jobs are scarce. We desperately need this work to stay in California, and we desperately need a postproduction tax credit to be included as part of the production credit." For Bobbi Banks, an LA-based supervis- ing sound editor and supervising dialogue/ ADR editor who also traveled with the group and spoke to lawmakers, this is an urgent matter that requires immediate ac- tion. She said the recent trip is one of many planned to occur between now and June when these measures will be voted on. " I n t h e l a s t 1 8 m o n t h s , I ' v e o n l y worked three," Banks said. "An additional challenge is that you don't know what's coming. Some productions are now going to start shooting, but it'll be another five or six months until postproduction people get back to work." The current f ilm and television tax credit program in California is capped at $330 million, which Banks points out is less than half of what New York offers, and the credit hasn't been increased in 10 years. Many experienced workers have lost their health insurance due to lack of work, and some are retiring early or moving to other states with more production and postpro- duction opportunities. " T h e e n te r t a i n m e n t i n d u s t r y h a s played a vital role in the history of Cali- fornia, and we have supported previous intiatives in both California and New York to retain as much work as possible for all of our members nationwide," National Executive Director Scott George said. "It's absolutely vital for us to lift our voices on this issue for our members." ■ MEMBERS LOBBY FOR CALIFORNIA TAX CREDITS LOBBYING: Davis, left, Balderrama and Banks in Sacramento. P H OT O : S H A N N O N B A K E R D AV I S 14 C I N E M O N T A G E A R O U N D T H E G U I L D