One of the top priorities for the DGA right now is curbing runaway production. This growing problem not only takes jobs from our Guild members in all categories, it also affects us in two additional ways: It negatively impacts the vision of the director when the location is selected for purely financial reasons, disregarding the wrongness of the choice; and it deprives our members of working with longstanding collaborators who are not allowed to work in other countries because of immigration or financial reasons. In the end, when the location is inappropriate or the artistic collaboration is inferior, the product and our work look bad.
There is another important impact of runaway production that is not discussed as much. Film and entertainment are our country's greatest cultural export and nothing represents our values — including freedom, equality, opportunity and the American way of life — better than our motion pictures and television. When the people, places and products in the show are not American but are purported to be, what does that say about us? How is that an accurate depiction of our way of life or our specific cultural heritage? For example, consider a film that depicts New Orleans at Mardi Gras but is shot in Toronto, or a famous American musical "set" in the Midwest but shot in Romania, or a movie about Hawaii and the Hawaiian people that is shot in Australia. All had cost savings as a motive, but what was the real price paid?
For producers, of course, the bottom line is the bottom line, and they will attempt to take their productions wherever the profits will be greatest. Other countries have long recognized the benefit of film production to their economies, and they've set their traps with subsidies and tax incentives. Combined with the value of the U.S. dollar, the savings on paper are significant. It is the DGA's job to keep the work in America.
The backing for our federal tax-credit legislation has continued to grow. S. 1278 has 26 co-sponsors, and HR 3131 has 73. Both bills are gaining bipartisan support every week. In May, a bill we helped craft was passed by the California State Assembly that complements the federal bills. Assembly Bill 2747 puts California in the forefront of the effort to level the economic playing field. We will continue to work toward its passage in the state Senate.
This will be a long and difficult journey, and we must be realistic about our strategy. But it is important that you are aware that our Guild continues to fight to solve this problem and that we are beginning to make some progress. (See stories here)
Beyond runaway production, I have heard from many members that movie jobs seem more scarce than ever. Well, they are right. In addition to runaway, we are still feeling the effects of the de facto strike conditions of last years' WGA and SAG negotiations. The studios produced many more films than usual last spring, then dramatically reduced production. Combined with the effects of 9/11 and the difficult economic climate, we have not seen the production starts return to normal. Studios have recently begun to release more features than usual, however, so we can be hopeful that production will resume normal levels in the near future.
It has been a difficult year for everyone. Nothing has been easy or "normal." Security, trust and safety seem like words from another lifetime. They will be rediscovered. We in the entertainment business play an important part in our nation's recovery — and in sending our message of strength to the world. We are strong enough to depict the good and bad in all of us, to criticize ourselves, expose our weaknesses, laugh at our foibles, practice freedom and democracy and hold dear the creative forces of our own people and culture that represent our face to the world. Our Guild understands the invaluable role we play in this puzzle as visionaries. Our Guild fights for our opportunities to work and is vigilant about ensuring the best possible creative environment when we do. I am proud to be a part of this tradition. This is a time when the Guild can make a difference in all of our lives, but not without the support of each and every one of us.
