Academy of Television Arts and Sciences' Runaway Production Committee Chairman and President and CEO of Tribune Entertainment Dick Askin:
We at ATAS are extraordinarily pleased that Congressmen Dreier, Berman and Rangel have recognized the impact runaway production is having on the U.S. production industry by formally introducing their Wage Credit Bill to the floor. Runaway production has become a significant issue that directly affects the more than 11,000 members of the Academy, as well as other entities and individuals in our industry. If passed, the Wage Credit Bill will halt the flight of production to other countries, provide attractive incentives to reinvigorate production activity in our country and, most importantly, increase employment among Americans who work above and below-the line in our business.
American Film Marketing Association President Jean Prewitt:
AFMA and all other stakeholders in the independent film community are in full support of this legislation. This bill --like its companion in the Senate--has broad based, bi-partisan support, reflecting the fact that film production is an important part of the U.S. and local economies. At this critical time, this legislation provides a financial incentive to those whom produce in the U.S. and will generate benefits for a wide range of U.S. businesses and workers.
Directors Guild of America President Jack Shea:
Other countries have long recognized the significant benefit of film production to their local economies. They've set their traps with subsidies and tax incentives and what they've captured are jobs and dollars that ought to remain at home in the U.S. Thanks to the efforts of Congressmen Dreier, Rangel and Berman, we are finally taking steps to restore to our own communities the economic benefits of America’s leading art form.
Entertainment Industry Development Corporation President Cody G. Cluff:
This industry is comprised of thousands of working men and women, middle-income workers, who often live project to project. For years, we have seen jobs migrate outside the United States because of foreign tax credits and subsidies that can save many productions nearly 20% of a project's overall budget. This legislation provides a meaningful way of keeping work, jobs and paychecks here at home.
Film U.S. Chair Dawn Keezer:
The members of Film US are grateful to Congressmen Dreier, Rangel, Berman and the co-sponsors of the Bill, which will help level the playing field for the entire film production community of the United States. This industry--like this nation--was built on sweat and hard work. We're an industry of talented people who made, and still make, the best in filmed entertainment. We cannot just sit back and watch our national industry exported in the name of foreign subsidized wages.
Producers Guild of America President Kathleen Kennedy:
The Production Incentive Act represents a crucial and valuable first step in allowing producers to continue to streamline their budgets while also supporting the national economy and creating job opportunities for our citizens. As such, our Guild fully supports the establishment of tax incentives to curb runaway production. Now more than ever, producers want to embrace domestic production and American resources; we have every hope that this bill will help us realize this goal.
Production Equipment Rental Association President/Executive Director Ed Clare:
The U.S. members of PERA wish to thank Congressmen Dreier, Berman and Rangel for sponsoring this legislation. Our U.S. members are all small businesses, whose revenues and profitability have been negatively affected by the migration of work outside our borders. This Incentive Act of 2001 is a necessary step towards restoring the competitive balance in the global marketplace and will certainly help lead to increased production work in the U.S.
Recording Musicians Association President Phil Ayling:
The musical community supports these wage-based initiatives as the proper response to runaway productions. Musicians employed for TV and Film postproduction use that employment not only for their livelihoods but it creates the infrastructure, which promotes operas, ballets, and school concerts. Some of the money generated by soundtrack albums sales is diverted to "The Music Performance Trust Fund" which underwrites free school and park concerts in every Congressional District in the country.
Screen Actors Guild President Bill Daniels:
The Screen Actors Guild is encouraged by the introduction of legislation that will help curb the problem of runaway economic production and hopes that the Congress will move expeditiously to provide incentives to help level the playing field with foreign competitors and bring jobs home.
Southern California Chapter Imaging Technology and Sound, Robert Solomon, Chairman of Government Affairs:
We are pleased that the Federal government is taking action to encourage domestic production of entertainment content and support of an important American industry. The U.S. postproduction industry is committed to supporting domestic production by continuing to innovate and enhance the technical processes that enhance America's ability to tell stories to the world.
