On Tuesday, June 28, 2011, members of the entertainment community joined California State Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes on the recently relocated set of “Body of Proof” for a press conference detailing the success of the state’s production incentive program
Assemblyman Fuentes presented the group with a report from the Los Angeles Development Corporation (LAEDC) stating that in its first two years, California’s Film and Television Tax Credit program produced $3.8 billion dollars, created more than 20,000 jobs, and generated over $200 million dollars in tax revenues for the state.
Directors Guild National Board Member and West Coast AD/UPM Council First Vice Chair Cleve Landsberg spoke at the event on behalf of the Guild, saying the legislation represented real work, real jobs, and real payments to health and pension plans. He added that “film and television productions create economic benefits, not only for those who are directly employed on them, but also for the businesses, local governments, and communities in which they shoot;” a sentiment echoed by television director and DGA First Vice President Paris Barclay in his statement in the event’s press release:
"There's no question that the California production incentive makes a real and measurable impact on the lives of many thousands of people - both those who work directly on film and television productions and those for whom the economic impact of such productions reverberates around the state economy. We are very appreciative of Assemblymember Fuentes' efforts to ensure that California's film and TV industry remains the robust economic engine that it has proven to be for decades in our state's history."
Assemblyman Fuentes is currently carrying a bill, which would extend the tax credit program by an additional 5 years. The bill, approved in the State Assembly, is awaiting a hearing in the State Senate.
