Today, a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced a federal film and television tax incentive that will help promote domestic production and the jobs it creates.
For decades, the DGA has been working with policymakers to address ongoing issues related to runaway production and find solutions that keep your jobs here at home. The introduction of the Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act marks the most important step in that effort.
This bill would establish a federal production incentive to help level the playing field for American entertainment workers and make the United States a more globally competitive production market. As you know, when a production moves overseas because another country offers more attractive incentives, the impact extends far beyond the set. It means lost jobs for our members, fewer opportunities for thousands of workers, and lost economic activity for the businesses and communities that support production.
This legislation would help reverse that trend by encouraging more production here at home, providing more work opportunities for you and your fellow Guild members, strengthening local economies, and reinforcing America’s position as a global leader in film and television production.
The DGA is proud to join a broad coalition of entertainment unions and industry partners supporting this bipartisan effort.
To make your voice heard in Washington, send a letter today urging your members of Congress to support the bipartisan Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act and help bring film and television jobs back to the United States.
Find your Senators or Representative
Most Congressional Offices will require you to select a “Message Topic” from a drop-down menu in order to submit comment. The best option, if available, is “Taxes.” You are also welcome to select “Other,” and Congressional Staff will sort your comment accordingly.
Copy and paste this letter to contact your Senators and Congressperson urging them to pass this critically important piece of legislation:
Dear [Member of Congress],
I am a member of the 19,500 strong Directors Guild of America and one of the hundreds of thousands of people in this country who make their living in America’s film and television industry.
I am writing to ask for your support for the recently introduced Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act.
I, like so many across this country, have built my career helping create the films and television programs that have long made our industry a source of economic opportunity and cultural influence for the U.S.
For years, those of us who work in this industry have faced increasingly difficult challenges. Jobs have become harder to find, opportunities have declined for both experienced workers and those trying to build careers, and businesses across the country that depend on production are struggling.
At the same time, movies and television shows created primarily for American audiences are increasingly being produced overseas. This is not because other countries have better crews or infrastructure.
In fact, the opposite is true.
They are successfully competing for this work because they recognize the economic value of film and television production and offer strong incentives that the U.S. does not currently match.
The U.S. share of global production has fallen dramatically over the past two decades – from 74% to 42% for feature films, and 94% to 64% for television. Behind those numbers are thousands of American workers and their families, as well as small businesses and communities across the country that feel the impact every time a production moves overseas.
This bill would help level the playing field by making the United States a globally competitive production marketplace once again. This bipartisan legislation would help bring good, middle-class production jobs to the United States, generate economic activity in communities across the country, and protect a signature American industry.
The legislation is supported by a broad coalition that includes the Directors Guild of America, IATSE, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, SAG-AFTRA, the Writers Guild of America, and Laborers International Union, American Federation of Musicians, along with studios, producers, film commissioners, and other industry partners.
For generations, film and television production has provided good jobs, supported local economies, and helped establish the United States as the global leader in our industry. As a DGA member, I want the opportunity to continue building my career here and to ensure that the next generation of Directors and members of their teams have that same opportunity.
I respectfully urge you to support this bill.
Thank you for your consideration and your support for American workers and good jobs and the value of this industry to the strength of the American economy.
Sincerely,
[Name]
Directors Guild of America Member