News
August 26, 2013
August 23rd News Report from your Los Angeles Representative
TORONTO ONTARIO film office - A partnership of the Ontario Media Development Corporation, City of Toronto and FilmOntario.
WEEKLY UPDATE August 23, 2013
from Kelly Graham-Scherer, Los Angeles Representative - torontoontariofilm@gmail.com
This first story appeared in my local newspaper's daily insert in the Los Angeles Times and concerns the relationship of Glendale and the film and television industry. As detailed below, the schools in Glendale, an area just north of downtown LA and next door to Hollywood and Burbank, have contracted with Film L.A. I think the story is an interesting look at the fees faced by L.A.-based productions wanting to shoot locally. http://www.glendalenewspress.com/news/tn-gnp-glendale-schools-extend-contract-with-filmla-20130820,0,7768717.story
The film and television industry in North Carolina is on tenterhooks waiting to see if lawmakers there will extend tax incentives that are due to expire Jan. 1, 2015. As detailed on the television news site WRAL, already, some insiders say, television producers are taking a pass on North Carolina locations in favor of jurisdictions with tax credits that are not due to expire soon. http://www.wral.com/film-industry-watching-nc-tax-credit-debate/12784348/
Variety this week published a very engaging article examining the difficulties faced this summer by independent films hoping to find their audience. http://variety.com/2013/biz/news/indie-films-fight-for-summer-screens-1200586052/
According to the Los Angeles Times, I'm not the only one who has seen a whole lot of animated films this summer. As detailed below, this year will see the wide theatrical release of 11 animated movies — up from six a decade ago - but there are signs that the abundance of animated movies may be nearing a saturation point as family audiences confront a growing number of choices over what they choose to spend their movie dollars on. http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-fi-ct-animation-20130820,0,5812048.story
And finally this week, A Saskatchewan filmmaker talked to Metro News about the uncertainty surrounding the film industry in that province. http://metronews.ca/voices/backstage-pass-saskatoon/773403/vampire-filmmaker-laments-saskatchewans-decision-to-movie-making-cut-tax-credit/
You'll find the full text for the linked articles below my signature. Please feel free to distribute this e-mail widely and to get in touch with me with comments or links for inclusion.
Warmest regards,
Kelly Graham-SchererLos Angeles Representative
Toronto/ Ontario Film Office