News
October 16, 2015
Weekly Update from Kelly Graham-Scherer, Los Angeles Representative: October 16, 2015
Happy Friday everyone,
If you're reading this and it's still Thursday, that's because I'm out of the office tomorrow - I'll be back at my desk Monday the 19th.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti held a new conference on the local set of American Horror Story last Friday and declared California's expanded tax credit program a resounding success. As detailed in the Hollywood Reporter below, Garcetti said the credits have already returned more than $1.07 billion in direct in-state spending, including $387 million in wages for below-the-line crew members.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/film-tax-credits-generate-107-831004
NBC Universal has announced a new foray into the heavily competitive digital streaming market. As reported in the L.A. Times below, in January the network will launch a comedy-focused streaming channel called SeeSo which will cost $3.99 a month and feature 20 new original series in its first year.
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-nbcuniversal-seeso-streaming-comedy-channel-20151015-story.html#navtype=outfit
Increased competition in the digital streaming market may have contributed to one of Netflix's first major fails. As detailed in the Times below, the number of US subscribers Netflix added in the third quarter fell way below projections and spooked investors dumped stock this week, causing company shares to fall as much as 15%.,
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-1014-netflix-earnings-20151014-story.html
In a related story, the Times also reported this week that the latest television ratings from this fall's new season show that fewer younger viewers are consuming TV in the traditional way. As detailed below, there's been an 11.8% decline in TV viewing of any kind — broadcast, cable or DVR — among men in the 18- to 34-year-old age group. Viewers between 18 and 24 had an even steeper 16% drop, while women in the same range slipped 8.8%.
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-tv-ratings-young-audiences-20151011-story.html#navtype=outfit
The VFX industry will continue to face increased competition globally. A widely syndicated story from the Want China Times this week looked at how the visual effects in Chinese films are improving as Chinese filmmakers attempt to close the quality gap between domestic Chinese blockbusters and their Hollywood counterparts
http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news/content?id=20151013000001&cid=1104
The final clipping this week is one I stumbled across and decided to include, although it's a few months old. It's a lengthy feature from Variety profiling the physical production executives at the major studios and it's a must read for insights into the day-to-day operations of the people who ultimately decide in which jurisdiction projects will land.
http://variety.com/2015/artisans/news/physical-production-heads-juggling-act-keeping-the-bank-creatives-happy-1201566997/
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 comments or links for inclusion.
Warmest regards,
Kelly