News
March 4, 2016
Weekly Update from Kelly Graham-Scherer, Los Angeles Representative: March 4, 2016
Happy Friday everyone,
I'm sending this report out early this week as I'm out of the office tomorrow.
Awards season in LA is officially over and pilot season is in full swing. Deadline Hollywood this week took an in-depth look at where pilots are shooting this year and credits the new California tax credit, introduced in 2015, with pushing the number of LA-based shoots up for the second consecutive year.
http://deadline.com/2016/02/pilot-locations-2016-data-los-angeles-new-york-canada-1201706710/
The increase in LA-based production since the introduction of California tax credits continues to get a lot of press in local media. This week the Los Angeles Times looked at how the new Netflix series Love brings jobs to the city and highlighs local hot spots to a broad audience.
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-netflix-love-judd-apatow-gillian-jacobs-20160302-story.html
On the heels of the controversy over a lack of diversity in this years Academy Award nominations, a group of New York-based television industry stakeholders are promoting legislation that provides additional tax incentives for productions employing minority and women writers and directors. MSNBC has details below.
http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/writers-lawmakers-team-promote-tax-credit-women-minority-filmmakers
Traditional broadcasters are continuing to adjust to the new ways in which consumers are engaging content. As reported in the L.A. Times, the trend of established media companies accelerating their push into the Internet video streaming business was highlighted this week by a flurry of deals announced by major media companies, including Sony, Disney, Time Warner's HBO and AT&T.
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-espn-hbo-direct-20160303-story.html
Finally this week, the film and television business in Ontario continues to prosper and attract increased investment. As reported by the CBC this week, Pinewood Toronto Studios announced last Thursday that it plans to build a new 135,000 square-foot facility complete with carpentry workshops, production offices and retail space.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/pinewood-toronto-studios-plans-major-expansion-in-port-lands-1.3467147
Warmest regards,
Kelly