News
December 19, 2016
December 16th News Report from your Los Angeles Representative
Happy Friday everyone,
Things are slowing down in LA this week as the holidays approach, but as the year draws to a close, jurisdictions across the globe are touting the success of their film and television production sectors. Variety this week took a look at the booming business in the U.K. where movie spending totaled US $1.74 billion in the 12 months to Sept. 30 and television spending by 77 shows receiving tax credits totaled US $800 million during that period, more than twice the amount spent two years ago.
http://variety.com/2016/film/news/britain-production-boom-film-tv-1201941120/
Production also continues to boom in New York State where industry advocates routinely tout locally-shot productions that earn nominations during awards season. This year was no exception as a press release from Governor Andrew Cuomo himself boasted that seven New York-based film and TV productions earned Golden Globe nominations and that the seven productions collectively generated more than $224 million in spending and created approximately 13,300 jobs across the state.
https://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20161212/ENTERTAINMENT/161219985/seven-new-york-state-based-productions-earn-2016-golden-globe
Crain's New York, which published the above article followed up by reporting on record employment numbers released by film and television unions. As detailed below, Teamsters Local 817, the union of drivers, casting directors and location managers and scouts, reported hiring an extra 200 nonmember workers in October for total employment of 1,400 people—the highest in the union's 113-year history.
http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20161212/ENTERTAINMENT/161219994
An executive shakeup at Warner Brothers Studios this week made headlines in the trades. As reported in the L.A. Times below, turmoil at the studio is being blamed for the inconsistent box office performance of its movies.
http://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-warner-bros-shakeup-20161214-story.html
Consumers concerned about family-friendly viewing this week took notice when an injunction was granted to the Hollywood studios against VidAngel, a streaming service which cleans up movies for family viewing. As detailed in the Times below, VidAngel’s lawyers argued unsuccessfully that it was protected from piracy accusations by a 2005 law called the Family Movie Act, which allows consumers to tweak movies they own for personal use.
http://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-vidangel-disney-injunction-20161212-story.html
Finally this week, an article by Business Insider about a filmmaker's unsuccessful negotiations with streaming giant Netflix was shared across social media this week and labeled a must-read for filmmakers everywhere. As detailed below, director Craig Atkinson alleges that his award-winning documentary Do Not Resist was blacklisted after he turned down Netflix's offer to buy and brand the film as Original Content.
http://www.businessinsider.com/netflix-blacklisted-do-not-resist-2016-12
Warmest regards,
Kelly
Kelly Graham-Scherer
Los Angeles Representative
Toronto/ Ontario Film Office