Latest news with #StevenPaul
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jon Voight, Producers Who Met With Trump Call on Congress to Renew America's Sole Federal Film Tax Incentive
The CREATE Act would renew and strengthen Section 181, a Bush era tax incentive that applies to the first $15 million in production costs Jon Voight and producers Steven Paul and Scott Karol, who met with Donald Trump earlier this year on reviving film and television production in the U.S., are calling on Congress to pass the CREATE Act, a bipartisan bill that would renew and strengthen the lone federal production tax credit in the country. The Creative Relief and Expensing for Artistic Entertainment (CREATE) Act is a bipartisan bill introduced earlier this month by Democratic Rep. Judy Chu (CA) and Sen. Raphael Warnock (GA) and Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (NY) and Sen. Marsha Blackburn (TN). The bill renews Section 181, a part of the tax code first enacted in 2004 and allows productions to count the first $15 million in production costs towards tax deductions. More from TheWrap 'Sweet Revenge:' Go Behind the Scenes of the First 'Friday the 13th' Film Project Since 2009 Taylor Swift's 'Life of a Showgirl' Album Art, Tracklist and Release Date Revealed Boston Celtics' $6.1 Billion Sale Approved by NBA's Board of Governors John Oliver Tears Up Remembering Monica Lewinsky's 'Last Week Tonight' Interview as 'A Massive Act of Trust' | Video The CREATE Act would renew Section 181 through 2030 and raise the cap to as much as $40 million, depending on film location. The bill would also call for annual adjustments to the cap to account for location. While renewal of Section 181 has been a common request of entertainment industry lobbyists both on the union and studio side over the past 20 years, this would mark the first major expansion of the tax incentive, even if it falls short of the full-fledged tax credit programs run by dozens of film commissions on the state level and the federal-level programs operated by countries like the U.K., Canada, Australia and Greece that offer hundreds of millions in tax credits every year. 'Runaway production has drained too many jobs and too much talent from our country,' said Karol. 'Jon, Steven, and I have been working closely with our coalition of industry leaders and lawmakers to help draft this legislation and push for stronger domestic film incentives. Passing section 181 means more high-paying jobs, more work for small businesses that support our industry, and a stronger future for the thousands of families whose livelihoods depend on American film and television.' Voight, Karol and Paul recently wrapped shooting on 'The Last Firefighter,' a drama starring Voight and Kelsey Grammer that was shot entirely in Los Angeles, including on Van Nuys soundstages and with on-location shooting in neighborhoods like Manhattan Beach. 'Filming locally kept crew members employed, helped fill restaurants, and allowed us to capture the unique character and authenticity of LA on screen,' said Paul. 'This is what Section 181 can make possible for countless other projects. Those crews and cast feed a lot of families, and all of the money goes back into the communities.' 'We've just wrapped a film that celebrates deeply American values such as courage, resilience, and community,' added Voight. 'If we pass Section 181, we can help to keep telling these stories here in the U.S., giving our audiences, our workers, and our industry a brighter future.' After his meeting with Voight in May, Trump proposed a '100 percent tariff' on movies filmed overseas on his Truth Social page. The White House walked back that proposal a day later, and there have been no further developments on that front. Some California Democrats, most notably Sen. Adam Schiff and Rep. Laura Friedman, have publicly expressed interest in establishing a federal tax credit program that could be layered on top of existing state tax credits, though no legislation has been introduced yet. The post Jon Voight, Producers Who Met With Trump Call on Congress to Renew America's Sole Federal Film Tax Incentive appeared first on TheWrap.
Auto Blog
02-08-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
New Car Shoppers Are Sacrificing These Features to Save Money
This one's for those who want to know the nitty-gritty of what makes the 2026 Cadillac Lyriq-V worth the extra $12k-$20k. Most buyers will sacrifice more than you might expect Automakers continue to add flashy and expensive features to their new vehicles. The expectation is that panoramic glass roofs, reconfigurable digital gauge clusters, or head-up displays are in high demand among consumers. However, AutoPacific's 'Future Attribute Demand Study,' which surveyed more than 14,000 current new vehicle buyers about their interest in more than 160 options, suggests that actual demand for flashy features is quite low, particularly among those shopping in the $25,000-$35,000 segment. For these buyers, simplicity reigns supreme, and the allure of the latest technology doesn't attract them if it affects their monthly payment. 2025 Nissan Altima — Source: Steven Paul 'Front wheel drive, base stereos, cloth seats with various manual adjustment, and analog gauges are in for these more frugal shoppers,' says Robby DeGraff, AutoPacific's manager of product and consumer insights. 'So, the array of standard equipment found on entry- and mid-level trims of today's popular vehicles within the $25,000-to-$35,000 price range may need to be reexamined as consumers tighten their belts in the face of economic uncertainty.' What some, but not all, buyers want The commonly-found features that matter most to those in the under-$35,000 segment are wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, selectable drive modes, a heated steering wheel, and a power front passenger seat. Yet these are must-haves among a mere 26% of buyers in this segment. That's a little more than one-in-four buyers, not exactly overwhelming demand. Other features fare even worse. Consider all-wheel drive, which is demanded by 24% of buyers, a memory driver's seat by 23% or welcome lighting at 22%. Then there's a reconfigurable digital gauge cluster at 21%, a panoramic glass roof at 20%, a head-up display and premium audio at 15%, and leather upholstery at 11% – or slightly more than one-in–ten. 2025 Toyota Camry XSE — Source: Toyota If you think such items are more important to buyers with fatter wallets, guess again. The numbers are not significantly higher, although their priorities differ. According to the AutoPacific study, the feature most desired by wealthier buyers is selectable drive modes, which are demanded by 33% of buyers, or just one in three. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a power front passenger seat, heated steering wheel, and a premium audio system tie at 31%, followed by all-wheel drive at 29%, and welcome lighting at 28%. A memory driver's seat, reconfigurable digital gauge cluster, and a panoramic glass roof come next at 27% each, followed by a head-up display at 23%, premium audio at 21%, and leather upholstery at 18%. 2026 Cadillac LYRIQ-V — Source: Cadillac What do $25k-$35k vehicle buyers want? According to AutoPacific, buyers in the $ 25,000-$35,000 range are more open to sedans powered by a conventional internal combustion engine, around 20% want their next vehicle to be a hybrid, and only 5% want it to be a battery-electric vehicle. Keep in mind that these buyers are trading in vehicles that are more than 11 years old, with about a third considering a new vehicle for the first time. Given that, it's a little surprise that they prefer an instrument panel with an analog gauge cluster and conventional controls, alongside a modest center touchscreen without embedded navigation. 2024 Mazda CX-90 — Source: Mazda Yet they still want wireless smartphone charging pads, heated/ventilated front seats, a 110-volt outlet, driver profile settings, and active safety features. With a median household income of $50,000, these buyers are suburban, drive less than 20 miles daily, and have no children living at home. Approximately 31% are Millennials, 29% are Baby Boomers, and 57% are female. Ford Mustang Mach-E — Source: Ford Final thoughts New vehicle prices are rising far faster than the rate of inflation, as automakers continue to ignore new vehicle affordability. Consider that the average new car price in June 2025 was $48,907 according to Cox Automotive. Eleven years earlier, it was $32,556, an increase of more than 50% at a time when inflation rose 35%, according to the Federal Reserve. AutoPacific's 'Future Attribute Demand Study' shows that entry-level buyers are being ignored by an industry too infatuated with pleasing its most profitable customers at the expense of the rest. Source: Adobe Stock Photo 'It's good for models in that price range to offer some fancier, lower-demand features, but those should be optional and limited to higher trim levels, which can also serve to capture customers of bigger and nicely-equipped models who may be downsizing into more affordable segments as they tighten their belts,' says Ed Kim, AutoPacific's president and chief analyst. About the Author Larry Printz View Profile
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Where Did the $750 Million Go? Hollywood Incentive Bill Passes CA Senate Without Newsom's Pledge
Legislation aimed at modernizing and expanding California's program that provides subsidies to film and TV productions has passed the California Senate, though this version of the bill doesn't commit to increasing the cap from $330 million to $750 million a year. Tuesday's near unanimous vote was 34 to one, with the only dissent coming from Sen. Roger Niello (R-Sacramento). The bill, which now heads to the state Assembly for consideration, would vastly boost subsidies to shoot in the state to at least 35 percent while expanding the category of productions that qualify to include shorter TV shows, animated titles and certain types of unscripted projects. More from The Hollywood Reporter New Report Portrays California's Film and TV Production Environment as Uniquely Burdensome and Expensive Steven Paul, Architect of Trump Ambassador Plan to Hollywood, Buys Production Facility L.A. Mayor Vows to Cut Red Tape and Make It Easier to Shoot Movies and Shows In the City Its passage is a crucial victory for workers across Hollywood who've seen significantly less work as productions increasingly opt to shoot in other areas that offer more tax credits. It's the first step in revamping California's program amid a tit-for-tat race to host the entertainment industry. 'We need to do whatever we can to make sure California remains the number one entertainment capitol of the world,' said Sen. Tony Strickland (R-Huntington Beach). 'In order to do that, we need to be in the ballpark. We don't need to top other states, but we need to be in the ballpark.' If passed, Senate Bill 630 would bring the most significant changes to the program since its inception in 2009. The bill, SB 630, was spurred by a historic downturn in filming in the state. The 20 percent base credit offered by California is lower than most competitive film hubs, including New York, Georgia and the U.K. There was broad bipartisan support for the bill, with several lawmakers stressing the impact that the downturn in production has had on their districts in recent years. 'The domino effect is vast,' said Sen. Carolina Menjivar (D-San Fernando Valley), whose district includes Burbank. 'This impacts dry cleaners and the people with small restaurants around these studios. They've noted a decreased amount of pedestrian traffic to their businesses because they're surrounded by studios and there's not a lot of work.' Sen. Suzette Martinez Valladares(R-Santa Clarita) said that soundstages and postproduction houses in her district are suffering as productions opt to work with vendors in other states and countries. She pointed to the first season of Amazon's Fallout filming in New York despite the story taking place in a post-apocalyptic California (season two opted to shoot in California after receiving tax credits). 'We're losing significant ground,' she said. 'Other states have built entire industries luring production away from California.' Under the bill, productions could get 35 percent of their spend back for costs incurred in the states. An additional five percent credit would also be available for shooting in certain areas outside Los Angeles. And in a bid to keep up with other regions broadening the types of productions that can receive subsidies, TV shows consisting of two or more episodes of at least 20 minutes would qualify for the program, which currently only allows series with episodes of at least 40 minutes to qualify. Other productions that could get credits under the revisions to the bill include sitcoms, animated films, series or shorts and 'large-scale competition' shows, excluding reality, documentary programming and game or talk shows. They must have budgets of at least $1 million. The bill, however, doesn't contemplate allowing any portion of above-the-line costs, like salaries for actors, directors and producers, to qualify for subsidies. California is currently the only major film hub to maintain such a scheme. Sen. Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) said that the state wants to 'avoid a race to the bottom.' He added that the program is 'grounded in jobs creation and economic activity' unlike Georgia's. The legislation is expected to meet more resistance on Thursday at the state Assembly, where lawmakers could express concerns over increasing subsidies to film and TV productions as the state proposes major cuts to health care and universities. Best of The Hollywood Reporter How the Warner Brothers Got Their Film Business Started Meet the World Builders: Hollywood's Top Physical Production Executives of 2023 Men in Blazers, Hollywood's Favorite Soccer Podcast, Aims for a Global Empire
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Steven Paul's SP Media Group Acquires Avenue Six Studios to Boost Local Film Production in Hollywood
The Landmark Studio is to Serve as a New Base for Film Production as SP Media Group Ramps Up U.S.-Based Output LOS ANGELES, May 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SP Media Group, a production and entertainment company led by veteran producer Steven Paul, announced today the acquisition of Avenue Six Studios, a premier production facility in Van Nuys, California. Founded by Paul Reitzen in 2009, the studio features four fully equipped sound stages, a backlot modeled after a New York City street, and has produced numerous films, commercials, and television shows, including talk shows for Oprah Winfrey and Marie Osmond. "We're committed to making films in Hollywood and making Avenue Six Studios the most producer-friendly studio for filmmakers from around the world," said Paul. "I currently have three productions slated for the studio this year and look forward to welcoming more projects to take advantage of its production capabilities." "Avenue Six is a versatile production studio perfectly suited to accommodate an array of creative visions," said Scott Karol, President of SP Media Group/Atlas Comics. "The studios will be used primarily for film and television production, while its smaller sound stages will be used for branded content, music videos, photography, social media campaigns, podcasts, workshops, and industry events." Future developments to the facility will include the integration of an LED virtual production stage to create immersive visual environments in real time, and a post-production facility, including editing suites and audio facilities, to offer a full-service, end-to-end production environment. This acquisition follows the successful relaunch of Atlas Comics, which under Paul's leadership is developing a slate of film and TV properties, led by the upcoming live-action feature Devilina in partnership with Paramount Pictures. "Avenue Six has always stood apart as a certified stage, saving clients time and money by eliminating permit requirements," said Paul Reitzin, founder of Avenue Six Studios. "With access to props, sets, lighting, equipment and our New York-style backlot, we've proudly served as a one-stop shop for nearly a decade." Steven Paul, who serves as Special Advisor to Hollywood Ambassador Jon Voight, recently submitted a proposal to President Trump on how to increase U.S.-based film and television production. The plan, which includes federal tax incentives, co-production treaties, job training, and infrastructure subsidies, is currently under review by the White House. Paul has recently collaborated with Voight on a series of films, including Man with No Past, High Ground, and The Last Gunfight, and has several new titles now in development or production. "I've been filming in Los Angeles since I was twelve years old, when I first played a lead in Kurt Vonnegut Jr.'s, Happy Birthday, Wanda June for Columbia Pictures, and I'm thrilled at what's possible now that we have our own studio," said Paul. About Steven Paul Steven Paul is a leading independent film producer and chairman/CEO of SP MEDIA GROUP [SPMG] based on the Paramount lot in Hollywood, CA. SPMG maintains a co-financing agreement with Paramount Pictures to co-produce feature films and has financed and produced over twenty motion pictures in the past three years. Paul, who has a substantial real estate portfolio, including the Samuel Goldwyn building in Century City and a hotel in Miami, recently acquired the Atlas Comics library, founded by Marvel Comics founder Martin Goodman. Atlas Comics relaunched at New York Comin Con in October in partnership with Walmart, while also celebrating its 50th anniversary. Paul is also the owner of leading independent distributor Echo Bridge, and recently acquired a substantial stake in JLTV – the largest Jewish network in the world, available in more than 65m households in North America. SPMG has a library of more than 3,000 films through its affiliated companies and supplies content to leading AVOD platforms like Pluto TV and more. Press Contact: Rubenstein Public RelationsKevin PryorEmail: kpryor@ (212) 805-3057 View original content: SOURCE SP Media Group, LLC
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The International Society for CNS Drug Development (ISCDD) Honors Sharon Mates, PhD, and Steven Paul, MD with Prestigious Leadership Award at 23rd Annual Meeting
LAS VEGAS, March 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Society for CNS Drug Development (ISCDD), a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing central nervous system drug development, is pleased to announce that Sharon Mates, PhD, and Steven Paul, MD, have been named the recipients of the ISCDD Leadership Award at its 23rd Annual Meeting. The awards were presented by Dr. Amir Kalali, and Dr. Bill Martin on behalf of the ISCDD leadership. Dr. Kalali remarked: "Dr. Sharon Mates combines a unique background in neuropsychopharmacology, business, and leadership skills that have shepherded new treatments for patients. It is our honor to acknowledge Sharon's impact on CNS drug development over many decades." "Dr. Steven Paul has been singularly successful in developing multiple new breakthrough treatments for patients. It is our honor to acknowledge his impact in CNS drug development over many decades." Dr. Martin, Chairman of the ISCDD Executive Committee, added: "Dr. Sharon Mates' visionary leadership and commitment to innovation have helped transform the CNS drug development landscape. Her deep scientific expertise, relentless curiosity, and patient-centered approach have led to transformational innovations that continue to make a meaningful difference in the lives of so many patients." "Dr. Steve Paul is the quintessential physician-scientist – a true visionary who has transformed the theoretical understanding of complex neurological disorders into tangible therapeutic breakthroughs that have helped restore function and dignity for millions of patients." Dr. Mates said: "I am deeply honored to accept the International Society for CNS Drug Development Leadership Award. I share this achievement with the ITCI scientists, researchers, and healthcare professionals who work tirelessly to find innovative therapies for some of the most complex and challenging CNS disorders. I am inspired every day by their commitment to advancing our understanding of the brain. We are proud of the hundreds of thousands of patients we have helped." Dr. Paul said: "I am deeply honored to receive this award from the ISCDD, a group of dedicated and experienced CNS drug developers who fully appreciate the challenges and opportunities of developing new medicines for some of the most disabling and potentially fatal brain disorders. Many members of ISCDD were instrumental in the successful development of the CNS medicines I have been passionate about and have worked on for years, so my gratitude extends well beyond receiving this award—and is really on behalf of the millions of patients and their families who benefit from our collaborative work." Founded in 2002, the ISCDD is a non-profit, independent leadership forum that brings together academia, industry, and government stakeholders to foster collaboration and drive progress in CNS drug development. For more information, please contact: ISCDD SecretariatPhone: 702-992-0784Email: 392253@ LinkedIn: View original content: SOURCE International Society for CNS Drug Development Sign in to access your portfolio
