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Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
New Grassroots Efforts Take Aim at Keeping Production in California
Much has been said about production moving away from California and even out of the country over the last few years. Many put it on rising costs and contraction related to streaming overtaking broadcast and cable, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2023 strikes, but one of the biggest problems is the lack of tax benefits productions in California are given, particularly in Los Angeles, the supposed entertainment hub of the world. As of now, the state caps its film tax credit program at $330 million annually. Compared to Georgia, which has no cap and spent more than $1 billion in 2024 subsidizing production, or New York, which offers $700 million in tax breaks annually, California's financial incentives are paltry at best. However, Governor Newsom is working to change that. In October 2024, the Democrat announced he and others, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, would be pushing to more than double the current allotment, bringing the cap up to $750 million a year. At the time, he described the lack of California production as a 'legitimate crisis' and implored an action that was 'meaningful, not just intentional.' Despite the appeal, in the aftermath of the Southern California wildfires and the money that will need to be spent rebuilding, legislators in Sacramento may need further convincing as to why such a huge block of funds should be put aside for the arts. More from IndieWire James Cameron Worries 'America Doesn't Stand for Anything' Under Trump and Is Working Toward New Zealand Citizenship Kate Hudson Thinks the Role of the Critic 'Has Changed' Since Her Early Rom-Com Days Leading this effort, the Entertainment Union Coalition — made up of the WGAW, DGA, SAG-AFTRA, Teamster Local 399, AFM, California IATSE Council, and LIUNA Local 724 — announced the launch of the 'Keep California Rolling' campaign this past Thursday, February 27. Their intention is to both gather support for protecting, preserving, and creating jobs in the film and television industry across all of California and to educate new legislators, budget committee members, and other elected officials to guarantee they vote for the increase in the 2025-2026 budget that'll be approved this summer. Beginning this upcoming week, the EUC will commence its lobbying efforts, but it's not the only group trying to shine a light on this cause. Julie Plec, co-creator of 'The Vampire Diaries' and 'The Girls on the Bus,' and Sarah Adina Smith, an indie filmmaker and one of the directors on HBO's upcoming 'Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,' have come together to draft the 'Stay in L.A.' petition on January 23. Their proposal is to call for 'emergency measures' to be taken in combatting California production stagnation and (per The Hollywood Reporter) have put together a list of steps individuals can take to promote this initiative. They read as follows: 1. Support Gov. Gavin Newsom's $750 million budget cap raise on the incentive and urge him to temporarily uncap the incentive for three years in L.A. County as part of efforts to rebuild after the fires. 2. Educate legislators in Sacramento that a more competitive incentive is about job creation and isn't simply a 'corporate handout.' As of August, the unemployment rate in the film and TV sector reached 12.5 percent, marking the industry's highest August unemployment rate since at least 2000, excluding the pandemic period. This rate is nearly triple the national average. 3. Raise the tax incentive amount to 30 percent for both films and television shows. This number is the bare minimum to make California competitive. Offer an additional 5 percent for any film below $10 million to encourage more independent films to shoot in California. 4. Support a bill funding postproduction that is not contingent upon shooting in state. New York has this, the U.K. has this … and it's why their postproduction businesses are booming and L.A.'s is hurting. The postproduction carve-out should include music for film and TV scores, too. 5. Consider a new bill targeting commercial and music video production, which has also plummeted. Shortform production is how many cast and crewmembers make ends meet between TV or film gigs. 6. Lift restrictions on shooting outside and in public spaces in L.A. (emulating NYC's successful program) and offer a temporary reduction in permit fees in conjunction with loosening up notification requirements to reduce FilmLA's staffing costs. 7. Neighborhood councils can create film-friendly corridors and residential zones. The county can offer discounted property taxes for all who participate. 8. The city and county can offer unused or underused property as free 'base camps' for production. Create an easy-to-use map of all these areas. 9. Waive or defer L.A. city tax on productions and consider a city ordinance temporarily capping location fees to combat price gouging and to make it easier for productions to afford to shoot. 10. Perhaps most crucially, studios and streamers must do their part by pledging to shoot more in L.A. County, demonstrating a commitment to rebuilding after the fires. To sign Plec and Smith's 'Stay in L.A.' petition and learn more, click here. To learn more about the 'Keep California Rolling' campaign and how you can help, click here. Best of IndieWire Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See 'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie The 55 Best LGBTQ Movies and TV Shows Streaming on Netflix Right Now
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Scott Foley Joins Cast Of ‘Scream 7'
EXCLUSIVE: Scott Foley (Scream 3, The Girls on the Bus) has joined the cast of Scream 7 from Spyglass and Paramount Pictures. Details regarding his character and the film's plot are currently under wraps. However, Foley is already part of the Scream universe having portrayed antagonist Roman Bridger, the film director and half-brother of Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) who was revealed to be the Ghostface Killer of Scream 3. More from Deadline Mark Consuelos Joins Cast Of 'Scream 7' Brad Pitt To Star In & Produce 'Heart Of The Beast', David Ayer's Action Adventure Pic For Paramount Mason Gooding Teases 'Scream 7' Return & Calls Neve Campbell The "Godmother Of The Genre" Foley's casting comes with its own set of questions because Roman was killed by Dewey (David Arquette) at Sidney's request. Roman has faked his own death before so it's plausible that he could reprise the role in the present or perhaps in flashback form in the past if he is deceased. Could Roman have a long-lost twin? This is Scream after all, so if he returns as a ghost (face killer?) or a zombie, it would not shock most. There are so many possibilities here that I defer to franchise superfans to figure out. Foley joins the previously announced legacy cast members Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox as well as Mason Gooding and Jasmin Savoy Brown, alongside newcomers Isabel May, Celeste O'Connor, Asa Germann, Mckenna Grace, Sam Rechner, Anna Camp, Joel McHale and Mark Consuelos. Franchise creator Kevin Williamson is directing with Guy Busick (2022's Scream and Scream VI) writing. Project X Entertainment's James Vanderbilt, William Sherak and Paul Neinstein (2022's Scream and Scream VI) are producing. The long-running horror franchise previously generated four feature films including Scream (1996), Scream 2 (1997), Scream 3 (2000) and Scream 4 (2011), directed by the late Wes Craven. It relaunched with the fifth installment, Scream, in 2022. The latest outing, Scream VI, was released theatrically worldwide in March 2023 and holds the franchise record for highest domestic box office gross with more than $108 million and has taken in more than $169 million worldwide. Collectively, the Scream franchise has earned more than $900 million in worldwide box office receipts. Foley most recently starred in Max's political drama series, The Girls on the Bus, opposite Melissa Benoist and his Scream 7 co-star Consuelos. Foley can also be seen in the recurring role of, Dr. Seth McDale, on the 3rd season of ABC's Will Trent. In 2019, he headlined and produced ABC's action dramedy Whiskey Cavelier. Foley starred as Jake Ballard in six seasons of ABC's hit drama, Scandal. His other extensive TV credits include the WB's Felicity, Fox's The Big Leap, HBO's True Blood, ABC's Grey's Anatomy, CBS' The Unit and NBC/ABC's Scrubs. Foley made his feature film debut in Wes Craven's Scream 3 for Dimension Films. He followed that with a leading role in Dimension Films' Below opposite Matthew Davis and the indie feature Rennie's Landing opposite Ethan Embry and Peter Facinelli. Foley's other film credits include Let's Kill Ward's Wife, which he wrote, directed and produced, The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, the TV movie Final Vision and Netflix's Naked. Next, he will star in Netflix's romantic comedy, La Dolce Villa, which will premiere on February 13th. The film, directed by Mark Waters, follows Foley's character Eric Field, as he travels to Italy to prevent his daughter from renovating a villa. Foley is repped by Independent Artist Group, Atlas Artists and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern Best of Deadline 'Bridgerton' Season 4: Everything We Know So Far 'Knives Out 3': Everything We Know About The Second Rian Johnson Sequel 2025 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Oscars, Spirits, Grammys, Tonys, Guilds & More
