Movie, TV Workers Rally Against Job Flight
More than 2,000 film and television industry employees flooded Hollywood Boulevard Sunday to protest the flight of California productions to other countries--the second such Los Angeles demonstration in four months.
Actors, costumers, boom operators and cinematographers shared a common story: They have survived in the competitive Hollywood industry for decades, only to be faced in recent years with dwindling work opportunities that threaten their livelihoods.
“I haven’t worked since February,” said a 20-year costumer who goes by the single name Ceci. “I’m a single parent and I’m struggling to pay my mortgage.”
Like Ceci, most of the demonstrators at the three-hour rally support state legislation they hope will curb the trend of film and TV companies taking productions abroad.
Two identical bills, introduced by Assembly members Scott Wildman (D-Los Angeles) and Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica), call for California to offer a 10% tax credit on production-related labor costs if the productions are done in California by in-state workers.
Wildman said the legislation will be heard by the Senate Appropriations Committee today.
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