MA Film Tax Credit and the Faces of Advocacy

May 16, 2015

FIlms=Jobs 2015 ©don schaefer 1 On Tuesday, May 12, the public enjoyed an opportunity to see the faces of many who work on film and television productions in Massachusetts, thanks to the benefit of our state’s Film Tax Credit. These are the people behind the scenes, the ones who work long, odd hours on film and TV sets with great efficiency, whether for days or, sometimes, weeks at a time. When the project is complete, they disband; then form new groups with a different mix of talent when the next production commences. As experienced professionals, they are what makes the process work seamlessly.

Let us not forget that local independent filmmakers benefit from the Film Tax Credit. Dollars saved thru production credits can make or break a project. And many indie filmmakers rely on work provided by the large budget productions as their main source of income. When you examine this infrastructure closely, you begin to see the intricacies and interdependencies of a very robust system.

Those who work on films and television productions in Massachusetts are the everyday people of our Commonwealth. Geoff Eads, an I.A.T.S.E. lighting technician, and his wife Kate McKenna, a professional baby and family photographer, organized the very successful http://savemafilmjobs.com to collect the personal stories of hundreds of families across the Commonwealth who have stability in their lives because of the tax credit. Please enjoy their stories.

How Well-Organized Advocacy Works

FIlms=Jobs 2015 ©don schaefer 4 I was grateful to be able to attend the speaking program in the State House’s Gardner Auditorium where more than 350 committed campaigners were briefed on their advocacy tasks for this special day, and beyond. Those who couldn’t attend sent over 1300 emails to their legislators. That’s advocacy!

The Gardner Auditorium filled with cheers and spirited enthusiasm as supporters from the Massachusetts legislature spoke powerfully about the enormous benefit film and television productions give their districts and towns: Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante of Gloucester, Representative Paul J. Donato of Malden and Medford, Paul McMurtry of Dedham, and Senator Sal DiDomenico of Everett, Vice Chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

Sincere personal stories were shared by those whose lives are supported by the incentive. We heard from a lighting technician, a security service provider, a cleaning company owner, and a local producer/director – all attested to the many ways production money flows through innumerable channels of the local economy.

Visit the MPC Facebook page for more sound and images.

Films=Jobs

FIlms=Jobs 2015 ©don schaefer 5
Maintaining the Film Tax Credit is vital to Massachusetts. Without it, film, TV and independent production will whither, support-service companies will close or layoff workers, edit rooms and effects houses will suffer, actors and technicians will have to seek whatever part-time employment they can find to make ends meet. Expect unemployment figures and social service costs to rise, and state revenues to fall. The equation is that simple.