San Francisco Board of Supervisors to Consider Film Incentive Package

Supervisor Michela Alioto-Piers' Film Incentive package is going to a vote before the Government Audit and Oversight Committee next  Monday, Mar. 13, at 1:00 pm in San Francisco City  Hall. IATSE members are encouraged to attend this Board of Supervisors sub-committee meeting, as this will be the only chance for public comment in support of this important legislation. Some locals are planning to show up in wearing the kind of black clothing that is worn to productions. Any items that would identify you as a union member (pins, shirts, etc.) are encouraged. The idea is to identify to the Supervisors that these are real jobs for real working people, not giveaways to the producers.

This legislation has the potential to attract Film and Television production to San Francisco in a way that is unprecedented in the Bay Area.  To briefly summarize the incentive package - for films and TV shows whose budget is greater than $3 mil, the City of San Francisco will rebate all City incurred expenses, including police services, San Francisco payroll taxes, and permit fees as well as portions of other city taxes (such as the hotel tax), providing the production films at least 65% of its shoot days in San Francisco. For productions whose budget is less than $3 mil, they must film 55% of their shoot days in San Francisco to qualify for the rebate.

For years the San Francisco film industry has struggled. Two years ago, when Supervisor Alioto-Pier joined the Board of Supervisors, one of her top priorities was to bring back the film industries good paying jobs to San Francisco. On Jan. 17, Supervisor Alioto-Pier introduced what could become the first film rebate incentive program in the state of California.  Please come and testify in support of the legislation at the meeting. This committee hearing will be your one opportunity to make public comment on behalf of the legislation and on behalf of the film industry.

The Bay Area Film Alliance has requested all who favor legislation to attract Film & Television Production in Northern California, to attend a meeting on Monday, March 13th, 1PM at City Hall in San Francisco. For more info call (415) 554-7752 or go to www.filmbayarea.org if you would like to send letters of support.

If you are not able to attend, please send letters of support or make calls in support to the Supervisors offices below:

Committee Members:

Sup. Tom Ammiano, (415) 554-5144, Tom.Ammiano@sfgov.org
Sup. Aaron Peskin, (415) 554-7450, Aaron.Peskin@sfgov.org 

The Details of the hearing are as follows:

Government Audits and Oversight Committee Hearing
What:       Establishing a Film Rebate Program
When:      1:00 PM, Monday March 13, 2006
Where:     City Hall, Room 263
Agenda:    Item #1 on the agenda

If this legislation passes through the committee, it will be heard at the full Board of Supervisors on March 21, 2006, where we will again need your support.

Thank you so much for your support.  Working together, we can have a film incentive rebate program in place in San Francisco by the end of March.

If you have any questions please contact Rob Black at 554-7752, or contact Sean House, VP of Bay Area Film Alliance. (www.filmbayarea.org)

Rob Black
Office of Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier
City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 224
San Francisco, CA  94102-4689
(415) 554-7752