Freelance Matters

By Suzanne Steidl

The Good News:

FILM/TV PRODUCTION INCENTIVES PASS PA HOUSE.

        AFTRA Pittsburgh took the lead in Western PA to get two bills to encourage film and television production in Pennsylvania passed by the House of Representatives a few days before Thanksgiving.  HB 83 is an extension of the existing sales tax exemption legislation. For feature filmmakers, TV production companies and commercial producers, it will expand the definition of "direct expenses" that are eligible for an exemption to include catering, automobile rentals, and temporary office expenses.

        HB 147 provides for a 15% tax credit against all PA direct expenditures, including wages, for feature films and TV shows or series that spend at least half of its shoot days in PA or half its total below the line in PA and 50% of the below the line hires must be PA residents. If more than $10 million is spent in PA by one qualifying production, the tax credit bumps to 20%. Next steps, the Senate and then the Governor's signature. To view these bills go to www.legis.state.pa.us.

NATIONAL AND LOCAL COMMERCIALS CODES UPDATES

        The new National Radio and TV Commercials Codes are in effect and the rates have changed.  The new on-camera rate is $535.00, voice-over is $402.25.  National Radio is $235.40 for 13 weeks use.  H&R has also been boosted to 14.3%.  Call the office for more information.

        Our Local Code has been extended to January 31, 2004.  At press time we are planning to work with signatory producers and with the Cleveland Local to standardize rates and terms.  In the meantime, scale for local radio and TV remains the same until the new agreement is in place.

The Bad News:

IF YOU DON’T MAKE SURE YOU’RE WORKING FOR A SIGNATORY PRODUCER BEFORE DOING THE JOB, YOU WON’T GET YOUR H&R CONTRIBUTION.

It is your responsibility to check on your employer’s signatory status before you do the job.  Call the office and find out if you’re working for a signatory.  If not, let us take care of the details so that you get everything you’re entitled to.

        It is also your responsible to fill out the production reports, get them signed by a representative of the signatory company and send them in to the office.  Otherwise, how can we hold them responsible for anything?

Happy Holidays to all!

 Thank you for an extraordinarily productive and exciting year.  There’s more to do in 2004 and I look forward to even more members

 getting involved.