Posted on 09/17/2005 1:03:21 PM PDT by jscottdavis_for_48th_district
Trying to fend off increasingly tough competition from other states and foreign countries, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to announce a plan soon to grant tax breaks for film companies to help them meet production expenses and stay in California.
J. Scott Davis
No one sees movies anymore because TV has never been so good. The producers of films are now pumping out great, film-quality footage, effects and soundtracks on TV. I would stack "24", "Lost", "The Shield", "House, M.D." and "Battlestar Galactica" up against any film for substance, quality and impact. It seems that fully half the crap Hollyweird puts out these days are weak horror and zombie flicks and horribly cliched romantic comedies, where everyone knows exactly what's going to happen from ten minutes in.
Deport the lot of them to Canada. No tax dollars for them.
Yes, the summer season was horrible for theatre attendence. One problem is that entertainment unions have locked out anything that breathes. Thus, they are digging their own grave and not letting in new creativity.
No, we don't want to send filmmakers to Canada. We want to keep the Hollywood tradition in California. Also, it generates the economy.
Arnie may be onto something and be doing himself a favor by currying the same...
Yes, Arnold may be doing himself a favor here since he has announced a bid to run for re-election.
The carpenters and electrician unions have priced themselves out of business. The studios can go non union and cut costs dramatically. Taxpayers shouldn't have to subsidize union labor.
Did you see The Aviator...all those indoor restaurant scenes of "Old Hollyood" were filmed in Toronto. Canada will take the total production costs in the country, and cut a rebate check to the producers at the end of the project.
There were four film projects in Louisiana when Hurricane Katrina hit... they are all back...because the tax benefit outweigh filming in California. Even including all the hotel expenses for everyone on the project. I imagine they will get disaster zone tax breaks on top of that too....they probably wont pay a cent in taxes for those films.
Sure we do. I'm tired of their cultural effluents.
Also, it generates the economy.
Tax cuts for anybody "generates the economy" Why should just one industry get special treatment, especially when its negative economic, political, and cultural externalities are significant?
Just think of what California politcs would be like without Rob Reiner.
*sigh* People who think Schwarzenegger is an airhead are akin to those who think Dubya is an airhead: spectacularly mistaken.
You apparently have no idea of the amount of commerce and employment generated by film crews: lodging, food, on-location fees that go to city governments, money paid to "extras" and to businesses whose locations are used for filming, etc., etc., etc. Arnold made a pile of dough by being an astute businessman in California BEFORE he became a film star. He brings that business savvy to his office as Governor, as evidenced in this declared intention to keep film companies in California.
Why can't we sent the liberal filmmakers to Canada... and keep them there?
Patti; I hope to put in place a more Pro-America Hollywood. Hollywood needs a culture change with more folks like Arnold, Heather Locklear, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Chuck Norris, and Clint Eastwood, etc. (all of whom are right-wingers).
The whole operation, even with labor costs, generates the economy. Remember the campaign fight over outsourcing jobs?
Arnold Schwarzenegger is far more of an impact than Rob Reiner is. If the movie goers pay to see conservative, GOP, and right-wing actors, then the film industry will not have it's anti-war effect on society as it does now.
Yes, now that's a great idea. Offer tax breaks for Sean Penn, George Clooney, and Martin Sheehan to film in Canada (lol).
Then I would like less of it, thank you. This state is 40% deeper in debt thanks to that dissembling bozo.
If the movie goers pay to see conservative, GOP, and right-wing actors, then the film industry will not have it's anti-war effect on society as it does now.
I don't see Mel Gibson threatening to leave town.
Outsourcing jobs to foreign nations weakens our economy. By keeping the filmmaking industry (including TV shows and commercials) in California, that creates jobs and helps generate the economy.
If you feel that Arnold has produced a deficit, then that's all the more reason to keep Hollywood in Hollywood.
True, but interestingly enough, basically, this is a business. They will make films in whatever way allows them to make money -- just what they criticize the rest of us for doing. For example, they harp on the "traitors" who move off-shore to save on taxes (or pay less than a "living" wage), but what have they been doing for the last decade? Making movies in Canada, Australia and Eastern Europe to avoid paying American wages, American taxes, etc. They and the vast body of US University professors are the biggest hypocrites in the world.
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