Posted on 08/27/2004 8:43:43 PM PDT by Land_of_Lincoln_John
A cast of Hollywoodstarsmay soon swarmBeacon Hill to charm rumpled state lawmakerswhile toutingpublic subsidies for the movie industry.
The big-name actors with local roots are ready to lobby for tax ``incentives'' for major movie companies that shoot their productions in the Bay State, film industry supporters
Cambridge shooting star Ben Affleck and his pal, ``Bourne Supremacy'' idol Matt Damon; HBO's ``Entourage'' producer Mark Wahlberg, of Dorchester, and fellow Dot guy Neal McDonough of TV's ``Medical Investigation;'' and deadly serious thespian Chris Cooper, currently residing in the Hub's suburbs: they're all ready to make the tax relief pitch, according to state film industry cheerleader Robin Dawson and another movie maven working on the project.
In fact, some of the big stars have signaled their readiness for local politicking - even if it means sitting down for chats with Bay State politicos and testifying at dreary state House hearings,says Dawson, head of the Massachusetts Film Bureau.
The star support comes as local entertainment industry boosters and their allies on Beacon Hill prepare to unleash a campaign to make Massachusetts more Tinseltown friendly.
But some critics, like taxpayer advocate Barbara Anderson, are unimpressed.
``I think there is a word for it, isn't there? Extortion,'' said Anderson, head of Citizens for Limited Taxation..
Film hungry locales like New Mexico are offering everything from massive tax breaks to millions in no interest loans to Hollywood moguls, noted Carol Patton, publisher of Imagine Magazine, who promises to produce Wahlberg and other celebrities to back up an upcoming proposal by state Rep. Brian Wallace (D-South Boston).
``It's a question of dollars and cents,'' argued Wallace - a novelist with two books optioned by filmmakers. `I don't think it's a question of trying to help fat cats get fatter,'' he said.
Wallace is preparing a legislation ``package'' that may include millions in rebates for movie companies that spend big locally.
Meanwhile, some of the movies' biggest stars may soon appear in local theaters asking you to open your wallet or purse.
Affleck, Damon, Cooper, and Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood recently taped a short trailer that Dawson's Massachusetts Film Bureau hopes to run in local theaters. The big guns tout the joys of filming in Massachusetts.
They argue that state taxpayers should pony up for Dawson's Massachusetts Film Bureau.At the segment's end, Cooper offers up a general statement of support for tax incentives for movies that are shot locally.
What happened to Clint Eastwood? The hypocrisy from the rest of the left is typical.
What's interesting is that a lot of the most bankable movie stars (Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Jack Nicholson, Nicole Kidman, Reneé Zellwegger, Merryl Streep and several others) are no longer asking for big paydays up front. They know that they'll actually make MORE money by getting a cut of the profits instead.
Yada . . . Yada . . . Yada . . .
You know the drill. Eff Hollywood. Why should they get ANY tax breaks?
hypocrisy, thy name is hollywood liberals.
STFU and quit voting for taxraisers you dumb pansies.(although Eastwood's sometimes alright - the rest suck)
Big pay days are taxed as ordinary income, about 50%. By becoming investors they get the capital gains tax rate: 15% flat, plus your money in interest free loans to fund their pay day.
And they want Kerry to raise YOUR taxes to pay for this. Isn't leftism interesting?
Maybe some good could come of this. Maybe, the Gov can give Hollywood tax incentives if the Gov can have some sort of control or oversight. Like mandatory drug testing for every person assocaited with the movie or show being made.
We all know that when Gov gets involved in something, it eventually goes bad. Maybe putting a little bit of gov in Hollywood, could really put some of those hollywood idiots in their place. I don't know how, but I am tickled that the California legislature is debating wether or not to require condoms in porn movies. Maybe a little gov intervention into Hollywood would be a good idea.
did html by accident.
From August 1st
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1182821/posts
In his speech at the convention, Bill Clinton delighted the crowd by complaining about the unnecessary tax cut he had received. At a breakfast with Florida delegates, the actor Ben Affleck got into specifics, explaining that the Bush tax cuts had provided him with $1 million last year that he didn't need.
(snip)
We asked Mr. Affleck if he had considered sending the $1 million back to Washington. "No," he said. "I'm not Jesus Christ of the tax code. I can't completely martyr myself."
(end article)
I thought you didn't "NEED" the money from your tax break, yet your lobbying for an additional tax break.
Unbelievable!!
Eastwood has several bastard children by several different mothers, as I understand it. He's like an NBA player.
Perfect Democrat moral system
Steve Croft asked him about it once and got the evil eye.
Skeleton in the closet IMO
Also heard he listened to Savage.
What a bunch of Hypocrits.
Lefties who want to raise your taxes, want a tax cut... hahahahahahahahahahahaha
He had Kevin Bacon, Tim Robins & Sean Penn in his last movie. Three big libs. Clint is no republican. He's not even a very good libertarian.
Last week the folks in Hollywood asked congress and the state of Calif to give them tax breaks to bring movie production back to the USA. Are these the same people that a Bashing Republicans for tax breaks for the wealthy? What is the pay scale of the folks who want these breaks?
Only the Club for Growth or the Chamber of Commerce can tell this story in a way that puts a stake in the heart of Dracula.
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