Thank you to everyone who made it to the Twin Cities Local SAG Awards screening party. It’s been a long time since we were able to gather together, and the awards celebration offered the perfect occasion. You can read more about that and see photos here. We are looking forward to even more opportunities for local broadcasters and performers to come together that don’t always involve us fighting the good fight.
Last year, SAG-AFTRA Twin Cities Local organizers, along with labor supporters and industry advocates, were successful in making enhancements to the Film Production Tax Credit. Before the state was able to implement our newly quintupled program, the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes began, which, as you know, were not resolved until just before the holidays. With this long period of very little production, we find ourselves in an interesting situation. A feature of our tax credit program permits any unused credits to roll over to the following year. With how 2023 played out, practically all of the unused $25 million in credits rolls over to this year, giving us an even more enticing incentive this year of nearly $50 million in credits for outside production.
This brings us to this year’s main legislative goal: creating a Minnesota film office.
Some of you may know that Minnesota is the only state with a film production incentive which is run by a nonprofit. All other states with film incentives have a properly funded government office, with oversight, to promote and administer their incentive programs. Those responsibilities are currently shared by an underfunded nonprofit and a state office whose focus and experience is not the film industry. It is time for Minnesota to take this industry and the jobs creation and economic development it brings to communities more seriously.
Toward this end we currently have bills introduced in the House and Senate. We have our labor and industry allies, as always, and we have partners in the Legislature who understand the necessity for Minnesota to have a film office. What we need is engaged support from SAG-AFTRA members like you to show your enthusiasm to legislators when the time comes, as we had last session when we improved the tax credit.
There is no doubt that what pushed us over what we thought might be insurmountable hurdles last session was support from the production community, specifically the union members of our community. We need this same engagement again for this fight.
On Wednesday, March 20, we had our first hearing in the House Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee for House Bill HF 4249, sponsored by Representative Liz Lee (67A, DFL). Even with short notice of the hearing we had strong testimony, but I think an even stronger statement of support was made when, our business being done, approximately half the room stood up and exited en masse. There was an impressed audible response.
In the coming days, we anticipate a hearing in the Senate Jobs and Economic Development Committee for Senate Bill SF 4446, sponsored by Senator Grant Hauschild (03, DFL). Please keep an eye out for a "call to action" to show your support at the hearing so we can once again show legislators the community support behind this effort.
Throughout the remainder of the session there may be additional action alerts requesting your involvement. This could be showing up at another hearing, sending emails, making phone calls or showing up to a rally. It could be gathering with others over a coffee, beer or taco to discuss what’s happening or what’s next. We will learn what actions are needed as the session progresses. What we know right now is that we need YOU. So, when you see the calls to action — act.
It was a huge feat to pass and then enhance our tax credit, after around 15 years of attempts. But having a tax credit in place is only one part of having a thriving film production market. Another primary component is having a government office to oversee the incentives. If the credit is not successfully promoted, administered and supported, it will be weaker and could be dissolved. So, we not only have to bring these jobs back to Minnesota. We have to keep them here!
In solidarity,
Casey E. Lewis
Twin Cities Local President
News
- Tags:
- News Updates
- Local News