When it passed in 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act failed to renew a provision contained in 2004’s Jobs Creation Act, known as Internal Revenue Code Section 181, which allowed film, television and media producers to immediately expense costs that would otherwise need to be capitalized and deducted over the course of ten years.…
Video Games Soar During Pandemic While the Movie Industry Navigates It. The pandemic has had an undeniable cooling effect on live-action motion picture production, and both film creators and decision makers in the theatrical exhibition industry are still looking for ways to bring the in-theater movie experience back on track safely. But in the meantime,…
If you’re following the motion picture and television industry drama surrounding Netflix and its adopted practice of theatrically releasing potential award-winning feature films within a short release window—too short for many theater owners and creative contributors–then you know that Scott Stuber has recently been sharing his thoughts publicly with the industry trade press and other…
Exhibition Windows and Artist Compensation The entry of streaming companies into the production of their own original feature-length motion pictures has resulted in big changes for the entire film and media industry sector. For Netflix and similar streaming giants, the impact is so revolutionary that it’s taking center stage for the time being, and pushing…
Variety recently published a story highlighting an oftentimes confusing, expensive, and damaging issue that can impact any film production if tax credits and accounting issues aren’t properly managed: tax credit fraud. In this specific case, a whistleblower drew attention to alleged misuse of tax credits on the Warner Brothers film “Sully”, starring Tom Hanks and…
The world of filmmaking and film production is loaded with longstanding myths, many of them holdovers from the earliest days of the industry. Some of the most stubborn beliefs revolve around a single question: What does it take to grab the attention and interest you need to procure a wide theatrical release? Most producers will…
Location scouts and production companies have a long list of factors to take into account as they choose filming locations, production sound stages and post-production services, and one of the most influential factors has little to do with scenery and accessibility, and everything to do with dollar signs: local tax credits. As nations and municipalities…