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From NPR’s Morning Edition: January 5, 2004
"Cheap Labor Lures
Film Productions Abroad"
Hear the 6 minute and 34 second report
in RealAudio format (RealPlayer free download)
This report by National Public Radio covers all sides of the issue of the outsourcing of American film industry’s work. (Runaway Production)
FTAC’s lead attorney Alan Dunn, of the Washington DC based trade law firm Stewart and Stewart, demonstrates why a section 301a petition, which is used by the Motion Picture Association of America, (MPAA) is the best solution to the current outsourcing issue and why it would put an end to this epidemic. (Runaway Production)
Includes interviews with,
* Bryan Unger, associate western executive director, of the Directors Guild of America (DGA)
* Van Stevenson, director of legislative affairs of the Motion Picture Association America (MPAA)
* Stephen Katz ,director of The Center for Entertainment Industry Data and Research (CEIDR)
* Mark D. Lubkeman, Boston Consulting Group, researched Runaway Production for the DGA and Screen Actors Guild (SAG)
* FTAC's lead trade attorney Alan Dunn of the Washington DC based trade law firm Stewart and Stewart
From NPR’s Morning Edition, December 11, 2003
“Vancouver Lures U.S. Film Productions”
Hear the 6 minute and 35 second report here:
in Windows Media Player format
in RealAudio format (RealPlayer free download)
This report by National Public Radio (NPR) covers the issue of, since the start of the Canadian subsidies programs in 1998; Seattle Washington’s film community is being decimated by Outsourcing (Runaway Production).
At the time of this NPR report, “Catwomen” a Warner Bros. Feature, which is coming out on DVD January 18 2005, was shooting principle photography in Vancouver Canada.
The exchange rate, at this time, was $ .66 of a Canadian dollar to an American dollar, making the American dollar worth $1.34 in Canadian funds.
The current exchange rate a year later (January 2005) is $ .86 of a Canadian dollar, to an American dollar, making the American dollar worth only $1.14 in Canadian funds.
Warner Bros. received 11% or 5.5 million dollars from the British Columbia provincial subsidy program (Vancouver).
In addition, Warner Bros. received 16% or 7.5 million dollars from the Canadian federal government subsidy program (Canada).
This means that Warner Bros. received a total of 13 million dollars, from both subsidy programs alone, to shoot, this one feature outside of the United States. With the Federal and provincial subsidy programs one can see how these bribes effect the decisions of where feature films are shot. These subsidy programs, which transfer American jobs to foreign countries, are inconsistent with the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) policies.
In December of 2004 the province of Ontario (Toronto) raised their provincial subsidy to 18% (a 70% increase).
The province of Quebec (Montreal) also raised their provincial subsidy to 20% (a 90% increase).
In January 2005 the province of British Columbia (Vancouver) raised its provincial subsidy to 18%. (a 70% increase).
There is no end in site.
Includes interviews with,
* Robert Wong - Manager, Tax Credit Program, Production Services Tax Credit (PSTC) British Columbia Film
* Donna James, Director Mayor’s Office of Film & Music City of Seattle
* Suzy Kellett, Director of Washington State Film Office
* Congressman David Drier 26th District State of California
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