When California Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled his final state budget on June 29, he did not include funding for the postproduction tax credit bill that certain segments of Hollywood are attempting to push through.
That doesn’t mean all is lost for AB 2319, just that the bill will work its way through the state legislature and attempt to gain funding through a trailer bill. But to do that, advocates, including the California Post Alliance (CAPA), the Editors Guild and now SAG-AFTRA president Sean Astin, are calling for industry workers to contact their representatives in support of the legislation.
“While our union’s members are most known for their work in front of the camera, as president I also want to lend my voice to our members who make a living in postproduction,” Astin says in a video released to The Hollywood Reporter before it was shown at a California Post Alliance (CAPA) town hall at the Sony studio lot on Tuesday night. “SAG-AFTRA singers, voiceover artists and loop groups, I want you to know that I see you and the union sees you. SAG-AFTRA has your back as AB 2319 makes it way to Gov. Newsom’s desk.”
The union leader and Lord of the Rings actor added, “It was amazing to get the $750 million tax credit. But now we have to incentivize companies to keep postproduction work in California. Please let Gov. Newsom know that we need to fund AB 2319 in this year’s budget. And ask your state senator to support the bill.”
SAG-AFTRA submitted a letter of support in favor of the bill earlier in the month, but the video marks the first time that its top member leader is getting involved, marking an escalation of the union’s advocacy for legislation that is already supported by L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, Netflix, Apple, the Television Academy and the California IATSE Council.
“Most people don’t generally think of post production work as separate from production. But, when productions choose to ship that post production work out of the country to take advantage of tax incentives, our workers know all too well that it is costing them jobs,” Astin said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.
In California, postproduction expenses can already qualify for a tax credit if the project’s principal photography also takes place in the state. AB 2319, carried by state Assemblymember Nick Schultz, aims to offer a 35 percent base tax credit to productions that locate their postproduction work in the state but shoot elsewhere or shoot in California but don’t receive a production tax credit. CAPA is the sponsor of the bill, and in June the Editors Guild joined as a co-sponsor.
The bill has already passed the state Assembly and is currently making its way through the state Senate during a cash-strapped year for California. The bill will next enter the Senate Appropriations Committee on August 3.
“This is an all-hands-on-deck moment for our industry,” sad CAPA president Marielle Abaunza and CAPA founding member Fletcher Sheridan in a statement. “We are deeply grateful to SAG-AFTRA for standing alongside California’s post-production community. Their support of AB 2319 strengthens our message: that post-production is vital to California’s creative economy, and Hollywood’s future.”
Watch Astin’s video below.
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