Film Industry

Technicolor Inc. plans to lay off 50 employees at its relatively new Flower Street facility by Jan. 14, according to a recent state filing. Plans for the layoffs, filed with the California Employment Development Department, affect the 40,000-square-foot lab in the San Fernando Road corridor where the company moved roughly 100 film-processing jobs last summer. Technicolor transferred the jobs to Glendale after it downsized and shuttered its North Hollywood facility. Last month, Technicolor released an update of its 2011 financial performance and objectives for 2012, in which the company said it was “considering a number of cost-reduction action plans.” Last January, Technicolor officials said the move to Glendale was a natural choice because of the city's push for its San Fernando Road Creative Corridor and because the facility would be close to DreamWorks Animation and the Walt Disney Co.'s Creative Campus.

Karen S. Kim GLENDALE -- Assemblyman Dario Frommer (D-Glendale) will host a hearing today addressing the growing problem of runaway production in California's film industry. Legislators have been concerned with the increasing number of films and television shows being produced outside of California for the last few years. The hearing will include the Assembly Select Committee on the Future of California's Film Industry, which Frommer heads, and the Assembly Select Committee on Entertainment and the Arts.

ACONA (Altadena Coalition of Neighborhood Associations) meets tomorrow night, Tues., Aug. 9, from 7-8:30 PM at the Altadena Main Library Community Room, 600 E. Mariposa St. Scheduled topics and speakers are: "The Film Industry in Altadena" with Geoffrey Smith from 'Film L.A.' "Liquor Stores in Altadena" with Alex Garcia from Dept. of Regional Planning, Christina Hernandez of Business License & Collection Services Unit, and Anthony Posada from ABC (Alcohol Beverage Control)

Robert Shaffer ONE FOR THE GIPPER At a meeting in Burbank between members of Congress and Hollywood heads to find ways the federal government can stop runaway film and television production to Canada, various studio and film industry union heads talked about how important the film industry was to the U.S. One Hollywood type asserted it was Hollywood that won the Cold War and opened the Soviet Union. It was the Russian people's desire for American products and the American way of life seen in popular films that really brought the wall down, he said.

I worked in the motion picture industry for 30 years and TV for 10. We have been trying for more than 20 years to get this problem with runaway production solved. If it had been solved 20 years ago, they wouldn't have had all the studios in Vancouver they have and his problems of billions of dollars leaving L.A. wouldn't be happening. We should give the movie makers a tax break, to match what they are doing in Canada. Clarance Konkel Glendale I am a set decorator and set dresser I feel the state should pass legislation for tax incentives in the movie industry here.

Karen S. Kim BURBANK -- Assemblyman Dario Frommer (D-Glendale) will host a round-table discussion with The Creative Coalition, the Entertainment Industry Development Council and the Screen Actors Guild on Friday in Burbank. Joe Pantoliano, actor and executive board member of the coalition, SAG President Melissa Gilbert, other actors, industry and labor leaders and economists are expected to participate. Discussion topics will include technology's effect on the production industry, the need and availability of training programs, upcoming legislative priorities and recent proposals to provide tax incentives for California productions.

Karen S. Kim GLENDALE -- The Assembly on Wednesday passed legislation by Assemblyman Dario Frommer (D-Glendale) that aims to stymie runaway film production. AB 502, which would guarantee loans to independent filmmakers who spend 50% or more of their production budget in California, passed with a 52-11 vote off the Assembly floor. The bill heads to the state Senate for a vote. Frommer will discuss AB 502 at a round-table forum of Assembly's Select Committee on the Future of of the California Film Industry at 10 a.m. today at the Screen Actors Guild Pension office, 3601 W. Olive Ave., Suite 200, Burbank.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said he would consider taking further steps to help the local movie and TV industry, including lowering permit fees and speeding up the film permitting process. Speaking to a small group of Hollywood producers, location managers and film industry executives Wednesday, Villaraigosa outlined a series of steps the city has taken to assist the entertainment business, including offering free parking on city lots and working with the Department of Water and Power to install more electrical power nodes downtown.

Last year, to better meet the needs of its participants, the annual American Film Market, the world's largest motion picture trade event, moved its show dates from February/March to November. This year, to handle the increased and early responses from film companies around the world to be involved in the 26th AFM at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, event organizers are adding additional office space at the adjacent JW Marriott Le Merigot Hotel. This is only the third time in the last 16 years that the AFM has been held at the Loews Santa Monica that the Le Merigot has been called upon to handle the overflow from its neighbor, but it will set a AFM record for the most exhibitors' space ever needed during the eight-day event, a 10 percent increase over the November 2004 market.