James Zahn

Check out this article I wrote discussing incentive programs you should consider for your next project

10

Is Kansas getting ready to compete with neighboring states offering film & TV tax incentives? 👀 Filmmakers are currently urging legislators to pass the Film Tax Credit Bill in Kansas. The bill would create a Film and Digital Media Production program, offering a sales tax exemption and non-refundable tax credits to qualifying production activities in the state. Educational and economic development programs to incentivize and promote the growth of the film production industry in Kansas would also be established. Some details from the proposed bill are: ➖ Program funding of $12 million dollars annually, of which $10 million would be allocated to film & TV tax credits with $2 million funding workforce training & educational funds ➖ 30% transferable tax credit on eligible spend ➖ Potential uplifts available for multi-film deals, television series, high budgeted projects, investing in local infrastructure, and projects hiring 50% or more Kansas residents  ➖ Initial application required The approval of this bill will certainly help Kansas lure film and television productions to their state, in addition to creating more jobs, expanding workforce development in the industry and aid in promoting tourism. DM me for more information, and follow me for future tax credit and incentive updates! #filmproduction #filmmaking  #filmmakers #accountants

13

MARTIN GROVE'S HOLLYWOOD REPORT FOR 5/12/24: APES climbed atop the boxoffice chart with $56.5M, giving exhibitors new hope after a grim winter and spring.   While KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES' opening doesn't come close to 2014's DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES, which kicked off to $72.6M and did $710.6M worldwide, times have changed and those good old days may be gone forever. Nonetheless, KINGDOM's launch is in the ballpark compared to 2011's RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES ($54.8M) and 2017's WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES ($56.3M).   Driven by KINGDOM, the overall marketplace, per Comscore Senior Media Analyst Paul Dergarabedian, totaled $94.4M, up 26.4% from the prior weekend, but down 9% vs. this time last year. Comscore's year to date tally has 2024 at $2.29B, down 22% from $2.93B in 2023. Last weekend 2024 was down 21% vs. 2023.   Meanwhile, back at the multiplexes: Disney/20th Century's PG-13 sci-fi action adventure KINGDOM earned its $56.5M at 4,075 theatres ($13,865). Internationally, it opened to $72.5M, per Comscore, bringing its worldwide total to $129M.   KINGDOM reportedly cost $160M to produce -- but that money's all on the screen as there aren't any $20M stars in the movie! Hollywood handicappers were bullish on KINGDOM from the start with $50-60M estimates.   Going into this weekend, KINGDOM was tracking best for first choice with men over 25 (10 points over norm) and next best with men under 25 (six points over norm). Women under 25 were okay with five points over norm. Women over 25 were the least likely to be going with three points over norm. Rotten Tomatoes critics are happy at 81% while audiences are just okay at 78%.   Universal/87 North's PG-13 action dramedy THE FALL GUY, directed by David Leitch (JOHN WICK) and starring Ryan Gosling & Emily Blunt, fell to second place in weekend two with $13.7M (-51%) at 4,008 theatres ($3,418). It's done $49.7M domestic and $103.7M worldwide. FALL  reportedly cost $130M after Australia tax credits.   MGM/Amazon's CHALLENGERS held on to third place in weekend three with $4.7M (-38%) at 2,609 theatres ($1,795). It reportedly cost $55M to produce and has done $38.1M domestic and $68.7M worldwide.   As for next weekend's wide releases: Paramount/Maximum Effort's PG rated family dramedy "IF," directed by John Krasinski and starring Ryan Reynolds, should keep the boxoffice sizzling. Media pundits expect $45-55M at about 3,900 theatres.   It's tracking best and equally well for first choice with women under & over 25 (each nine points over norm) and next best with men under 25 (six points over norm). Men over 25 are the least excited (two points over norm).   Lionsgate's R rated horror thriller "THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 1," opening at about 2,800 theatres, is tracking best with men under & over 25, but just equal to norm. It's below norm with men & women under 25. Some more exuberant analysts see it opening to $15-20M.   #movies #boxoffice #martingrove #kingdom            

2

Audacy in the blast zone of deregulation bombshell • How anyone unhappy with George Soros owning a large share of Audacy can now block it or fatally delay it by filing one piece of paper. • If the FCC fails to act in favor of the pending waiver Soros needs, then what? • How Audacy is quickly losing control of a critical timeline out of bankruptcy. • The prognosis of a fresh start promised by Audacy to advertisers and employees in light of recent developments. https://lnkd.in/eFrPBP35

7

Stay tuned

2

1 Comment

O P T I M I S T I C ! ! ”Los Angeles Film and TV Production Sees Sluggish Rebound From Strikes, but There’s Optimism” according to a report from FilmLA which notes an anemic return to filming in the region but that jobs appeared to return in full force in March. Filming in Los Angeles has been slow to bounce back after production in the region was decimated by Hollywood’s historic season of strikes.  The main reason for the sluggish rebound: A double-digit drop in television shoots compared to the same period last year.  Also playing a factor in the decline were reductions in content spend across most major studios, series cancellations and runaway production.  While the difference was steep in January (30.6 percent fewer jobs, totaling 2,282), it was modest in February (5.1 percent fewer jobs, totaling 3,061) and nearly unnoticeable by the end of March (a 0.4 percent increase, totaling 3,274 jobs).  There’s optimism in production levels for feature films. The category rose slightly in the quarter, picking up 634 shoot days to finish an estimated 7 percent ahead of the same months last year. Movies in production included Beverly Hills Cop 4, Atlas, and Lurker, all of which are getting tax credits to film in California.  FilmLA also flagged the loss of commercial production — which slipped nearly 10 percent year-over-year and more than 33 percent below the five-year average — to other jurisdictions as a concern. Filming for smaller, lower-cost shoots, such as documentaries, music videos and still photography, similarly fell by roughly 5 percent. Entertainment Partners https://lnkd.in/g5veEE6R https://lnkd.in/gjhbnQdG

45

2 Comments

The OpEd piece by Bill Miller (President, American Gaming Association) asking for federal action against illegal online gambling operators in the Pittsburgh-Tribune is spot on (see link). It's time for "the Feds" (Department of Justice and FBI) to take comprehensive action to block / disable illegal gambling sites that US players are accessing. The Feds were super effective at dismantling the illegal online prescription drug business in the 1990's. They can do the same for illegal online gambling sites and apps and help our industry protect players in the United States of America. https://lnkd.in/gb8mm7gp

22

2 Comments

Learn how to manage firearms safety from our experienced guests like filmmaker Frank Ziede, and hear about how using VFX can prevent on-set firearms deaths, in this very important episode of VFX for Indies. Please tune in at vfxforindies.com, our YouTube channel, or your favorite podcast app.

4

1 Comment

Check out this fascinating Life Magazine article from August 13, 1951, about the supposed end of the theater industry. What's intriguing is that if you replace the word "Television" with "Cable TV," "Internet Streaming," or any other so-called theater killer, this article could have been written today. As humans, we're inherently social beings. We laugh harder, cry more, and smile brighter when we're together. Our industry has evolved since that 1951 article, and it will continue to do so. Theaters that adapt and innovate will thrive. It's important to remember that theaters are more than just venues for movies. They encompass bowling alleys, arcades, bars, eateries, and most importantly, they serve as social gathering places. While many focus solely on box office numbers, the true value of theaters lies in their role as multifaceted entertainment hubs. The industry will keep evolving, and we're here to stay—just with a slightly different look than in 1951. Read more here (starting on page 102): https://lnkd.in/gVVzr2e8

7

As New Release films move to the streaming small screen, curated film backlist moves to the big screen. Just like musicians now rely on touring because the profit proposition is better than streaming, media content owners see the value proposition of showcasing backlist content and driving fans to event viewing. This is an interesting move for Sony and I like it. In a digital world, where everything is delivered to a screen consumer's perceived content value shrinks. It also creates "marketing stations" in local communities to promote and cater to fandoms for cult and classic properties. They have my attention. #branding #contentmarketing https://lnkd.in/eg2Hjin4

5

1 Comment

What does SAG-AFTRA low budget mean? https://lnkd.in/gXVc3TDE The Low Budget Agreement applies to those films shooting entirely within the United States with a total budget of less than $2,000,000. Include Step No Step No 1 Sort Order 2 Low Budget Theatrical (LBA)

2

H U M B L E D In our industry, toys, you live for these moments. We bet on brands and product innovations every year. It’s costly. Some don’t sell at all. Some breakeven. Some do OK. The OK one’s carry the business. And very occasionally, say once every 10 years or so an innovation creates a new category. It goes beyond OK and has every mum at Christmas hoping, praying they can get one. I’ve been humbled to hear that my peers are saying this about our new toy. We worked with The Walt Disney Company and launched Real FX Disney Stitch puppet in June this year. It's a cross between an animatronic and a puppet. I must have heard the word 'Puppetronics' 10 times this week, and it’s only Tuesday. This feels like 'FURBY MANIA' from the 1990s all over again. Or ZHU ZHU pets, remember that one, the start of the electronic pet sales explosion. Over 20 ROS (Rate of Sale)! That's insane in December, let alone June and July. Sold out across every store, every market, every country. Utterly humbling. No. 1 on Amazon USA in 72 hours at $79.99. No. 1 across Indies, at $79.99! The #1 toy for everyone who has taken it. Social media is on fire; 100 million views and rising. Consumers, fans, collectors, people who don't even know Stitch. 🔥🔥🔥 There is simply nothing like it. You will think he's real. He thinks he's real. Children and adult collectors think he's real. He's Real FX 🤣 Orders are being taken now for November, December and January shipments and we'll do everything we can to fulfil. 🙏  #toys #bestseller #toyindustry

417

66 Comments

The Future of Hollywood is Here! …or it’s potential ruin...no big deal.🤗 David Ellison taking charge of Paramount Pictures is a bigger deal than you might think. He’s got a chance to do something truly extraordinary. • Ellison plans to transform Paramount into a “tech hybrid” and he’s very qualified to do so. He is an experienced film producer and his dad is the co-founder of Oracle.  • This means heavy use of AI, cloud computing, cutting edge virtual production and visual effects. What it should also mean is smart, savvy and creative marketing. • He has a respect for Paramount’s history, but maintains that nostalgia isn’t the way forward. So please let’s not remake Forrest Gump or have 15 more Top Guns. Keep making Mission Impossible though! • He’s gonna trim the fat. An estimated $2 billion of fat. Paramount is gonna be like Survivor for the foreseeable future. Good luck to everyone at Paramount, sharpen your spears and polish your resumes. • Can he make Paramount+ compete with Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime etc.? No he can’t, I think I got an offer for 3 free months of Paramount+ for ordering food on Uber Eats, I don’t think that’s the path to success. • But maybe it can be part of something bigger and better, bundling is all the rage in streaming and sees much less churn. Sony? Starz? Does Microsoft wanna enter the biz? There's no doubt some form of partnership is necessary. All I know is he should do all or at least one of these three things: • Be the opposite of what everyone hates. *cough* Max app. *cough* Zaslav. *cough* Be the face of Paramount, endear yourself to the public, let us get to know you and especially your love for film, give us a top 5, show us your Criterion collection!  • Go hard on video games, you’ll sell more copies of a AAA game than box office tix. I want a Godfather open world GTA style game, a quirky Titanic Simulator where the ship sinks no matter what, and a Terminator survival game (take Last of Us and replace zombies with robots). • Focus on incredible stories and innovative filmmaking, give indie artists and student filmmakers a chance to shine on a big stage, let viewers connect with the day to day at the studio. All of this will create a community. And that’s what should separate Paramount from the other media giants.  I've been very critical and dismissive of Paramount over the years(did we really need a remake of Ben-Hur?), but I want it to succeed. It's just too iconic to be salvaged for parts, there's so much history and so much potential. Don't mess it up Dave!

6

1 Comment