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Issues and Actions

Section 181 Update

Today’s update is a guest post from Raz Cunningham.

On Dec. 31, 2009, Section 181 of the American Jobs Creation Act expired. It is going to be renewed in 1 of 2 possible forms. Either in the Tax Extenders Act of 2009 (the House Bill) or the American Worker State and Business Relief Act (the Senate Bill). The language is the same as it was for Section 181, the same tax breaks/benefits still apply. In the Tax Extenders Act of 2009, the language can be found in Section 117 of the Bill; in the American Worker State and Business Relief Act it can be found in Section 145. The language of these two sections is EXACTLY the same. The Senate Bill has already passed in the Senate and is on its way to the House.

What’s important to note is that one of these two Bills, either or, is overwhelmingly expected to pass. Neither Section of either Bill has been the source of any controversy or contesting and is strongly supported by both Parties. Once either Bill is passed, any qualifying film made from Jan 1st, 2010 to Dec. 31st 2010 will be able to take advantage of the tax breaks.

Raz Cunningham is a filmmaker based out of New York & Rhode Island, about to start Pre-Production on his first full length feature film “Our Last Days As Children” this summer.

Categories
Issues and Actions

Do Film Festivals Matter?

Dave ponders at The Hot Blog.
Eugene wonders at Indiewire.
I happily sit at home.

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Issues and Actions

Problem #25: Know The Audience

Brian Newman has a good response to #25 of my current 38 Ways The Film Industry Is Failing Today.

Brian recommends some good specific action to start to solve this issue (how the film industry does not know its audience).  He sums up the situation well:

I understand the whole “I’m an artist, not a marketer” thing, actually, but in this day and age, to not think about your audience in advance is not just poor business, it ignores the fundamental changes that have hit every business and every art form – that audiences are more participatory, so you can’t just try to engage them with a product and no conversation.

But read his post and get the whole thing.  He’s a smart guy and worth your time.

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Issues and Actions

Wanted: Film Fest Panels On Privacy Issues

As traditional media merges with new & social media, the issues we need to be concerned about also start to change.  Filmmakers are only now starting to wake up to the fact that they should be the owners of the data that their work generates, particularly if they are being asked to license their work for such low fees as currently are in vogue.

Let’s say that you do gather 500,000 email addresses during the build and release of your movie.  What are you going to do with those addresses?  What moral and ethical issues are related to this?

Is it just my imagination or have I really not seen a privacy panel at a film convention?  Who is going to take the lead on this?

And whom would you suggest be on this panel?

Have you checked out the Electronic Privacy Information Center?

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Issues and Actions

Big Questions Need Your Answers

The Strategic Management Research Team at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management is tackling some of the film industry’s tough issues, and they need your help!

Please take 10 minutes to share your views with them through this short survey, and to say thank you….THEY’RE GIVING AWAY A BRAND NEW APPLIE iPAD to one lucky winner.

Follow this link to the survey and don’t forget to enter your name to win:
Take the Survey

Or copy and paste the URL below into your internet browser:

http://ucla.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_0AlroiWqiQlSjs0&SVID=

I have taken the survey.  It doesn’t really address what type of film that pertains to the survey, and that makes it a bit hard to answer some of the questions, but….

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Issues and Actions

Privacy 101: Facebook More Scary Than Fun?

The NYTimes reports on the latest glitch that allowed your “friends” to see your private conversations.

Categories
Issues and Actions

Not Good For Indies: Pay To Play Trailers

Hollywood Reporter reports on this distressing situation. You want to be sure your trailer is seen? Better cough some pretty green.