By MILLIE TAKAKI
The roller coaster ride known as the legislative process continues on Capitol Hill relative to the runaway production issue. An earlier reported effort to piggyback a tax credit for independent film and TV producers on the minimum wage bill (SHOOT spot. com.mentary, 11/12/99, p. 4) has fallen by the wayside.
Rep. Jerry Weller (R-Ill.) was one of the prime backers of the tax break that was designed to help combat the flight of production to foreign countries, particularly Canada, which offers a package of financial incentives to the filmmaking community. However, Weller and several key colleagues pledged to pursue the issue, albeit not on the immediate coattails of any legislation in the current session of Congress.
Weller, Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.), who is chairman of the Entertainment Industry Task Force Committee, and Reps. James Rogan (R-Calif.) and Buck McKeon (R-Calif.) announced the formation of a group of lawmakers who will go on a fact-finding mission regarding runaway production. Based on the information and industry input they gather, this contingent will devise possible legislative remedies to the problem.
The group plans to conduct four field hearings next year, the first slated for January in Los Angeles. Lawmakers have already asked several industry representatives to testify at those public hearings. In fact, during its Legislative Action Day in October (SHOOT, 10/29/99, p. 1), the Association of Imaging Technology & Sound (ITS) was invited to offer testimony during each of the field hearings. The Association of Independent Commercial Producers also expects to testify at the proceedings.
In announcing their anti-runaway plans at a Los Angeles press conference, Weller, Foley, Rogan and McKeon were joined by an alliance of industry organizations, including the ITS; Film US, a group currently consisting of some 200 city and state film commissioners; the Screen Actors Guild; the Directors Guild of America; the Entertainment Industry Development Corporation; the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences; and the Production Equipment Rental Association.
Adding Democrats to the Entertainment Task Force Committee will be one of the first tasks of the lawmakers’ group, as it is currently comprised entirely of Republicans. Support for runaway reform needs to come from both sides of the aisle if any relevant legislation is to gain passage.
The aforementioned tax break for filming linked to the minimum wage measure was scuttled rather quickly. Rep. Bill Archer (R-Texas), a lawmaker who wields considerable influence as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, opposed the tax incentive, saying that it hadn’t been reviewed by his committee and thus shouldn’t have been included in the wage bill. He and other Republican legislators also opposed the tax proposal out of concern that it could somehow benefit the pornographic film industry.
Microsoft Report Says Efforts By Russia, Iran and China To Sway U.S. Voters May Escalate
Foreign adversaries have shown continued determination to influence the U.S. election –- and there are signs their activity will intensify as Election Day nears, Microsoft said in a report Wednesday.
Russian operatives are doubling down on fake videos to smear Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign, while Chinese-linked social media campaigns are maligning down-ballot Republicans who are critical of China, the company's threat intelligence arm said Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Iranian actors who allegedly sent emails aimed at intimidating U.S. voters in 2020 have been surveying election-related websites and major media outlets, raising concerns they could be preparing for another scheme this year, the tech giant said.
The report serves as a warning – building on others from U.S. intelligence officials – that as the nation enters this critical final stretch and begins counting ballots, the worst influence efforts may be yet to come. U.S. officials say they remain confident that election infrastructure is secure enough to withstand any attacks from American adversaries. Still, in a tight election, foreign efforts to influence voters are raising concern.
Microsoft noted that some of the disinformation campaigns it tracks received little authentic engagement from U.S. audiences, but others have been amplified by unwitting Americans, exposing thousands to foreign propaganda in the final weeks of voting.
Russia, China and Iran have all rejected claims that they are seeking to meddle with the U.S. election.
"The presidential elections are the United States' domestic affairs. China has no intention and will not interfere in the US election," the Chinese Embassy said in a statement.
"Having already unequivocally and... Read More