The anti-runaway movement scored a major victory last weekend. As the legislative session was in its 11th hour on Saturday (5/31), the Illinois Senate passed a bill offering a tax credit to eligible longform and shortform shoots in the state. The thumbs up from the Senate followed passage hours earlier by the Illinois House of Representatives. As earlier reported (SHOOT, 5/23, p. 1), the 25 percent tax credit, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2004, applies to the first $25,000 in wages per worker per production. Workers must be Illinois residents hired for a qualifying feature, TV program, commercial or sponsored content project lensed in the state. Key aspects of the tax credit need to be defined in the coming months by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Development (DCEO). Currently, the tax credit must be earned by a company certified to do business in Illinois, a prerequisite that will be defined in detail by the DCEO. Projects for advertising purposes, including commercials and branded entertainment, will qualify for the tax credit as long as each has a minimum of $50,000 in wages being paid to Illinois residents….Alexandra Chamberlain has been promoted from head of production to executive producer at bicoastal Coppos Films. She will work closely with Coppos owner/executive producer Michael Appel and managing director Joanne Ferraro.…Bicoastal 3-D animation/visual effects/design house Hornet has diversified into live action, launching Live Hornet. The new live action division opens with a roster consisting of directors Raphael Mazzucco and Brian Koons. The latter’s reputation is in comedy while Mazzucco is a still photographer known for his work in fashion advertising….John Baldi has been named creative director of Mosaic Music Publishing, Los Angeles. He will work with current writers and recording artists at the company, perform A&R efforts to attract new talent and seek expanded placement of Mosaic’s music catalog assets in all media. Baldi formerly was a partner in Los Angeles-based music marketing firm Natural Energy Lab, where he oversaw the placement of songs in all forms of entertainment and advertising, including national spots for Chrysler, Nissan and Motorola, among others….
Alec Baldwin Urges Judge To Stand By Dismissal Of Involuntary Manslaughter Case In “Rust” Shooting
Alec Baldwin urged a New Mexico judge on Friday to stand by her decision to skuttle his trial and dismiss an involuntary manslaughter charge against the actor in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of a Western movie.
State District Court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed the case against Baldwin halfway through a trial in July based on the withholding of evidence by police and prosecutors from the defense in the 2021 shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film "Rust."
The charge against Baldwin was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it can't be revived once any appeals of the decision are exhausted.
Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey recently asked the judge to reconsider, arguing that there were insufficient facts and that Baldwin's due process rights had not been violated.
Baldwin, the lead actor and co-producer on "Rust," was pointing a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal when it went off, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza. Baldwin has said he pulled back the hammer — but not the trigger — and the revolver fired.
The case-ending evidence was ammunition that was brought into the sheriff's office in March by a man who said it could be related to Hutchins' killing. Prosecutors said they deemed the ammunition unrelated and unimportant, while Baldwin's lawyers alleged that they "buried" it and filed a successful motion to dismiss the case.
In her decision to dismiss the Baldwin case, Marlowe Sommer described "egregious discovery violations constituting misconduct" by law enforcement and prosecutors, as well as false testimony about physical evidence by a witness during the trial.
Defense counsel says that prosecutors tried to establish a link... Read More