Massachusetts Governor Signs Film/TV Tax Incentive Bill Into Law

On Wednesday, November 23rd, Governor Mitt Romney signed the tax incentive
bill that the Boston AFTRA/SAG office, along with numerous other industry
members, have been working to enact in Massachusetts. The new law puts the Bay
State in the spotlight as a competitive venue for motion picture and
commercial production, and not surprisingly is already garnering interest from
motion picture studios that would not otherwise have come to the Commonwealth.
Upon hearing the news, Mary Ann Hughes, Vice President, Film Production
Planning, Walt Disney Company commented "This law makes Massachusetts very
competitive in attracting film and TV production. We look forward to doing
business in Massachusetts."

The new law will take effect
in 90 days but will be retroactive to January 1, 2006. Its principal elements
include a 20% tax credit on all Massachusetts source payroll, a 25% tax credit
on qualified production expense in Massachusetts, and a sales tax credit for
producers who spend a minimum aggregate of $250,000 per year in the
commonwealth. The law is in place through the year 2013.

We
have many people to thank for their leadership and support on this important
issue. In the house - Speaker Sal DiMasi, Speaker Pro-Tem Tom Petrolati,
Representative Tom O'Brien (the bill's chief sponsor), Representative Brain
Wallace, Representative John Binienda, and Representative Daniel Webster. In
the Senate - Senate President Robert Travaglini, Senator Jim Timilty, and
Senator Cynthia Creem. And of course, Governor Mitt Romney. Our collaborative
efforts will return millions of dollars of lost revenue to our state economy;
revenue (and jobs) that otherwise would have been lost to other states or
other countries.

We have more work ahead, most significantly
on the creation of a state sanctioned film office under the Executive Office
of Economic Development. We will continue to report to you on this and other
important developments in our efforts to create more work opportunities for
our members in New England.