If you need information regarding local film production laws or film production tax incentives anywhere, worldwide, then visit The Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI).
AFCI is the official professional organization for film commissioners. It assists film, television and video producers throughout the world.
AFCI is a great resource for navigating local laws for film production. Additionally, AFCI provides a wealth of resources online for members and nonmembers alike.
My two favorite tools:
• Find a Film Commission – By simply clicking on a map, you are able to drill down to find every film commission in any geographic area.
• Dynamic Incentive Tool – This simple click-through menu gives very detailed information tax incentives for film production throughout the world.
Outside general counsel offer small- to mid-sized businesses the broadest possible range of legal expertise with a financial commitment that is manageable.
Imagine that you have run your business successfully for the past 3 years and you want to invest in a new product line and a new manufacturing technology. At the same time, one of your former employees is blogging your reputation into the ground.
It is obvious that you should seek legal counsel, but how much advice do you actually need to make the right decisions?
For a small- to mid-sized business, the answer to this question is often controlled by its balance sheet.
Most companies do not want to hire an in-house attorney simply because of the cost of salary and benefits. Those that have a lawyer on staff often learn that it is necessary to hire additional outside counsel to supplement the expertise of their in-house counsel.
By hiring outside general counsel, you combine the talents of an entire law firm. Plus, you can manage your legal costs on a month to month or project basis.
Only weeks after the New York Times reported the benefits of New York’s tax breaks for film and television production, the New York Post reports that there is no additional funding in the current New York State budget to fund the program. As a result, zero television pilots are schedule for production this year in New York, which might be an indication that feature film production could slow.
Keep an eye on New Jersey’s production numbers as scheduling flows out of New York.
Other States to watch:
California – In light of the economy, California may up its tax credits in an effort to attract production.
Michigan – Motown Motion Picture Studios recently announced it would build a $54mm studio in Pontiac due largely to the tax credit this state offers.
New Mexico – A recent study by Ernst & Young shows a significant positive impact on this state’s economy.
Welcome to my new online presence, ZeglarskiEsq.com. I’m Robert Zeglarski, an attorney in New York City and the person who will be posting to this blog.
This blog will serve as a place for me, my friends, family, colleagues and clients to connect with each other and the world. While I have spent much time developing an online presence on professional networking sites, ZeglarskiEsq.com will expand and deepen my online engagement.
This new online effort will center around two priorities:
Communication – Incredibly, there are readers who are eager for information about legal and business issues. Does anyone even care what I think? Regardless, this site will feature timely and in-depth content meant to reflect my observations and opinions. Keep tabs on the blog (RSS feed) and take a moment to sign up for e-mail updates from me so you can be sure you don’t miss a major announcement or my useful/less commentary.
Participation - I started my career while I was an elected official in my hometown of Roselle Park, New Jersey, where I saw the impact of people coming together to achieve a common goal. On the flip side, I saw that miscommunication was the greatest barrier to development. I encourage you to post your thoughts and engage in this conversation.
If you have an idea that you would rather not share publicly, please feel free to email me at rlz@sovrlaw. As with most blogs, ZeglarskiEsq.com is a work in progress. I hope to blog regularly (except when I get lazy) and develop new features that make our dialogue more interesting.
Thank you for reading!
