LA Teachers Sign on to Support Musicians

UTLA endorses AB 1199 to improve CA Film/Tax Program for musicians; bill now heads to the Senate

UTLA

United Teachers Los Angeles is the latest organization to join musicians in supporting AB 1199, a bill aimed at strengthening the Film/TV Tax Credit Program as it relates to music scoring work done in California.

Today the teachers union adds its name to a growing list of AB 1199 supporters including The Recording Academy Los Angeles and San Francisco chapters, UFCW Local 770, Society of Composers & Lyricists, American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers, Professional Musicians of California (AFM Locals CA Conference), and over 350 petition signers.

Show your support – sign our petition!

The bill soared soared through the California State Assembly this week, where it landed bi-partisan approval to move on to the Senate. It is here where musicians hope its language will be further amended to create a carve-out for scoring work for motion pictures and television in the state.

The political committee led by Local 47 rank-and-file members along with titled officers says that while these successes are encouraging, the real work has only just begun. In order to keep momentum moving forward on this legislation, musicians are forming the California Music Alliance, a new coalition of music organizations, labor and community groups, and individuals who want to see more music work come to the state.

Sign up for Local 47 Action Alerts to receive AB 1199 news & updates

 

Deaf West’s ‘Spring Awakening’ a Stunning Triumph

Innovative choreography delivers a powerful experience for hearing and non-hearing audiences alike

by Linda A. Rapka

Based on German playwright Frank Wedekind’s controversial 1891 stage play, the rock musical “Spring Awakening” debuted over a century later in the 1990s. With music by Duncan Sheik and book and lyrics by Steven Sater, “Spring Awakening” went on to Broadway to win eight Tony awards and a Grammy for Best Musical Show Album. Continue reading

AB 1199 passes unanimously through Assembly floor!

Great news, AB 1199 supporters! This week the bill soared unanimously through the California State Assembly, landing bi-partisan approval to move on to the Senate.

While this is an exciting success, our real work is now ahead of us. We need to ensure further amendments are made to the language to achieve a carve-out for scoring work for motion pictures and television in the state.

Sign up for Local 47 Action Alerts to receive AB 1199 news & updates.

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From the President’s Desk

An update from Local 47 President John Acosta

Many of you have expressed a desire to know the next steps planned now that the Motion Picture/TV Employment Task Force report was delivered back in April. I urge you to read the officer reports in Overture to stay up to date on all that is going on, but I’d like to take this opportunity to bring you squarely up to the minute on where we are with progress.

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Final Note: Esther Klein Roth

Note TreeLife Member. Piano
10/17/1916 – 3/2/2015

by Jacqueline Rankin, daughter

Esther Klein Roth, a classical pianist and long-time life member of Local 47, died March 2, 2015, at the age of 98. Esther was a child prodigy whose teachers included Olga Steeb, Alfred Mirovitch, and Alexis Kall. Josef Hofmann, the eminent pianist and director of the Curtis Institute of Music heard her play and urged her to attend the Institute, but she had to pass up this opportunity because of the hard economic times. Continue reading

June 2015 Overture Online: AB 1199 Gains Steam in Sacramento

June 2015 cover

Overture Online: June 2015

NEW ISSUE OUT NOW – Read the Overture Online on your smartphone or tablet available from the App Store or Google Play.

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While Overture Online is optimized for reading via the app versions, readers may also access the new issue on your web browser (must have flash enabled).

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