Reminder to Candidates: Campaign statements & photos due Sept. 25

Candidates running in the 2014 Local 47 General Election are reminded that their 100-word campaign statement and photo for inclusion in the November 2014 issue of Overture are due to the Secretary/Treasurer’s office no later than Thursday, Sept. 25. Please refer to Article IX, Section 12 of the Local 47 Bylaws (with amendments through July 2014). The Bylaws are available to read online by logging into your afm47.org member account or by request from the Secretary/Treasurer’s office: 323.993.3159.

Reminder From the Election Board:
The Local 47 Election Board reminds nominees to review Article IX, Sections 2, 4 and 6 of the Bylaws, which were revised in 2011.

Michael Giacchino, Jorge Calandrelli to be Honored at Golden Score Awards

American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers and the Composers & Arrangers Foundation will celebrate the musical artistry of two Local 47 stars

by Tatiana Arias

The American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers (ASMAC) and Composers & Arrangers Foundation of America (CAFA) will honor award-winning film and television composer Michael Giacchino and arranger, composer, and producer Jorge Calandrelli at the 2014 Golden Score Awards.

“Both men are world renowned in their respective fields and we are excited to have this opportunity to recognize their achievements this year,” said ASMAC President Chris Walden.

The annual awards ceremony will be held Sept. 28 in the Ahmanson Ballroom at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. Continue reading →

Welcome to Pasadena, ROPA!

Approximately 100 ROPA delegates gathered for a photo op outside the Pasadena Central Library at the opening ceremony of the conference, where Executive Secretary/Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor Maria Elena Durazo delivered the keynote speech. Photo by Linda A. Rapka

Local 47 hosts the 30th annual conference of the Regional Orchestra Players Association

Local 47 was honored to host the 30th Anniversary Regional Orchestra Players Association Conference (ROPA) at the Pasadena Westin Hotel Aug. 1-3. ROPA President Carla Lehmeier-Tatum of Albuquerque Local 618 lead approximately 100 delegates, AFM officers and Symphonic Services Division staff through three days presenting the latest information and facts on regional orchestras. Continue reading →

Bringing it All Back Home

Entertainment workers take to Sacramento to bring jobs back to California

Words + photos by Linda A. Rapka

The behind-the-camera workers of th e film and television industry transformed the California State Capitol into a production studio on what was dubbed “Mobilization Day,” demonstrating to lawmakers how the jobs that bring our favorite movies and television shows to life also vitalize the state’s economy.

Hundreds of entertainment workers descended upon the steps of the Capitol Aug. 20 in an impressive show of support for AB 1839 (Bocanegra/Gatto), a bill that will strengthen California’s film and TV tax incentive program. Continue reading →

Musicians Applaud State Legislators’ Commitment to Enhance California’s Film and TV Production Incentive Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Press contact: Linda A. Rapka 323.993.3162

LOS ANGELES, CA (AUGUST 28, 2014) — The American Federation of Musicians Local 47, the labor union representing more than 7,000 Los Angeles musicians, and the Recording Musicians Association of Los Angeles applaud the announcement by Gov. Jerry Brown and other state leaders affirming their commitment to expanding California’s Film and Television Job Retention Act.

Members of the California Film & Television Production Alliance, AFM Local 47 and RMALA stand alongside fellow entertainment guilds and thousands of hard-working men and women up and down the state in commending the governor and a band of state legislators who yesterday confirmed that California’s film and television production incentive program will be expanded, extended, and improved through the passage of AB 1839. The bill gives the program additional funding of $330 million per year for five years, more than tripling the current annual allocation.

Musicians are happy about language included in the legislation that will increase the credit for qualified expenditures relating to music scoring and music track recording by musicians. Further, the bill will urge Congress and the International Trade Commission to investigate aggressively and impose sanctions and tariffs on elements of production, including music scoring, visual effects and virtual photography, protected by the Tariff Act, to combat unfair and illegal competition from international parties. Continue reading →

Labor Day office closures

Our offices will be closing at 2 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 29, and we will be closed all day Monday, Sept. 1 in observance of Labor Day.

Enjoy a wonderful and safe holiday!

#listenLA spotlight: Interview with ‘House of Cards’ composer Jeff Beal

On the heals of two new Emmy nominations for his music for “House of Cards,” Jeff Beal talks about composing for the hit Los Angeles-scored series

Beautifully underscoring the dramatic intrigue of Netflix series “House of Cards,” Jeff Beal’s darkly atmospheric score just garnered two more Emmy nominations. This marks the composer’s third Emmy nod for the show, and 13th altogether.

To date, Beal has won three times, including for the 2007 TNT miniseries “Nightmares & Dreamscapes” and USA Network’s detective series “Monk” in 2003, which were also scored here with our wonderful Los Angeles musicians.

Recorded at his home studio, music for “House of Cards” features more than a dozen of L.A.’s premiere string musicians. Beal spoke with Linda A. Rapka from his home studio about composing for the hit series.

Congratulations on your recent Emmy nominations for “House of Cards”! For both seasons, you’ve recorded in your home studio with Los Angeles musicians.
“They’re fantastic. I have a room in my studio where I do a lot of live recording. With the tight schedules and turnaround times these days being what they are, I love being able to call on the best players in the world and have them available at the drop of a hat. It’s a luxury to work with them. They know the kind of stuff I write, and over the years we have developed a shorthand with each other. It’s nice not having to over-explain to musicians your approach to making music; here a lot of that is sort of a given.”

Read the full interview at listen-la.com

Listen Up! Campaign Gains International Support

At an advance screening for Lionsgate-released film “Step Up All In,” Hong Kong campaign supporters distributed leaflets to moviegoers in both English and Cantonese that described how the company is offshoring music jobs on U.S. taxpayers’ dime by accepting millions in tax subsidies. Photos & images: Courtesy Listen Up!

Activist and labor groups in Hong Kong show support for American musicians calling for Lionsgate to stop offshoring film scoring jobs on U.S. taxpayers’ dime

Hong Kong-based Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehavior (SACOM) and several other Chinese activist groups have announced support of the American Federation of Musician’s Listen Up! campaign calling to end offshoring film scoring jobs.

At an advance screening for “Step Up All In,” the fifth release in the motion picture franchise, Hong Kong campaign supporters distributed leaflets to moviegoers in both English and Cantonese that described how Lionsgate Entertainment is offshoring music jobs on U.S. taxpayers’ dime by accepting millions in tax subsidies. Continue reading →

Keeping the ‘Hollywood Brass Sound’ Alive

Vince DeRosa tribute album pays homage to the local living legend

words by Linda A. Rapka

photos by Bonnie Perkinson

In homage to one of the greatest brass players of the Hollywood Brass Golden Era, “Hollywood Epic Brass: The Vince DeRosa Tribute Album,” an album conceived by Kevin Kaska, debuts this month.

It was from listening recently to a massive number of film scores on which DeRosa played that Kaska hatched the idea for a tribute album. “I wanted to pay tribute to one of the world’s greatest brass players still alive,” Kaska said. “Many Los Angeles brass players have him to thank for the techniques he has taught.” Continue reading →

Roy’s Run for Christopher

Onlookers at the Burbank Tennis Center cheer on Roy Wiegand during his July 4th Run For Christopher, during which the trumpeter and ultra-marathon runner ran 86 miles to benefit families and children suffering from cancer. All photos courtesy Roy Wiegand

Trumpeter and ultra-marathon runner Roy Wiegand runs 86 miles to benefit families and children suffering from cancer

by Linda A. Rapka

Christopher Wilke, the inspiration behind Roy’s Run for Christopher.

Fourth of July weekend to most of us means lazing around with family, friends and BBQ. But for Roy Wiegand, the holiday weekend was spent running 86 miles in the blistering summer sun in memory of a young cancer victim.

In honor of Christopher Wilke, a 12-year-old boy who died of cancer in March, the trumpeter and ultra-marathon runner ran his Run for Christopher all the way from Angels Stadium in Anaheim to the Michael Hoefflin Foundation in Santa Clarita, all to raise funds to benefit the families of children with cancer as well as the children themselves, in addition to child-cancer research. Continue reading →