The Simpsons Take the Bowl

Photo by Matthew Imaging

by Linda A. Rapka

The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra performs under the baton of Homer Simpson (aka Principal Conductor Thomas Wilkins). Photo by Matthew Imaging

Springfield descended upon the Hollywood Bowl last month during an unprecedented three-day concert extravaganza celebrating the music of “The Simpsons.”

Preceding the show’s milestone 26th season, “The Simpsons Take the Bowl” premiered Friday, Sept. 12, and continued through the warm summer weekend. Guests filtering into the venue were greeted by “Simpsons” visuals throughout: ribbons of giant pink donuts cascading overhead; a jumbo blowup of Blinky, Springfield’s infamous three-eyed nuclear fish; the Duff Beer blimp (in balloon form) hovering over the amphitheater; and of course, “Simpsons” characters in full costume, greeting and taking pictures with excited guests of all ages. Continue reading →

CA Film and TV Tax Credit Gets Major Boost

With much fanfare from the local entertainment industry, Gov. Jerry Brown signs AB 1839 into law at a ceremony outside the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood Sept. 18. Photo: Courtesy IATSE Local 600

Entertainment workers up and down the state celebrate Gov. Brown signing into law AB 1839

by Linda A. Rapka

On Sept. 18, Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law AB 1839, a bill that strengthens our state’s film and TV tax credit program to bring more entertainment jobs back to California.

This effort has been years in the making. Local 47 and the Recording Musicians Association of Los Angeles worked closely with SAG-AFTRA, IATSE, Teamsters, DGA and others to form a coalition to lobby and pass this important legislation. Continue reading →

Get Your Money!

money-bills

Still waiting on that recording session check? Here’s how to get paid without sounding like a broken record

There should be no mystery in getting paid for working. Businesses hire people to do things all the time. When you are hired to help make an album, the rules of the music business are no different — musicians need to get paid, too. Below are three simple steps to help you get paid on time, every time.

3 Steps to Get Your Money:

1. Get hired for a union session — wooo!
2. Submit your AFM B-4 report form.
3. Get Paid.

When called for a recording sessions to make an album, our deal with the major record companies is that you get paid within three weeks from when the AFM paperwork gets submitted to the company. The AFM B-4 report form (see a sample B-4 here) is the paperwork needed as, when completed, it describes all of the necessary information for their payroll company to cut your paycheck. This needs be submitted to the record company for payment. That’s pretty much it.

Need Paperwork?

Contact your Local 47 Sound Recording Business Representative:

• (323) 993-3170

• email us

• Visit the Sound Recording page at afm47.org to view and download forms Continue reading →

Member CD Spotlight: ‘Awake and Dream’ – works by Lior Rosner

Concertmaster Katia Popov performs a violin solo during the recording session with the Hollywood Studio Symphony for Lior Rosner’s debut classical album, “Awake and Dream.” Photo courtesy of Lior Rosner

Since moving to Los Angeles from his native Israel, Lior Rosner has made a name for himself as a composer of rare versatility. Perhaps best known as the composer of the theme music for the “Ellen DeGeneres Show,” he has worked in film, TV and video games, and scored trailers and commercials for huge projects and brands.

A graduate of the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, he studied composition and theory with composers Haim Alexander and Mark Kopytman. After graduating, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a film composer. During his many years of success in this medium, he has continued to compose classical music, including chamber works that have been played by various ensembles, among them the Armadillo String Quartet and the Pacific Composers Forum.

But concert music has always been dear to Rosner’s heart, and his artistry is on full display with his new collection of vocal and instrumental works, “Awake and Dream,” released on Bridge Records. Continue reading →

#listenLA spotlight: Rebecca Ferguson Pays Ultimate Tribute to Billie Holiday

When setting out to cover songs by the incomparable Billie Holiday, what more of an homage could one make than to record them in the very same room as Ms. Holiday herself did over 60 years ago?

Last month, British singer/songwriter and former “X Factor” finalist Rebecca Ferguson did just that when she hopped on a plane to Hollywood and spent two days within the famed walls of Capitol Studios. A stellar group of 20 Los Angeles string musicians was contracted by Ross deRoche, who was delighted at the results.

Read the full story at listen-la.com!

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
Download pdf

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 →