Hollywood Seeks Sharper Teeth for Film and TV Tax Credit Program

Supporters say new legislation to beef up California’s existing tax incentive program will help stem runaway production and bring more music scoring work to the state

by Linda A. Rapka

Actions shining a spotlight on California’s hemorrhaging film and TV industry continue to garner widespread support for new legislation that would sweeten the state’s production tax incentive program.

Hundreds of Californians affected by runaway production attended a series of demonstrations in recent weeks pushing for the passage of AB 1839, which supporters say will help stem runaway production and put Hollywood back on the map as a leading player in the film and TV production industry.

photos by Linda A. Rapka

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#listen-la spotlight: Daft Punk ‘Gets Lucky’ at the Grammys

Robot-headed electronic duo Daft Punk nabbed top honors at the 56th Annual Grammys, taking home Record of the Year for the hit “Get Lucky” and Album of the Year for “Random Access Memories.” By the end of the visually and musically dazzling ceremony, RecordingAcademy voters awarded the French pair a total of four gramophone-shaped trophies.

Over a two-year period in 2011 and 2012, the award-winning music was recorded at three historic Hollywood studios: Capitol, Conway and Hensen. The all-union orchestra, led by Doug Walter and assembled by music contractor Joe Soldo, featured an impressive ensemble of L.A.’s premiere musicians.

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Varèse Sarabande Makes Holiday Magic With the Golden State Pops

by Linda A. Rapka

Varèse Sarabande Records closed out its yearlong 35th anniversary celebration with the Golden State Pops Orchestra with a heartwarming holiday concert at the Warner Grand Theatre Dec. 21.

Varèse Sarabande executive producer Robert Townson on stage with Maestro Steven Allen Fox, the orchestra, the evening’s featured performer vocalists, and flute soloist Sara Andon.
(Photos by Linda A. Rapka)

In honor of three and a half decades of releasing film music, Varèse Sarabande hosted a series of four concerts with GSPO during the orchestra’s 2012/2013 season. Produced and hosted by the label’s executive producer, Robert Townson, the December concert featured memorable scores from Hollywood’s holiday classics to seasonal film favorites.

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Meet Mike

From public service to music, Mike Davis does it all

by Linda A. Rapka

With a love of music almost as strong as his love for public service, Local 47 member Mike Davis has always sought to promote diversity through his work helping the community.

Born in North Carolina, Davis got his first taste of music singing in his church choir, later picking up the saxophone in the fifth grade.

Citing his mother, an educator, as an inspiration, his interests quickly broadened to include public service. Davis launched his career working as a public administrator in Los Angeles after completing graduate school here.

Courtesy of Mike Davis

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#listenLA spotlight: ‘House of Cards’

The Emmy-nominated score to the Netflix original series “House of Cards” features dramatic, atmospheric music from Los Angeles composer Jeff Beal

. house-of-cards-poster

“Of all of the places to record my scores, my #1 choice is always here in Los Angeles,” Beal says. “The L.A. studio players are experienced, smart and professional. They are quick, and agile at breathing life and drama into my work. Their musicianship comprises an intimate mastery of the techniques and skills required in today’s studio playing.”

The orchestra contracted for each session by David Low (who also plays cello) includes more than a dozen of Los Angeles’s premiere string performers whose rich artistry adds that extra something special to Beal’s intriguing scores.

Way to #listenLA!

Catch the new season debuting on Netflix Feb. 14.

Local 47 Office Closure 2/17/2014

AFM Local 47 will be closed on Monday, February 17 in observance of President’s Day.

Congratulations 2014 Grammy Winners!

The following 56th Annual GRAMMY® Award-winning recordings feature the talents of Los Angeles’s incredible AFM Local 47 musicians:

RECORD OF THE YEAR &
BEST POP DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE
‘Get Lucky’
Daft Punk

ALBUM OF THE YEAR &
BEST DANCE/ELECTRONICA ALBUM
‘Random Access Memories’
Daft Punk

BEST POP INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM
‘Steppin’ Out’
Herb Alpert

BEST DANCE RECORDING
‘Clarity’
Zedd Featuring Foxes
Track from: “Clarity”

BEST TRADITIONAL POP VOCAL ALBUM
‘To Be Loved’
Michael Bublé

BEST ROCK PERFORMANCE
‘Radioactive’
Imagine Dragons
Track from: “Night Visions”

BEST TRADITIONAL R&B PERFORMANCE
‘Please Come Home’
Gary Clark Jr.
Track from: “Blak and Blu”

BEST R&B SONG
‘Pusher Love Girl’
Justin Timberlake
Track from: “The 20/20 Experience – The Complete Experience”

BEST IMPROVISED JAZZ SOLO
‘Orbits’
Wayne Shorter, soloist
Track from: “Without a Net”
(The Wayne Shorter Quartet)

BEST LATIN POP ALBUM
‘Vida’
Draco Rosa

BEST INSTRUMENTAL ARRANGEMENT
‘On Green Dolphin Street’
Gordon Goodwin, arranger
(Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band)
Track from: “NA”

ABC Drops ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Band

LOS ANGELES, CA (Feb. 6, 2014) — When “Dancing With the Stars” returns this March, the house band won’t be with it.

ABC and BBC Worldwide Productions announced this week that they will not have the 28 instrumentalists, singers, arrangers and copyists return for season 18.

The network did not announce a reason for the firings, but the American Federation of Musicians cites executive changes at ABC for the decision. The musicians union says the network put “pressure on ‘DWTS’ producer BBC Worldwide Productions to cut corners and pander to a younger viewing audience.” Continue reading →

A New AFM Local is Born!

Local 50 serves performers of regional Mexican music

by Ethan S. Harris

On Jan. 8, the newest Local in the AFM family was born in our own Local 47 Auditorium.

The acting members of the Executive Board of Regional Mexican AFM Local 50 took their oaths of office in front of approximately 20 new members. Also in attendance at the ceremony were Local 47 Vice President John Acosta, Organizer Ethan Harris, and AFM Assistant to the President for the Western United States, Ken Shirk.

AFM Assistant to the President for the Western United States Ken Shirk with the acting Executive Board members of the new non-regional AFM Local 50: Euler Torres (President), Ruben Fernandez (Vice President), John Anthony Diaz (Secretary/Treasurer), and Jesus Tucker (Executive Member-at-Large).

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Congratulations Local 47 Grammy Nominees!

The talents of Local 47 members can be heard on an impressive number of nominated recordings of the 56th Annual Grammy Awards. We congratulate not only those musicians directly nominated, but also the many Los Angeles musicians behind the scenes who performed on these recording dates. The music owes much of its luster to your talents.

Tune in to “Music’s Biggest Night” Sunday, Jan. 26 broadcast live from the StaplesCenter in Los Angeles. The program airs on CBS starting at 8 p.m.

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