TMA SoCal: A Goal Without a Plan is Just a Wish
by Paul Castillo, President
Theater Musicians Association, SoCal
Whenever musical theater musicians meet the discussion of audience awareness inevitably comes up. Many audience members just are not aware that live orchestras are being used for musical theater. It’s an ongoing problem and discussions often end with “What can we do about it?” To fix any problem, it is necessary to follow a plan of action. The title of this article is a quote often attributed to the 20th century writer and journalist Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, and accurately describes what often happens without a plan. So, here’s the plan:
1. Requirement to list musicians in the program: This should be a requirement in the contract or collective bargaining agreement for the production. This is usually quite specific. Example: “The names of the musicians in the orchestra shall be published in the program for the production on the page immediately following the listing of the cast members.” Continue reading
Musicians Talk Tax Credits on KPCC
Rank-and-file AFM Local 47 musicians Tim Davies and Marc Sazer joined KPCC The Frame’s John Horn in studio to talk about the benefits a new music tax credit would have for music jobs in California.
Introduced in April 2017 by Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon, AB 1300, the Music Scoring Tax Credit, would implement a long-sought system for supporting film and television music scoring jobs in California by bringing overseas scoring home.
The bill is aimed at bringing the success of our film and television tax system to musicians and the scores that are an integral part of every film and TV project.
Listen to the podcast here (interview starts at 18:57), or download on iTunes.
Learn more about AB 1300 and sign the online petition here.
Guaranteed Healthcare Rocks!
Los Angeles musician creates ‘Schoolhouse Rock!’-inspired songs promoting the Healthy California Act SB 562
LOS ANGELES, CA (June 20, 2017) — Today Healthy California launched first in a series of “Schoolhouse Rock!”-inspired music videos created by a Los Angeles musician in support of the Healthy California SB 562, a bill that will create a single-payer system that guarantees healthcare for all Californians.
Created by Los Angeles composer and lyricist Clifford J. Tasner, a member of the American Federation of Musicians Local 47, the retro-themed video titled “Middleman” points out the flaws of our broken healthcare system by taking aim at greedy health insurance companies responsible for the rising cost of medical care. SB 562 would create a “Medicare for All” system in that includes medical, dental, vision, reproductive, and mental health for all Californians. Continue reading
Final Note: Derrick Lefebvre
Copyist
8/24/1974 – 4/17/2017
by Lars Clutterham
This sequel to the original notice of the untimely passing of film music prep musician, Derrick Lefebvre (as initially published in the June Overture), is provided in order to expand on his contribution to the L.A. film music scene during his all-too-short career in the industry.
A native of Kokomo, Indiana, and a graduate of Butler University in Indianapolis, with degrees in both Music Education and Composition, Derrick — like a number of his eventual music industry colleagues — came to L.A. to study film music composition at USC. Continue reading
Michael Giacchino scores ‘War for the Planet of the Apes’ & ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’
It’s quite extraordinary when a composer writes music for two of the biggest motion picture releases of the summer — and even more extraordinary when they are recorded within just a few weeks of each other! Continue reading
An Update on our Move to Burbank
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As we embark on a new chapter in our local union’s history we pay homage to our predecessors who established our union in 1897 in a small Los Angeles office on the corner of 2nd and Spring Streets, then to 2nd and Hill. In 1924 our union leaders took us to our first building in downtown L.A. (which still stands on Georgia St.), then in 1953 they moved us to Hollywood at our current location. Today in the spirit of forward progress, as our leaders had done in the past, we move to our new home in Burbank. Our union has been through many changes and many moves, but one constant has always been the incredible artistry that you display on the concert stage, recording studios, films and on TV; musicians are this union, and we are proud to be able guide this union’s transition to a new and exciting facility. Now as we move to our new Headquarters at 3220 Winona Avenue, Burbank, our staff, executive board and my fellow officers are deep in planning and organizing the transition to our new space. We move from 817 Vine Street effective July 14th, 2017. Over the course of the following week, we reestablish ourselves at our new location in temporary office bungalows which will be housed on our new property as the finishing touches are being made to our permanent offices. We along with the AFM West Coast office will run operations through the end of August out of these temporary offices, moving into the new space in early September. Initially our plan was to make one move on July 1, but due to construction delays and our need to vacate Vine Street it was necessary to go through this two-step process. Members will still be able to do union business in person at the new facility, business hours will remain the same, and our phones and computer systems will all be fully operational as always. The rehearsal facilities will be offline for up to 6 weeks during the construction. We ask that you be patient with the transition, knowing that our new facilities will be spectacular. We will have a new musicians lounge with the ability to offer food and refreshments, and a place for members to hang. All the new rehearsal rooms will be sound treated providing much needed isolation between rooms, with more rooms added which will be more spacious for larger ensembles. The newly merged Credit Union will also be housed on the first floor of the new facility with an ATM machine and staff. Our new offices will be sleek and modern, representing the new look for AFM Local 47. In Unity, John Acosta |
Dear Members:
Charles Billingsley: ‘It’s Christmas Time Again’
For his upcoming album “It’s Christmas Time Again,” Charles Billingsley flew in from Virginia specifically to use L.A. union musicians and singers, and a great L.A. studio to record full big band, orchestra and choir. Continue reading
Save the Date: Celebrating Lalo Schifrin: An 85th Birthday Celebration Concert
Musicians Target Offshoring to Bring Jobs Back to California
AB 1300 will expand domestic film and TV music scoring by boosting state tax credit for foreign productions
LOS ANGELES, CA (June 13, 2017) — As California suffers an exodus of film and television music jobs, musicians are battling offshoring head-on with a new bill that would boost the state tax credit for foreign productions.
AB 1300, recently introduced by Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon, would bring the success of the California Film & TV Tax Credit Program to musicians and the scores that are an integral part of every motion picture and TV project. Continue reading