AB 1300: Let’s bring music-scoring jobs back to California!

What is AB 1300?

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 California film and television tax system to musicians and the scores that are an integral part of every film and TV project.

How would it work?

  • Foreign productions: The bill would provide a 30% credit for motion pictures shot outside of North America employing 35 or more musicians and completing at least 75% of the scoring in California.
  • Low-budget provision: Projects $5 million or under — regardless of filming location — employing nine or more musicians and completing at least 75% of the scoring in California would also qualify.

Continue reading →

Free classes: Orchestration With Dr. Norman Ludwin

** UPDATE 7/17/2017: The first month of classes will be held at Shepherd University, 3200 N San Fernando Rd. Los Angeles CA 90065. The school is near Glendale and Eagle Rock. The classroom is called the Midi Room and there will be a sign pointing the way. Parking is the back area of the school. Students should download the 15-Lesson Course from Dr. Ludwin’s website at https://www.musicnewapproach.com/fifteenlessoncourse or bring $30 to class on the first day.

** UPDATE 5/16/2017: PLEASE NOTE NEW DATES FOR BOTH CLASSES **

Courses offered paired or individually.
FREE exclusively to AFM Local 47 members
Space is limited! 

For both classes Dr. Ludwin provides access to online resources with an interactive website that includes essential class materials, scores and listening samples. Even if you have limited or no experience in orchestration, Ludwin strongly encourages you to attend to learn this important craft that can boost your career.

Continue reading →

Final Note: Derrick A. Lefebvre

Copyist
8/24/1974 – 4/17/2017

Derrick Adam Lefebvre, of Los Angeles, California, passed away April 17, 2017, at the Ronald Reagan Medical Center in L.A. He was born Aug. 24, 1974 in Kokomo, Indiana, the son of Larry and Sandy (Summers) Lefebvre. Derrick was a 1992 graduate of Kokomo High School where he was president of his senior class, a member of the high school marching band, concert band, and jazz band, and German club. He was also a member of the Kokomo swim team. Derrick graduated from Butler University in Indianapolis in 1996. He was a member of the Butler Symphony, Butler Wind Ensemble, and his favorite, the JCFA Composers Orchestra. He was also a member of the Kappa Kappa Psi Fraternity, Alpha Beta Chapter. In Los Angeles, Derrick worked as a composer and proofreader at JoAnn Kane Music Service. Continue reading →

California can guarantee healthcare in the face of healthcare attacks!

Last week the GOP voted to take our healthcare into the dark ages. But here in California, we won’t accept the federal attempts to destroy our healthcare! We will #resist and #persist and show the nation we can guarantee healthcare for all and save billions with SB 562 (Lara & Atkins)!

Remember, in California Democrats having a supermajority and the power to fix healthcare in the Golden State – now it’s up to us to make sure our legislators are with us!

If you’re ready to make sure California leads the nation in winning healthcare for all, here are 3 ways you can help build the movement to win: Continue reading →

In Memoriam: May 2017

Leonard (Leon) A. Beck
Life Member. Piano
5/11/1929 – 12/4/2016
Survived by spouse

George A. Brooks
Life Member. Trumpet
1/8/1928 – 2/23/2017
Survived by children

David H. Diller
Life Member. Vocalist
4/20/1926 – 3/17/2017
Survived by children

Joseph (Joe) P. McGuire
Copyist
5/20/1951 – 1/12/2017
Survived by spouse

John M. Setar
Life Member. Alto/Tenor Saxophone
11/16/1924 – 3/15/2017
Survived by spouse

Anthony (Tony) Terran
Life Member. Trumpet
5/30/1926 – 3/20/2017
Survived by children

Final Note: John Setar

Publicity photograph for John Setar (c. 1980).

Life Member. Alto/Tenor Saxophone
11/16/1924 – 3/15/2017

by Jay and Katherine Setar

Most musicians knew John Setar to be fine studio, stage, and casual musician (flute, clarinet, and sax), contractor, leader, and union member/committee member. Dad might have cited his television work with Mike Post and Pete Carpenter, the Steve Allen Westinghouse Show, and his work on the “Gravy Waltz” recording (which won the 1964 Grammy Award for Best Original Jazz Composition) as the highlights of his extensive career. However, we prefer to focus on our father as the kind, generous, self-made man who enriched the lives of those around him. Continue reading →

Thousands turn out for May Day March Los Angeles 2017

AFM Local 47 musicians, WGA-West writers, and Healthy California coalition members marched with tens of thousands of Angelenos on May Day 2017 on a three-mile course from MacArthur Park to City Hall.

View our May Day photo gallery on Flickr

Musicians marched on Monday in record numbers. Our community of politically-engaged musicians has grown larger than ever before, with nearly 50 musicians making the long march in the hot sun yesterday.

Tony Jones, Jeff Fish and Bryan Head led the drumline at the May Day March Los Angeles 2017.  View our May Day YouTube playlist. Continue reading →