Tag Archives: AFM

President John Acosta Elected to IEB

The new AFM International Executive Board members – including our own President John Acosta – being sworn in at the 100th Convention. (Photo: Bonnie Janofsky)

Exciting news to share from the American Federation of Musicians 100th Convention: Our own Local 47 President John Acosta has been elected to serve on the International Executive Board.

Running on the Team Unity slate, as a member of the IEB Acosta will act as a conduit to bring the concerns of our Los Angeles music community directly to our international leadership. Continue reading →

Happy 100th Birthday, Slim!

Local 47 President John Acosta with Life Member Homer Archibald "Slim" Tanner, celebrating Slim's 100th birthday! (Photos by Linda A. Rapka)

Local 47 President John Acosta with Life Member Homer Archibald “Slim” Tanner displaying proclamations from the City of Downey and U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein in honor of his 100th birthday, March 7, 2016. (Photos by Linda A. Rapka)

Today, Life Member Homer Archibald ‘Slim’ Tanner enjoyed the celebration of the century, literally — March 7, 2016 marks his 100th birthday!

Local 47 President John Acosta, along with Communications Director Linda Rapka, visited Slim at his home in Downey to present him with a birthday card, balloon, and a special gift: a Certificate of Recognition signed by Downey Mayor Alex Saab, Mayor Pro Tem Fernando Vasquez, and Councilmembers Sean Ashton, Roger C. Brossmer, and Luis H. Marquez, expressing their “sincerest best wishes on this very special occasion.” Continue reading →

AFM News: Public TV Update

AFM - American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada

Dear Member:

After months of negotiating, we have reached a tentative agreement with public television producers for a new National Public Television (NPTV) contract covering musicians, arrangers, orchestras, and copyists working in the production, broadcast, and streaming of public television programs.

The tentative three year agreement includes a 3% wage increase each year, an additional first year market adjustment on wages of 5%, higher health and welfare contributions, and improved clip use payments. If approved, the contract will run through 2019.

In the coming weeks, members working under our NPTV agreement will receive the contract proposal for review and a ballot for participation in the contract vote. The NPTV Negotiating Committee unanimously recommends ratification on the contract.

Musicians standing together have the power.

In Unity,
Ray Hair
AFM International President

PS: Stay connected with our union by liking AFM on Facebook and following us on Twitter.

Democracy Wins for ‘Veep’ Musicians

veep Hit HBO series signs agreement with AFM Local 47

Democracy wins for the musicians of HBO’s Emmy-winning political satire “Veep,” who starting this season will be covered by an American Federation of Musicians agreement.

AFM Local 47 approached “Veep” producers in July following the show’s relocation from Maryland after being awarded $6.5 million in tax credits from the California Film Commission’s revamped film and TV tax incentive program. Continue reading →

AFM Inks Innovative New Recording Deals

Agreements mark new efforts by the musicians union to create more flexible contracts

by Linda A. Rapka

The AFM and Local 47 recently inked two innovative agreements.

One new deal with Los Angeles-based company Confidential Music allows for unique provisions regarding trailer music. Musicians receive a payment when creating the music beds for trailers, then a second scale payment when the music is licensed into a trailer.

“Being able to record orchestras in Los Angeles has always been something Confidential Music was very interested in,” said co-founder Kyle Biane. “The world of movie trailer music is a constantly developing and competitive market. We are always striving to develop a new and unique approach in both our writing and production. We do this not only to stay competitive, but to expand the art form. Now that we have the ability to call upon the talents of Local 47 here in Los Angeles, the possibilities are truly endless.” 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 →

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 →

IEB Adopts Dual-Capacity Policy

On July 19, 2014, the AFM International Executive Board adopted a policy regarding dual capacity Federation members’ participation in Local and International union meetings open to the general membership concerning Federation collective bargaining agreements and campaigns. Read the full policy here.

AFM Local 47 Says ‘Listen Up!’

The Executive Board of AFM Local 47 passed a resolution June 24, 2014 reaffirming its support and commitment to the AFM’s Listen Up! campaign.

In a unanimous vote it resolved to communicate this support and participation to its members urging that they also endorse this campaign.

For more information about Listen Up! and to get involved, visit listenupnow.org.

Vince2

“Listen Up! is our flagship campaign, and we invite all Local 47 musicians to join, to participate, to get informed and to make a difference.” — Vince Trombetta, President

“Let’s bring together fellow musicians, labor and community and say no more to outsourcing, no more to exploitation of musicians, and yes to Listen Up! and AFM musicians!” — John Acosta, Vice President

“The Listen Up! campaign is all about creating employment for musicians by building our strength and developing support among organized labor, elected officials and community leaders.” — Gary Lasley, Secretary/Treasurer

Mayor Garcetti Supports Musicians’ Listen Up! Campaign

Los Angeles mayor joins American Federation of Musicians in calling on film production companies to end their practice of offshoring film scoring jobs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 11, 2014

Press contact:
Linda A. Rapka 323.993.3162
linda.rapka@promusic47.org

Print PDF is available here

LOS ANGELES, California (June 11, 2014) — Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced today his support for the American Federation of Musicians’ Listen Up! Campaign, which calls upon film production companies that benefit from taxpayer-funded film credits to score their films in the United States.

“I’m fighting for good paying middle-class jobs across California, and our work to pass legislation – which will boost production and music scoring – must be with that goal in mind,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti.

Halting the bleed of film and television production jobs out of California has been a top priority for Mayor Garcetti. Alongside the musicians union and other entertainment guilds, Garcetti has taken a leading role in advocating for the passage of AB 1839, the bill that would enhance the state’s Film and Television Tax Credit Program and provide a bump in the incentive for film soundtrack scoring in California. Continue reading →