Well, that was a tense few weeks but everything turned out all the better. Here with my editor Lunchmeat Harold (ed. Howdy!)
I was really worried when Diana Whalen announced she was ditching the Film and TV tax credit. I though my 1000 shares of DHX would end up being worthless (ed. or just slightly less.) But when Michael Donovan told the industry people not to get too excited or upset, he was right. Turns out the tax credit is now richer than ever and it's unlimited, no cap!
Of course I'm talking about animation only. But I wish all the live action people good luck with your things.
It's truly a sign that it's politics as usual in the province and that's good for everyone. (ed. Well, not everyone.)
Wednesday 13 May 2015
Wednesday 6 May 2015
WTF Halifax?
WTF Nova Scotia?
Hi people, it's been awhile, almost a year since I last blogged. But really, what blog doesn't start out this way. As always, I am edited by my old friend Lunchmeat Harold. (ed. Howdy)
Okay, so the last time I made a posting, it was spring in Nova Scotia and there was trouble on the tax credit front, film and TV wise. (ed. that seems like such a long time ago.)
That was 2014. The government wanted to do away with the tax credit but after some producers made some noise that spot of bother went away. (ed. As it was, as it always shall be.)
But then after some R & R (ed. voluntarily signed in, I can vouch for that) I find out that not only did the government threaten to take the tax credit away, it WROTE DOWN in the big book of laws that they were going to do it.
But thankfully, once again, saner minds have prevailed and not only is the tax credit back but it's better than ever! (ed. Note: the author owns 1000 shares of DHX stock.)
If you're in the business you know how this spring has played out. For those of you not in the business, I'll outline what happened.
(1) Liberals said they will cut the NS film and TV tax credit to save money because they need their pensions after 2 years work and not six. (ed. We don't live on a gulag!)
(2) The industry gathers it's forces and organizes.
(3) The government begins a KGB style campaign of misinformation to say those people don't pay taxes and they're the reason why little Billy can't have his insulin.
(4) Michael Donovan talks on CBC radio from his 3rd (ed. In acquisition time, not in his heart) home in London, England to say the government will ruin the industry (ed. i.e. him) if they do this. He will fire hundreds of tiny animators presently attached to computers in his office in Halifax. They will roam the countryside, drawing on everything!
(5) Public feels little sympathy for multi-millionaire being subsidized by their tax dollars.
(6) Everyone else in the film and TV business (ed. i.e. not Michael Donovan) organizes petitions, rallies, a letter writing campaign. And they seek the hearts and minds of the general public by explaining to them that they're regular people who work hard in the business and pay taxes.
(7) The government throws them a bone and says the tax credit is now 25% of budget and not 50% of labour. (ed. It's the same thing but it sounds better.) Also, animation will now be covered by the digital tax credit. (ed. Wait. Animation is "interactive"? Inspector Gadget doesn't respond to your questions.)
(8) Everybody calms down.
(9) The government says they have a deal with those obnoxious producers/workers and it's all settled. With a $10M cap on the total tax credit because that's all they can afford. And NSBI, a liberal slush fund will be in charge of it.
(9) Everybody wakes up and goes WTF? That won't keep the industry going and how do we know who gets it? There's more letters to the editors, radio interviews, speeches to the bored politicians. Michael Donovan releases some minions.
(10) Public grows bored. DHX (ed. and other animators.) meet with the government.
(12) Liberals grow bored.
(13) Budget outlining the changes to the tax credit is tabled, read, debated etc.
(14) Andrew Younger mumbles. Caged salmon cry.
(15) The Liberals announce that they have changed the Digital Media Tax Credit to include animation. (ed. But that tax credit is to encourage gaming companies to come here. Animation isn't "interactive". Why just last year there was a big issue because a company wasn't interactive enough. Shouldn't this be discussed - ?)
(16) Shhhhh.
(17) The new and improved Digital Media Tax Credit is now, not only like the old film tax credit, it's BOOOM better by another 25%! And no cap! (ed. Draw yourselves a great big cheque!)
(18) So now if you make TV or films (animated not the real kind), you get the bestest ever tax credit/subsidy for an industry that is mostly labour. And guess who does most of the animation production in town? It's not Little Insulin Billy. Lol. (ed. Note: the author owns 1000 shares of DHX.)
(19) School's out. And all you old fashioned filmmakers out there, let there be a lesson here. Backroom dealings are the way to go in this province.
Hi people, it's been awhile, almost a year since I last blogged. But really, what blog doesn't start out this way. As always, I am edited by my old friend Lunchmeat Harold. (ed. Howdy)
Okay, so the last time I made a posting, it was spring in Nova Scotia and there was trouble on the tax credit front, film and TV wise. (ed. that seems like such a long time ago.)
That was 2014. The government wanted to do away with the tax credit but after some producers made some noise that spot of bother went away. (ed. As it was, as it always shall be.)
But then after some R & R (ed. voluntarily signed in, I can vouch for that) I find out that not only did the government threaten to take the tax credit away, it WROTE DOWN in the big book of laws that they were going to do it.
But thankfully, once again, saner minds have prevailed and not only is the tax credit back but it's better than ever! (ed. Note: the author owns 1000 shares of DHX stock.)
If you're in the business you know how this spring has played out. For those of you not in the business, I'll outline what happened.
(1) Liberals said they will cut the NS film and TV tax credit to save money because they need their pensions after 2 years work and not six. (ed. We don't live on a gulag!)
(2) The industry gathers it's forces and organizes.
(3) The government begins a KGB style campaign of misinformation to say those people don't pay taxes and they're the reason why little Billy can't have his insulin.
(4) Michael Donovan talks on CBC radio from his 3rd (ed. In acquisition time, not in his heart) home in London, England to say the government will ruin the industry (ed. i.e. him) if they do this. He will fire hundreds of tiny animators presently attached to computers in his office in Halifax. They will roam the countryside, drawing on everything!
(5) Public feels little sympathy for multi-millionaire being subsidized by their tax dollars.
(6) Everyone else in the film and TV business (ed. i.e. not Michael Donovan) organizes petitions, rallies, a letter writing campaign. And they seek the hearts and minds of the general public by explaining to them that they're regular people who work hard in the business and pay taxes.
(7) The government throws them a bone and says the tax credit is now 25% of budget and not 50% of labour. (ed. It's the same thing but it sounds better.) Also, animation will now be covered by the digital tax credit. (ed. Wait. Animation is "interactive"? Inspector Gadget doesn't respond to your questions.)
(8) Everybody calms down.
(9) The government says they have a deal with those obnoxious producers/workers and it's all settled. With a $10M cap on the total tax credit because that's all they can afford. And NSBI, a liberal slush fund will be in charge of it.
(9) Everybody wakes up and goes WTF? That won't keep the industry going and how do we know who gets it? There's more letters to the editors, radio interviews, speeches to the bored politicians. Michael Donovan releases some minions.
(10) Public grows bored. DHX (ed. and other animators.) meet with the government.
(12) Liberals grow bored.
(13) Budget outlining the changes to the tax credit is tabled, read, debated etc.
(14) Andrew Younger mumbles. Caged salmon cry.
(15) The Liberals announce that they have changed the Digital Media Tax Credit to include animation. (ed. But that tax credit is to encourage gaming companies to come here. Animation isn't "interactive". Why just last year there was a big issue because a company wasn't interactive enough. Shouldn't this be discussed - ?)
(16) Shhhhh.
(17) The new and improved Digital Media Tax Credit is now, not only like the old film tax credit, it's BOOOM better by another 25%! And no cap! (ed. Draw yourselves a great big cheque!)
(18) So now if you make TV or films (animated not the real kind), you get the bestest ever tax credit/subsidy for an industry that is mostly labour. And guess who does most of the animation production in town? It's not Little Insulin Billy. Lol. (ed. Note: the author owns 1000 shares of DHX.)
(19) School's out. And all you old fashioned filmmakers out there, let there be a lesson here. Backroom dealings are the way to go in this province.
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