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Monthly Archives: March 2009

Happy World Theatre Day!

Posted on March 27, 2009 by Gordon Firemark • 0 Comments

I've just learned that Today is World Theatre Day.

Since 1961, the International Theatre Institute has celebrated on March 27 with the reading of a World Theatre Day Message and various national and international theatre events to mark this occasion.

Here's the message they want you to include in a performance.There's even a Facebook group, and you can follow WTD tweets, or just read the World Theatre Day blog.

The Best way to celebrate is recommended by Ken Davenport, who suggests introducing someone to the world of theatre, and then blogging about the experience.

(Hat tip to PRODUCER’S PERSPECTIVE Ken Davenport, Broadway, Off-Broadway, Theater.)

Location managers protest LA City Council agenda item – Council to consider tougher film permit rules and deadlines.

Posted on March 26, 2009 by Gordon Firemark • 0 Comments

The LA City Council is once again contemplating changes to the City's location permit rules that stand to make much more difficult for Location Managers, especially those working on short timelines. The agenda for the March 31 Council meeting includes consideration for new rules would impose longer lead-times for permit requests to be submitted to LAPD, making it much harder to shoot in LA.

This move, comes in the form of an RFP (request for Proposals) written without any input from the film industry, one of the city's largest employers. Interestingly, it also comes on the heels of recent announcements regarding city incentive programs designed to keep film production here.

Hat Tip: Nikki Finke’s Deadline Hollywood Daily » Location Managers Lobby LA City Council:

Jeremy Piven – Speed the Plow producers to arbitrate in June

Posted on March 25, 2009 by Gordon Firemark • 0 Comments

Jeremy Piven's departure from the Broadway revival of ‘Speed-the-Plow' is the subject of an Arbitration Hearing that has been set for June 8 and 9.

Arbitrator George Nicolau will hear the matter, which concerns Piven's sudden withdrawal from the show, claiming he had high levels of mercury in his body, and was quitting on doctor's orders.

The producers' camp has requested medical records and activity logs from the actor, in efforts to prove that his health would not actually have been in jeopardy had he continued in his role.

The Arbitration Hearing is the second step toward a resolution of the matter. Under Actors' Equity guidelines, a grievance hearing concerning the matter was held in February. The grievance committee, made up of members from both the producers' actors' camps was deadlocked, unable to arrive at a definitive result.”

(Via Hearing set for Piven's ‘Plow' dispute – Entertainment News, Legal News, Media – Variety.)

L.A. approves incentive package

Posted on March 25, 2009 by Gordon Firemark • 0 Comments

L.A. approves incentive package: “Runaway Production: City aims to keep film, TV productions in town — There’s no tax credits in there yet, but the Los Angeles City Council has approved a package of incentives aimed at keeping film and TV productions in Los Angeles .“ (Via Variety.com – Runaway Production.) Continue Reading

Is giving a Cop "the finger" Protected Speech?

Posted on March 25, 2009 by Gordon Firemark • 0 Comments

Flipping ‘the Bird’ Is Protected Speech: “A Federal Court in Pittsburgh ruled this week that A Pittsburgh motorist was exercising his constitutional right of free speech when he gave the finger to a police officer and another driver during an argument over a parking space. Not a good idea, but not a crime. (Hat Tip:… Continue Reading

New York City theatre ticket tax proposal off the table

Posted on March 11, 2009 by Gordon Firemark • 0 Comments

New York state lawmakers have apparently decided NOT to move forward with a proposal to add a 4% tax to theatre tickets. The proposal was among many in a $1.3 Billion tax plan legislators have shelved, according to Daily Variety. Continue Reading

Blogging to promote your show? Who's in control of the message?

Posted on March 10, 2009 by Gordon Firemark • 3 Comments

As more and more producers are looking at innovative ways to promote and market their shows, legal question start to arise. Yesterday, I read a report about Jane Fonda’s backstage blogging during performances of “33 Vacations” on Broadway. It seems the blog is generating some real buzz… and several others shows, “South Pacific”, “Chicago” and… Continue Reading

$15 Million Film Tax Incentive extended through 2009

Posted on March 10, 2009 by Gordon Firemark • 0 Comments

I somehow missed it last October when Congress acted to extend the $15 Million tax incentive for domestic films that was originally created in the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004. In addition to extending the program, the rules have been expanded. Producers may now deduct the first $15 Million spent on qualifying domestic film… Continue Reading

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