Tax Incentives
Learn how to take advantage of tax incentives, the difference between rebates and credits, how to convert credits into money, what to expect during the auditing process, and how to collect your money.Tax Incentives
Developed by Jason Tomaric, FilmSkillsABOUT THIS LESSON
States and countries aggressively entice productions to shoot in their region by offering tax incentives. Whether you’re working on a low budget independent film or a studio block buster, incentive programs are essentially free money, often giving you as much as 35% of your budget back to you.
In this module you will learn how to take advantage of tax incentives, the difference between rebates and credits, how to convert credits into money, what to expect during the auditing process, and how to collect your money. Learn what the studios and networks have knows for years, and stretch your budget farther with tax incentive programs.
- 21:54 video that walks you through popular tax incentive programs and how to take advantage of them
- Illustrated companion guide
- List of all current tax incentives
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
- What is a tax incentive
- What is the difference between a tax rebate and a tax credit
- How you can convert a tax credit into money
- How tax incentives can help finance your production
ABOUT THE LESSON AUTHOR
Jason Tomaric
Director, Cinematographer Los Angeles, CaliforniaJason J. Tomaric is an Emmy, Telly, and CINE Award-winning director and cinematographer of four internationally-distributed feature films, dozens of national television commercials, music videos, and the largest film training content library in the world, published author of 8 books - used in many top universities, and creator of AccuSkills.com, an industry-changing learning management platform.
Jason has worked in Los Angeles and around the world in over 20 countries. His clients include Disney, NBC/Universal, National Geographic, McDonald’s, Toyota, Scion, Microsoft, and Paul Mitchell, with narrative work screened at Sundance, Slamdance, and South by Southwest film festivals as well as on Netflix and on all broadcast networks.
Jason has taught and/or guest lectured at some of the nation's most prestigious film schools including UCLA, Columbia College, John Carroll University, Kent State University, San Francisco State, University of Notre Dame, and numerous film festivals.
Jason has written eight industry-defining books, all sold in bookstores, and used in film schools around the world. The American Society of Cinematographers hails Jason's books - "There are no wasted words in Tomaric's tome, which concisely summarizes each facet of the director's craft. It's difficult to think of a step in the process that Tomaric fails to address."
Jason’s DVD training series on Hollywood film production have trained filmmakers in over 40 countries, with distributors in Europe, Hong Kong, New York and Australia.
In 2010, Jason launched FilmSkills, which combines the world’s largest film training video library with his proprietary learning management system. Adopted by 47 universities within the first year, FilmSkills is now the leading industry-standard training solution for motion picture and television production.
In 2015, Jason launched AccuSkills.com, an industry-changing learning management platform that bridges the gap between academia and industry.
CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS LESSON
Noel Bermudez
Production Accountant, "Tin Cup," "Dangerous Minds," "Switched at Birth," "The Nine Lives of Chloe King," "Greek," Huge," and "10 Things I Hate About You"Currently working on the hit ABC Family show, SWITCHED AT BIRTH, Noel Bermudez has been the production accountant an several notable projects. His credits include: Golden Globe-nominated TIN CUP, DANGEROUS MINDS, WASTELAND, LINCOLN HEIGHTS, and the Emmy-winning mini-series THE PACIFIC.
Richard Middleton
Line Producer, Executive Producer of the Academy-Award-winning "The Artist," "Hitchcock"Richard Middleton is a producer and production manager, known for The Artist, I Love You Phillip Morris and Hitchcock.
Ricky Margolis
Financier, Future Films USA, "Cracks,” “Veronika Decides To Die,” and “Last Passenger”Ricky joined Future Films USA, the Los Angeles-based branch of the film and production company Future Films, in 2007 initially as a Production Executive, and is currently the company's Vice President. His responsibilities include overseeing both the financing and production of projects, both in-house and with external producing partners. Ricky has been involved in a number of the company's high-profile films over the last few years, including CRACKS (starring Eva Green), VERONIKA DECIDES TO DIE (starring Sarah Michelle Gellar and Melissa Leo), and LAST PASSENGER (starring Dougray Scott). Additionally, he has been involved in the construction and financing of a number of investments covering elements such as pre-sales and Gap financing, as well as the cash-flowing of tax incentives in various states including New York and Louisiana. He is frequently invited to speak at film panels and events, and has been a member of the jury for the Woods Hole Film Festival for the past two years.
Prior to joining Future Films USA, Ricky worked for nearly three years at Filmax International in Barcelona, Spain, one of the country's leading audiovisual companies, where he spearheaded various marketing campaigns in the international sales divison. As part of a European "mini-studio", he gained etensive experience working directly with producers, directors, writers, talent, agents and financiers across the world, as well as attending markets including Cannes, the AFM, Berlin, MIPCOM and MIPTV, where Ricky was involved in the packaging and marketing of high-profile films such as FRAGILE (starring Calista Flockhart), THE KOVAK BOX (starring Timothy Hutton) and THE BACKWOODS (starring Gary Oldman).
Ricky's first experiences in film production came at the age of 17 when he worked on the set of hit British comedy WAKING NED DEVINE, which was followed by further on-set and post-production experience on several projects.
Aside from films, Ricky has spent time working in Germany for sportswear giant adidas, and also as a teacher in northern France.
Ricky holds a Bachelor's Degree (with honours) from the University of Leeds in English and French, and a Masters Degree from the University of Manchester in Modern European Cinema. He is fluent in English, French, Spanish and German.
Prior to joining Future Films USA, Ricky worked for nearly three years at Filmax International in Barcelona, Spain, one of the country's leading audiovisual companies, where he spearheaded various marketing campaigns in the international sales divison. As part of a European "mini-studio", he gained etensive experience working directly with producers, directors, writers, talent, agents and financiers across the world, as well as attending markets including Cannes, the AFM, Berlin, MIPCOM and MIPTV, where Ricky was involved in the packaging and marketing of high-profile films such as FRAGILE (starring Calista Flockhart), THE KOVAK BOX (starring Timothy Hutton) and THE BACKWOODS (starring Gary Oldman).
Ricky's first experiences in film production came at the age of 17 when he worked on the set of hit British comedy WAKING NED DEVINE, which was followed by further on-set and post-production experience on several projects.
Aside from films, Ricky has spent time working in Germany for sportswear giant adidas, and also as a teacher in northern France.
Ricky holds a Bachelor's Degree (with honours) from the University of Leeds in English and French, and a Masters Degree from the University of Manchester in Modern European Cinema. He is fluent in English, French, Spanish and German.