Media Clips Jason Squire, Ilan Haimoff

GHJ Entertainment Practice Leader Ilan Haimoff is joined by two experts on motion picture and television financing: Akin Gump Partner and Entertainment and Media Practice Head Chris Spicer and Content Partners President John Mass.

The last installment of the “Trends in Motion Picture and Television Finance” series explored the then-ongoing labor strikes. Now, six months later, Ilan, Chris and John discuss the post-strike environment and how the entertainment industry is tackling cost containment and cash flow preservation especially as the industry faces new potential strikes.

What do entertainment professionals need to know to find financial success? On this episode of the Media Clips Podcast, Host and GHJ Entertainment Practice Leader Ilan Haimoff is joined by a panel of distinguished experts from across GHJ’s service lines:
• GHJ Entertainment and Media Tax Expert Dan Li shares what taxpayers can do now to reduce their tax bill in 2024. Click here to more about how taxpayers can save on taxes before the end of the year.
• GHJ State and Local Tax Practice Leader Frances Ellington breaks down key tax changes in the State of California and provides helpful guidance for people who faced unemployment during the labor strikes.
• GHJ International Tax Expert Andreas Koller points to the Foreign Income Tax Credit issued this year and an upcoming Supreme Court Case that may affect international tax regimes in the future.
• GHJ High Net Worth Practice Leader Rajpal Gibson offers update on IRS enforcement attempts, the Employee Retention Credit and estate planning.
• GHJ Media and Advertising Practice Leader Dan Landes explains the new Current Expected Credit Loss (CECL) accounting standard and reminds entertainment professionals to revisit their finances amidst work stoppages in 2023.
• Finally, Ilan shares how the scope and nature of profit participation audits continues to shift to accommodate new media reporting.

Each expert explains changes that may impact individuals and businesses in the entertainment industry and gives recommendations on how to prepare for financial success in the coming year.

This episode was recorded before the SAG-AFTRA strike ended on Nov. 9, 2023.

Follow the Media Clips Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to listen to past episodes and hear new episodes as soon as they become available.

What unique production tax benefits does the UK provide for the entertainment industry? On this episode of the Media Clips Podcast, Host and GHJ Profit Participation Services Practice Leader Ilan Haimoff is joined by FLB Director of Creative Sector Tax Reliefs Lloyd Gunton.

An expert in accessing and maximizing UK creative sector tax reliefs, Lloyd shares the various benefit and nuances of the UK credits available for productions taking place in the UK.

Lloyd has over 15 years of experience providing tax services with deep expertise in the entertainment industry and working with clients to find credits and incentives.

How do independent producers get funded? On this episode of the Media Clips Podcast, Host and GHJ Profit Participation Services Practice Leader Ilan Haimoff is joined by Loyola Marymount University Associate Professor of Finance David Offenberg and GHJ Profit Participation Expert Tracy Liang.

David is a leading expert on entertainment finance and has spoken extensively about financial trends in streaming and the entertainment industry as a whole for The Hollywood Reporter, Wall Street Journal, CNBC and Vanity Fair. He recently wrote the book Independent Film Finance: A Research-Based Guide to Funding Your Movie, which explains the fundamentals of film finance based on data and first-hand accounts from filmmakers.

Earlier this year, David shared his insights on the streaming services with GHJ’s Profit Participation Services Team for its proposal for a new profit-sharing model — called the “Everyone Wins Model.”

Co-authored by Ilan, Tracy and GHJ Profit Participation Expert Grace Guenon, this model leverages insights from GHJ’s extensive database and insights from David and other industry experts to envision a profit-sharing agreement between the producer of a mini-series and a streaming service that is more equitable than the current model.

On the podcast, Ilan, Tracy and David revisit this new profit-sharing model and how it could alleviate conflict. As evidenced by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, the current profit-sharing model for streaming deals has caused significant controversy.

On this episode of the Media Clips Podcast, learn about independent film productions in the U.S. and around the world. Explore the opportunities and challenges that independent producers face in the current production landscape.

Host and GHJ Profit Participation Services Practice Leader Ilan Haimoff is joined by Raskin Gorham Anderson Law Partner Eric Harbert and Freeway Entertainment Group Consultant David Zannoni.

Find the Media Clips Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to listen to past episodes and hear new episodes as soon as they become available.

On this episode of the Media Clips Podcast, host and GHJ Profit Participation Services Practice Leader Ilan Haimoff is joined by Motion Picture Television Fund (MPTF) President and CEO Bob Beitcher to discuss how the entertainment community is supporting each other through labor disputes.

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA are currently on strike, which has put a stop to many film and television productions.

MPTF is a nonprofit that has supported working and retired members of the entertainment community since 1921 with temporary financial assistance, case management and residential living. Going beyond financial assistance, MPTF meets with industry members in need, teaches them how to manage their finances and provides housing.

Four months into these labor disputes, many crew members are losing health coverage, facing food insecurity and struggling to pay their bills as a result of work stoppages. Since the beginning of the strikes in May, MPTF has issued nearly $2 million in grant funding to industry members in need in the form of $1,500 grants.

“The average rent in Los Angeles is $3,000 a month. If you think of a $1,500 grant, it is not going to solve a lot but it may keep people in their homes for a little while longer,” Beitcher explains on the podcast.

Ilan and Bob discuss the implications of the labor dispute, why these challenges will continue even after an agreement is reached and how the entertainment industry can come together to support those most affected.