SAN FRANCISCO, CA— Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) hosted the Assembly Select Committee on the Preservation of California’s Entertainment Industry, bringing state officials together with those who work in San Francisco’s entertainment industry on Thursday, October 25, 2007 at the Hiram Johnson State Building at 455 Golden Gate Avenue from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

“The film industry is a treasured part of California history and today it creates thousands of good paying jobs and generates tens of millions of dollars in tax revenue,” said Assemblyman Leno.  “We must be more aggressive in keeping this lucrative industry in California.”

“The rapid decline of the Bay Area’s film and television production jobs, as reported this week in the San Francisco Examiner, is yet another example of the terrible consequences of our state’s failure to remain competitive for this vital industry,” said Assemblymember Paul Krekorian, Chair of the State Assembly’s Select Committee on the Preservation of California’s Entertainment Industry.  “So many other states and countries are working overtime to lure this industry away from California because they know it produces tremendous economic benefits and revenues with good middle class jobs.  We are going to fight hard to keep those jobs here.”

The Select Committee brought together legislators from all over the state to focus on a variety of important issues facing the industry in an effort to develop a range of policy options to address the problems.  Specifically, the committee discussed run-away production, piracy, counterfeiting and other intellectual property crimes. 

Among those offering testimony during Thursday ’s session will be Stefanie Coyote, Executive Director of the SF Film Commission, Amy Lemisch, Director of the CA Film Commission,  John Veger, Owner, & Kelli Conley from Giant Killer Robots (Visual Effects Company), and Peter Kwong and Tony Sacco members of Teamsters Local 85.