In film production, the term “Digital Intermediate” describes a process used to facilitate the making of movies using high-end computers, high-speed storage networks and sophisticated software programs. The first movie to utilize the process from beginning to end was “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” and in recent years, more and more movies have been getting the full blown, beginning to end DI treatment including “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Bourne Supremacy.”

New York may be boosting its tax credit from 10% to 15% for film production expenditures. The new incentive rate would include above-the-line costs as well as those incurred for below-the-line crew, services and products.

In the 2008 New York state budget proposed by Gov. Elliot Spitzer, film productions could increase their credit to 20% of below-the-line goods and services, should they additionally qualify for the 5% New York City tax credit.

New York film production has been facing increasing competition from nearby states with aggressive incentive programs. Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania all offer tax credits of 25% of below-the-line costs, while Connecticut offers a 30% tax credit on above and below-the-line expenditures.

If the New York State Assembly passes the legislation, The Empire State Film Production Credit cap wound be raised from the current $60 million to $75 million by 2011.

The state of Illinois is currently in the works to renew their state film tax incentive plan. Legislation is pending for the new plan since the old plan expired at the end of last year.

According to information on FilmUSA.org, the state’s film commissioner believes that the new state film incentive plan will be in place by the end of the month.

LatinVision Media NY Business Networking Event
02/07/08
ConEdison Company of New York
New York, NY
www.latinvision.com/lvp/

Annie Awards
02/08/08
UCLA Royce Hall
Los Angeles, CA
www.annieawards.org/

NYC Online Permit Training Session
02/08/08
Apple Store, SoHo
SoHo, NY
www.nyc.gov/html/film/html/news/010108_online_permit_training.shtml

Avid Xpress Pro Workshop
02/09/08–02/10/08
Power Image Workshop
New York, NY
www.powerimageworkshop.com

Visual Effects Society Awards
02/10/08
Kodak Theater Grand Ballroom
Hollywood, CA
www.vesawards.com

An Evening with Film Editor Curtiss Clayton
02/13/08
The Motion Picture Editors Guild
New York, NY
www.mewshop.com/vault.html

Society of Camera Operators Lifetime Achievement Awards
02/16/08
Goldenson Theater at the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Plaza
North Hollywood, CA
www.brownpapertickets.com/event/19890

Hollywood Post Alliance Technology Retreat
02/20/08-02/22/08
Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa
Rancho Mirage, CA
www.hpaonline.com/mc/page.do?sitePageId=54950&orgId=hopa

Film Independent’s Spirit Awards
02/23/08
Santa Monica, CA
filmindependent.org/spiritawards/

The 80th Annual Academy Awards
02/24/08
Kodak Theatre
Hollywood, CA
www.oscars.org

JRI Technology Advance Video Compression Course
02/25/08–02/27/08
California State University Fullerton
Fullerton, CA
www.jritechnology.com

HD Expo in Beverly Hills
03/06/08–03/08/08
The Beverly Hilton
Beverly Hills, CA
www.hdexpo.net/education/

Reel Women International Film Festival
03/08/08–03/12/08
Raleigh Studios, Chaplin Theater
Los Angeles, CA
www.rwiff.com