INSIDE AN OPPORTUNITY ZONE TO BUILD AND DESIGN A METAVERSE CONTENT LAB TO PRESERVE AND CONSERVE AFRICAN AMERICAN & LATINO HEALTH AND WEALTH. Diverse Voices, Powerful Stories, Authentic Connections, Professional Media, American Memorabilia, Food Manufacturing & Wealth Building Best Practices
All Rights Reserved, Kevin Clark © 2023
We were on track to launch our Digital Content Lab inside of Kevin Hart’s, Hartbeat Studio, and Covid-19 shut down those plans until now. With determination and sheer will we’re dusting off those plans and forging ahead with a fortified design and buildout that will include everything known and unknown about the Metaverse, 5G, Cloud and OTT.
Within the next five years, augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) applications are expected to dramatically accelerate in popularity. This phenomenon will gain traction with mainstream users in particular. Spurred on by the latest generations of smartphone and mobile devices equipped with powerful "computational" camera technology that can capture and digitize 3D images with stunningly photorealistic visual quality, the "metaverse" concept has emerged. First coined by the 1992 science fiction novel Snow Crash, the term metaverse describes a collective virtual shared space generated by the merging of virtually enhanced physical reality and "enhanced" physical reality persistent virtual space. It's heady stuff that has inspired popular movies like TRON, The Matrix, Minority Report, and Inception, just to name a few.
http://s172518151.onlinehome.us/brownbagtv/site/?p=1961
OUR
BEGINING
The Dakar Digital Content Lab is powered by Dakar Foundation and is a physical and virtual located at 6115
½ Victoria Street, LA, 90043, ( Crenshaw Distrcit) where Students, Faculty, and Staff can get assistance with various media creation needs. We’ll introduce the charter members of the program and and become a force multiplier.
● Dakar Foundation is committed to strengthening and expanding collaboration with other LA County stakeholders in education to digital media workforce, as well as community-based organizations, to embed the arts and form incubator media hubs within systems of care that support, heal and develop youth in disadvantaged and traditionally underserved neighborhoods.
● To accomplish this, in-depth visual, performing and digital media instruction will be made available in neighborhood hubs as the means for supporting personal transformation by engaging individuals and families in arts activities designed to promote resiliency and cohesiveness in their communities and to promote intergenerational creative activation. We will focus resources on designing and expanding opportunities for foster youth and others from historically marginalized communities to engage in trauma-informed arts practices within their own neighborhoods, thereby helping them to develop positive self-identity, personal voice and agency.
● This includes the use of social media, digital media platforms and original work created on personal devices to construct employment pathways for youth from historically marginalized communities, foster youth and disenfranchised transition youth to access jobs in LA County’s creative economy, providing them with stable income and viable career options. Over 25 years of service in Compton and South LA.
● Spring-Sumer 2023 Hours
Beginning 5-27-2023
● Online Courseware Digital Pathway Initiative
●
COLLABORATORS
His students were already at risk. Then the pandemic came
MARCH 13, 2021 11 PM PT
Kevin Clark is founder and executive director of the Dakar Foundation for the Performing Arts, which sponsors mentorships, workshops and career development for homeless and at-risk students.
Clark says funding has dried up and, worse, he’s lost touch with a number of students who were displaced by the pandemic. “The opportunities for us didn’t fade away,” Clark says of his foundation. “They just fell off the cliff.”
Clark is featured in a special episode of Second Opinion, a video series produced by L.A. Times Studios in conjunction with the L.A. Times newsroom.
Digital Content Lab Opportunity Zone Fund FEATURED https://issuu.com/home/published/origyn_nmbhof_proposal/embed https://issuu.com/dakarinteractive/docs/monday https://issuu.com/dakarinteractive/docs/pib All Rights Reserved, Kevin Clark © 2023
PROPOSAL OVERVIEW
1. HIGHLINE OVERVIEW (What we want to share with you)
2. PROPOSAL DETAILS (Our story & objectives)
3. OUR PROJECT BENEFITS (Recap)
4. Digital Content Lab - (Highline Details – financials, timeline, locations )
5. APPENDIX - (Additional info)
All Rights Reserved, Kevin Clark © 2023
WHY?
● Cultural Landscape: Hollywood resurgence / lots of opportunity / benefits still tend to be disproportionate
● The Timing is now: Increasingly urgent need for diversity of voices / Opportunity Zone a Viable Opportunity
● Cultural Convergence: Right place, Right time, Right people, Right financial incentives, Right plan, Right partners
● Clarify our Past: Platform the contributions of American Vets through their own narratives.
● Impact for the Future: Leverage our networks and expertise, have fun and make a difference, create a sustainable model for social and cultural entrepreneurship in the media production and distribution business.
● Opportunity Studios & America Military Veterans’ Retrospective - a qualified Opportunity Zone investment and business comprised of three complimentary divisions
○ Opportunity Productions - media production facilities and equipment rentals (real property - low risk / low return potential)
○ Opportunity Pictures - content development & creation (intellectual and media property - higher risk / higher return potential )
○ content development & creation (intellectual and media property - higher risk / higher return potential )
○ AMERICAN MILITARY ’RETROSPECTIVE –
○ curate the world’s largest collection of American Military Artifacts and untold stories from the collection of Anthony Powell and www.dakarfoundation.org .
○ Partner Network of associated corporate, institutional and government organizations for maximum social impact and community benefit
WHAT All Rights Reserved, Kevin Clark © 2021
HOW?
● Invest in real-property to establish media production facilities - stages, offices, equipment, post-suites, co-opportunity spaces
○ Revenue: Production rentals for media companies, corporate, events, and community partners
● Independent content development and production for diverse, under-represented voices and talent
○ Revenue: production & distribution fees, licensing fees, sales.
● Access to training and workforce development bringing together clients, educational institutions and local community groups
○ Revenue: grants, program development and management fees, training fees and student tuition/Activate over next 11 months
○ Proven Management Organization: ○ Ecosystem of partners ○ National Science Foundation STEAM Engine ○ Silo Cloud/Noitavonne ○ Portraits In Black
All Rights Reserved, Kevin Clark © 2021
Leadership Team
WHO?
Establish OZ Fund before end of 2023 ● Activate over next 31 months ■ Opportunity Zones ■ Federal Tax Incentive ■ State Tax Incentive ■ Leads to Tax free investments with highly sustainable returns WHEN? All Rights Reserved, Kevin Clark © 2021
• Cultural Landscape: Hollywood resurgence / lots of opportunity / benefits still tend to be disproportionate
● The Timing is now: Increasingly urgent need for diversity of voices / Opportunity Zone a Viable Opportunity
● Cultural Convergence: Right place, Right time, Right people, Right financial incentives, Right plan, Right partners
● Clarify our Past: Platform the contributions of American Vets through their own narratives.
● Impact for the Future: Leverage our networks and expertise, have fun and make a difference, create a sustainable model for social and cultural entrepreneurship in the media production and distribution business.
● A Healthy Hollywood fuels a Vibrant LA
● Hollywood Exploding in an exciting way - (Return production, more biz revenue across the industry)
● Hollywood Exclusivity Barrier… (generally & even tougher for the traditionally underrepresented groups)
● Rare Opportunity For Access! - Opportunity Zones
WHY?
HOLLYWOOD RESURGENCE
● A HEALTHY HOLLYWOOD FUELS A VIBRANT LA
○ It is commonly known that as goes Hollywood, goes so goes LA overall. A healthy Hollywood media economy is key to sustaining the greater Los Angeles community.
○ Record revenues across almost every industry sector
● Lots of opportunity
○ An exponential need for more support service enterprises
● Benefits still seem to be disproportionate
○ Access in Hollywood has always been unequal
○ And it still is - for technicians, talent and creatives on every level
HOLLYWOOD RESURGENCE
Hollywood is experiencing a resurgence
● There is lots of opportunity
● But the opportunities and returns still tend to be disproportionate
● We have an opportunity to take advantage of the exponential growth that the media industry in Hollywood AND at in the same time make enormous strides to narrowing the gap between the traditional benefactors of industry growth and those that have been systematically unable to make the leap that access gap.
All Rights Reserved, Kevin Clark © 2021
WHY LA/HOLLYWOOD?
Many parts of The Crenshaw Corridor/Watts/ Inglewood/ lie within the designated LA Opportunity Zone, and the pace of real estate development is already red hot:
● The California State Production Program rebates along with ever growing streaming media production have triggered a resurgence in LA media production. It has caused a boom in sound stage bookings. This trend will continue to increase creating a need for more studio space. Due to the lack of availability close to the center of the “Hollywood Zone,” there is a perfect opportunity for studio development within the Opportunity Zone which still lies within the 30 mi zone making it attractive to production companies.
● Soundstage occupancy among the largest stages in Los Angeles has increased drastically to hover around the 100% occupancy mark.
● South LA (and the San Fernando Valley) have a unique opportunity to leverage Opportunity Zone real estate investments to create a robust innovation hub that includes locals, universities, investors and corporations in the heart of Los Angeles.
BACKSTORY
How did we get here?
Systemically, there has been a striking disconnect between America’s diversity and the characters that populate films and tv shows developed and distributed in Hollywood. That inequality extends behind the camera to the broader “industry of Hollywood.” These challenges are rooted in a deep history of media industry structural barriers, policies, institutional practices still shaping and driving Hollywood today.
Where are we now?
Recently, underrepresented groups have posted gains relative to their counterparts in some key Hollywood employment arenas. Despite those gains gap remains huge in almost every area in front and behind the camera. Film leads, directors, writers, directors of photography to production crews, post production as well as support vendors like equipment rental houses and casting services.
Where can we go together?
We can begin with the now proven numbers that “diversity sells.” The box office sales, tv ratings and online “clicks” bear this out. It is essential to the Hollywood bottom line, so let’s feed what has been a slow moving engine of change by creating opportunities to develop, create, invest in projects and partnerships that seek to transform communities and their narratives to move us all beyond the lingering barriers of our past.
INDUSTRY EXCLUSIVITY
TRADITIONAL BARRIERS TO ENTRY
Recently, underrepresented groups have posted gains relative to their counterparts in some key Hollywood employment arenas. Despite those gains gap remains huge in almost every area in front and behind the camera.
FOR SOUTH LA, THE TIME FOR REBIRTH IS NOW:
● The media and experience engagement industries offer consumers a reflection of themselves. Historically, however, in an increasingly more diverse city, those reflections have remained strikingly monochromatic. South LA (an extension of Hollywood) is the perfect location to be a part of changing the narrative and creating financial and creative opportunities for underrepresented cultures..
● U.S. investors hold over $6 trillion in unrealized capital gains, representing a significant untapped resource that can now be unlocked through Opportunity Zones - but the timeline is limited.
● A perfect storm of new tax relief and California’s State Production Plan rebates have lured producers back from other states. They have created a booking boom for traditional large scale production studio facilities as well as production facilities outside of the geographical center of Hollywood production.
WHY NOW?
CURRENT FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
These are all Incentives to investments into Op Zones like Crenshaw and Slauson/Watts/Inglewood
Opportunity Zones
○ Federal Tax Incentive
○ State Tax Incentive
○ Leads to Tax free investments with highly sustainable returns
TIMING IS NOW
STILL AN URGENT NEED FOR DIVERSITY OF VOICES
TIMING IS NOW
NOTES ON OPPORTUNITY ZONE AREAS OF ASSETS INTEREST
● Georgas a home to archive a lot of our valuable, historical assets that prove and tell the story of our multiple contributions in, not only military, but media, politics, social justice, etc.
● Lucas has created his Museum of Narrative Arts in Crenshaw Corridor
● What better time for us to build a Museum for our African American Veterans as well
●
All Rights Reserved, Kevin Clark © 2021
The Opportunity – It’s a Convergence
LET’S RECOGNIZE THE CONFLUENCE OF VARIOUS FACTORS THAT ARE CURRENTLY CREATING A UNIQUE MOMENT IN TIME ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE “IN THE KNOW” BOTH FINANCIALLY AND IN “THE INDUSTRY” WE HAVE THE RARE OPPORTUNITY TO:
○ Capitalize on economic and social trends and momentum
○ Take advantage of government stimulus programs
○ Bring together leaders from various LA communities to develop new strategies / entities
○ Extend the benefits of prosperity to adjacent underserved communities
○ Mine creative resources that remain relatively untapped
○ Social venture that self sustains financially, while benefiting the greater good for society and culture
A UNIQUE “TWO PRONGED” OPPORTUNITY
FEDERAL & STATE
● Recognize the confluence of Federal and State confluence to bring economic benefits and potential solutions to those typically denied access to build and invest in their own prosperity.
■ IT is a program initiated on the federal level ○ STATE
○ The California State Production Program rebates along with ever growing streaming media production have triggered a resurgence in LA media production. It has caused a boom in sound stage bookings. This trend will continue to increase creating a need for more studio space. Due to the lack of availability close to the center of the “Hollywood Zone,” there is a perfect opportunity for studio development within the Opportunity Zone which still lies within the 30 mi zone making it attractive to production companies.
○
FEDERAL
● Create a sustainable model for social entrepreneurship in the media production and distribution business
IMPACT
WHAT?
● CRENSHAW OPPORTUNITY PICTURES, OPPORTUNITY PROCUCTIONS & AMERICAN MILITARY
VETERANS’ RETROSPECTIVE
○ Opportunity Productions - media production facilities and equipment rentals (real property)
○ Opportunity Pictures - content development & creation (intellectual and media property)
○ American Military Veterans’ Retrospective
○ Ecosystem of corporate and institutional partners for maximum social impact and community benefits
OPPORTUNITY FOR MEDIA INDUSTRY IMPACT
OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPACT
Support Desired Policy Outcomes
Real Estate
● Sound/Green Screen/VR Stages
● Cowork & Production Studio Space
● Events & Conferences
● Theaters (film & theatrical)
● Industry Equipment Rental Assets
● Post Facilities Enterprise
● Industry Vendor Business Support
● Startups
● Social Ventures
Media Industry job opportunities for underrepresented groups.
Opportunity Productions
Opportunity Studios
Economic Development
● Industry Workforce Development
● Industry Entrepreneurship Programs
● Jobs for underrepresented people
● Spec Development Partnerships
● Access to Production/Distro Capital
● Access to Distro Channels
Funding for under funded for creative and Industry related businesses
● Co-Production Partnerships
Community Wellness
● Recycling
● Green production
Creative and content investments stabilized by REAL PROPERTY investments PRODUCTION FACILITIES & SERVICES All Rights Reserved, Kevin Clark © 2021
POST PRODUCTION SERVICES
OPPORTUNITY STUDIOS OFFERS A SEAMLESS OPTICAL FIBER NETWORK SYST EM THAT CONNECTS THE STAGES, PRODUCTION OFFICES AND THE POST-PRODUCTION FACILITY.
All video image data can be sent straight from the stage to the Post-Production room in an instant.
Every room in the facility is connected to high-speed circuit, allowing for stressfree environment during editing, audio post and sound mixing.
Opportunity Studios Post services will be established as a one-stop shop and is uniquely placed to supply all post services for a feature from digital rushes, stereoscopic alignment, digital intermediate, ADR and sound mixing through to the final completion of all film and digital deliverables for distribution.
Post-production facility features dubbing stages equipped to play both film projection and digital projection. Sound editing rooms, are accommodating multichannel systems. For video editing rooms, there are Avid and Premiere editing rooms. After finishing or color-grading, the images can be screened in the theater or dubbing stages immediately through the inter-building optical fiber network and also sent to audio post-production.
THE SOLUTION
- OPPORTUNITY PICTURES
- COALITION BUILDING / BROAD ECOSYSTEM OF PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS
- PROPRIETARY CONTENT CREATION
OPPORTUNITY PICTURES
OVERVIEW
- Opportunity Pictures meets Opportunity Productions and
- Creative and content investments stabilized by real property investments
- Coalition building / broad ecosystem of people and organizations
OPPORTUNITY STUDIOS is a collaborative, conscientious and powerful solution to make Opportunity Zone capital investments synergistically sustain on the media industry in LA communities.
Our mission is to advocate for a two step approach to the Development of the underutilized communities within an LA Opportunity Zone, Investment in real estate and enterprises tied to the extremely lucrative, Hollywood media industry can in turn jumpstart entrepreneurial and economic ventures as well as provide a host of job opportunities, all supporting and sustaining the media production industry within those communities.
Our innovative, two pronged approach works in a virtuous cycle:
OVERVIEW CONTIONUED
Opportunity Productions:
● Invest in Real Estate
● Invest in Enterprises
Opportunity Pictures:
● Coworking / Production Studio Spaces/Post Production & Audio Post Facilities
● Entrepreneurship Programs
● Training / Media, New Media & Experience Engagement for underrepresented groups
● Provide access to Media Production & Distribution Investors and Distribution Channels
● Community Wellness Programs
OUR APPROACH
Our approach is grounded in the research around Opportunity Zones and emerging best practices in the production industry. We will deploy an integrated partnership and investment strategy that creates opportunities for growth for investors, community residents and entrepreneurs and the Hollywood industry
Development with Representation and without Displacement
Build to Include - Enhance an existing community of people who also are willing to invest, train, work hard and contribute to the larger Los Angeles centered, global media center. Create a community infrastructure that can pay dividends on investment and generate capital needed to ensure its sustainability for generations to come.
Prosper in Place - Long term residents, typically underrepresented in Hollywood, should be afforded the ability to live out their lives in communities they help build and have that community vitally connected to the larger prosperous Hollywood community and industries
Retain Talent - Neighborhoods, traditionally “brain drained” of creative and industrious minds should have a fair opportunity to retain their best and brightest by offering them compelling and lucrative industry professions.
OUR APPROACH
Our approach is grounded in the research around Opportunity Zones and emerging best practices. We will deploy an integrated partnership and investment strategy that creates authenticity and impact guided by an overarching principle:
DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT DISPLACEMENT
Inclusion Not Gentrification - strike a balance between the community and the capital needed to ensure its sustainability for generations to come.
Prosper in Place - Long term residents should be afforded the ability to live out their lives in communities they help build.
Retain Talent - Neighborhoods should retain their best and brightest by having the opportunities necessary to entice their younger generations to return home after studies.
EXPERIENCE ENGAGEMENT & MEDIA
OPPORTUNITY STUDIOS AIMS TO BE A CATALYST FOR SOUTH LOS ANGELES TO DEVELOP INTO A ROBUST
GLOBAL HUB FOR MEDIA AND NEW MEDIA IN AREAS THAT WILL DEFINE THE FUTURE OF URBAN ECONOMY AND LIFE. A LARGE PART OF THAT MISSION WILL BE TO HELP TRAIN AND MAKE THE INDUSTRY ACCESSIBLE TO UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS.
We intend to co-create a content creation hub around these areas of production:
● Film/ Broadcast TV/OTT Content: Traditional media production and over the top
● Streaming Video/New Media: Proprietary content services, Digital adds,/AR/VR/MR, Voice
● Animation: 2D/3D animation
● Social Media: Activations, marketing
● Video Games: Development and production
● Events: Live events, experiential engagement, brand activations
● Interactive Media: app and website development
● Music: Production, distribution, performance
● New Media: AR/VR/MR, Voice
● Audio: Podcasts
● Art: Still photography production
There is growing interest in the development of content specific to (Mixed Reality-XR), ANIMATION and VFX.
There are limited options for people interested in learning how to develop VR & AR games and experiences
XR startups have difficulty finding quality mentors, workspaces, and a community to help them develop their product.
So we created the Digital Pathway Initiative (DPI).
Most students in South Los Angeles after-school programs, colleges and school systems are challenged in how to develop training to address the increasing demand.
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OPPORTUNITY STUDIOS
STRATEGY
- Build a leadership and advisory team
- Inspire investors
- Buy real estate - and do renovations
- Buy gear
- Set up shop
- Create community alliances and programs
- Create development teams for content
- Create industry alliances with major producers / studios
- Tell our story to the world - PR benefits for all
- Marketing and Sales
- Create and Distribute Content
- Win awards
OPPORTUNITY STUDIOS ECOSYSTEM
HOW?
●Invest in real-property to establish media production facilities - stages, offices, equipment, post-suites, location vehicles
○Revenue: Production rentals for media companies, corporate, events, and community partners
●Independent content development and production for diverse, under-represented voices and talent
○Revenue: production & distribution fees, licensing fees, sales.
●Access to training and workforce development bringing together clients, educational institutions and local community groups
○Revenue: grants, program development and management fees, training fees and
○student tuition /Activate over next 31 months
OUTLINE & NOTES
OPPORTUNITY STUDIOS
What’s our strategy to get there?
-
Social enterprise ( self sustaining business model)
- Collaboration ecosystems - pie chart -
What are opportunity zones & how do they work?
Who & What do we need ?
All Rights Reserved, Kevin Clark © 2023
COOPERATION
Significant outcomes will require healthy collaboration between a diverse set of leaders, communities, institutions, businesses, impact investors and organizations.
Opportunity Productions intends to dovetail the interests of long underserved communities with those of a wider community of stakeholders, influencers, and changemakers.
A new set of inclusive relationships between these players will forge a path to social renewal with actions, enterprises, exchanges and friendships.
The Opportunity Studios ecosystem will connect with people where they are to:
● Co-create: Creative design
● Co-produce: Impactful results
● Co-generate: Shared value
OPPORTUNITY ZONES
FEDERAL TAX INCENTIVE PROGRAM
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 included The Opportunity Zone tax incentive, a bipartisan initiative created to revitalize economically distressed communities using long-term private investments rather than taxpayer dollars.
Opportunity Zones are low income census tracts nominated by governors and certified by the U.S. Department of the Treasury into which investors can now put capital to work financing new projects and enterprises in exchange for certain federal capital gains tax advantages. The country now has over 8,700 Opportunity Zones including every state and territory.
A wide range of potential investors are able to defer paying taxes on capital gains income that are invested in “Qualified Opportunity Funds” when invested in state-designated Opportunity Zones.
● Banks and institutional investors that have previously invested in other tax credits
● Corporations with capital gains exposure – insurance companies, anchor institutions
● High net worth individuals
● Partnerships
● Social impact investors
All Rights Reserved, Kevin Clark © 2021
PROGRAM AT A GLANCE
PROGRAM AT A GLANCE
PROGRAM INCENTIVES
PROGRAM INCENTIVES
INVESTOR INCENTIVES
INVESTOR INCENTIVES
OPPORTUNITY FUNDS
INVESTMENT TIMELINE
ELIGIBLE INVESTMENTS
ELIGIBLE INVESTMENTS
This is outdated Used equipment is also included now
CALIFORNIA STATE PRODUCTION PROGRAM
STATE TAX INCENTIVE PROGRAM
In a major win for the local movie and TV production industries, California has extended the state’s film tax incentive program to 2025, adding five years to the program that has helped stem the tide of runaway productions to states including Georgia, Louisiana and New York.
It includes more tax credits for independent films and additional incentives for projects that hire labor outside the 30-mile radius around Los Angeles.
Filmmakers can recoup as much as 25% of their spending — up to the first $100 million — on crew salaries and other qualified costs, such as building sets. Studios can then use the credits to offset state tax liabilities in California.
TAX INCENTIVES - California
In a major win for the local movie and TV production industries, California has extended the state’s film tax incentive program to 2025, adding five years to the program that has helped stem the tide of runaway productions to states including Georgia, Louisiana and New York.
The measure, which was part of Gov. Jerry Brown’s $201.4-billion budget plan that was signed Tuesday, will maintain the $330 million in annual tax credits handed out to selected productions. But it includes more tax credits for independent films and additional incentives for projects that hire labor outside the 30-mile radius around Los Angeles.
California raised the annual tax credit amount to $330 million from $100 million in 2016.
Filmmakers can recoup as much as 25% of their spending — up to the first $100 million — on crew salaries and other qualified costs, such as building sets. Star salaries and other so-called above-the-line compensation don’t count. Studios can then use the credits to offset state tax liabilities in California.
TAX INCENTIVES - California
LOS ANGELES AREA KEY TO STATE
The Los Angeles region accounts for a big chunk of the state’s creative economy. It fueled an economic output of $190.3 billion in 2015 and it generated 759,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs for workers who collectively earned $56.9 billion.
Those jobs fueled $8.2 billion in tax revenues tied to property taxes, local and state personal income taxes and sales taxes directly and indirectly generated by the region’s creative industries.
All Rights Reserved, Kevin Clark © 2021
https://www.markspaneth.com/insights/category/tax-cuts-jobs-act/tax-reforms-impact-on-the-theater-and-film-industry http://besttaxbreak.net/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/schuylermoore/2018/01/24/how-the-new-tax-bill-benefits-hollywood/#41e27f40643c
(FORBES) 100% Deduction for Certain Property and Films
Remarkably , all taxpayers can now deduct 100% of the cost of almost all new or used “Qualified Property” with no limit. The 100% allowance is phased down by 20% per calendar year for property placed in service in taxable years beginning in 2024. Qualified Property includes almost all tangible personal property if used in a trade or business, but more importantly for Hollywood it now includes films and television shows for which a deduction otherwise would have been allowable under old Section 181 (i.e., if 75% of production costs are incurred in the United States). The big changes from old Section 181 are that (a) there is no more $15 million limit and (b) the deduction is permitted at the time of the first commercial exhibition to an audience. This means that studios may now deduct the entire cost of a big - budget film upon release. Wow! The difficulty for the independent film industry is that the deduction is a “passive loss” that can only be offset against limited types of income for individuals, so most individual investors cannot use the deduction, and the corporate tax rate is now too low to entice corporate investors that are not in the industry.
TAX INCENTIVES - Federal
http://kpmfilm.com/2018/01/31/film-industry-tax-cuts-jobs-act/
Pay attention! Qualified film, television and live theatrical productions have become eligible for the new 100% Bonus Depreciation treatment. Bonus depreciation now allows a 100% first-year deduction of the cost of new and used qualified property placed in service after September 27, 2017. Why is this exciting when the Section 179 deduction has been increased to $1 million with a phase-out threshold of $2.5 million- and this is indexed for inflation? Here are some reasons:
Bonus depreciation applies to assets with up to a 20-year life.
Bonus depreciation is not recapturable like Section 179 depreciation. Bonus depreciation is not limited.
Bonus depreciation can create a loss.
Therefore, when productions have high capital expenditures and may have net operating losses, bonus depreciation will yield a more favorable federal tax result than Section 179. However, bonus depreciation is set to sunset between 2023 and the end of 2026.
The KPM Take
Bonus depreciation is not accepted by some states, so consult your tax adviser when weighing the benefits of which depreciation method to use. Know the rules for bonus deprecation. The benefits are fairly sizable!
The Act represents one of the largest changes to the tax code since 1986. Not everything is set in stone. There’s a lot going on under the new law, particularly as it relates to the entertainment industry. Honestly, the accounting industry is still working through some of the provisions and is still awaiting the IRS regulation interpreting the Act. At KPM, we have been working with companies like yours for over 50 years and we would be happy to guide you through the new law and your options. Contact Chad Robinson at crobinson@kpm-us.com.
TAX INCENTIVES - Federal
STUDIO COMPLEX LAYOUT IMAGE
SOUND STAGE EXTERIOR IMAGE
SOUND STAGE INTERIOR IMAGE
GREEN SCREEN STAGE IMAGE
OUR DIVERSE TEAM
Led by LA natives, our Digital Pathway Initiative (DPI) team is uniquely positioned with over 100 years of combined multidisciplinary experience converging on this opportunity.
Beyond economic development, entrepreneurial, and health & wellness skills, our core team brings a broad community, local government, and investor network to our DPI ecosystem.
Establish before end of 2023
Activate over next 11 months All Rights Reserved, Kevin Clark © 2021
WHEN? ●
●
THE RIGHT TIME
THE TIME IS RIGHT AND OF THE ESSENCE
○ Opportunity Productions - media production facilities and equipment rentals (real property)
○ Opportunity Pictures - content development & creation (intellectual and media property)
○ American Military Retrospective
○ Ecosystem of corporate and institutional partners for maximum social impact and community benefits
NEXT STEPS
What do we want from listeners ?
- Help spread our story
- Connect with us and connect us to others
- Investment
- Connect us to other public and private funding
SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
A social entrepreneur is a person who pursues novel applications that have the potential to solve community-based problems. These individuals are willing to take on the risk and effort to create positive changes in society through their initiatives. Widespread use of ethical practices such as impact investing, conscious consumerism, and corporate social responsibility programs facilitate the success of social entrepreneurs.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
● A social entrepreneur is interested in starting a business for greater social good and not just the pursuit of profits.
● Social entrepreneurs may seek to produce environmentally-friendly products, serve an underserved community, or focus on philanthropic activities.
● Social entrepreneurship is a growing trend alongside socially responsible (SRI) and ESG investing.
CRENSHAW OPPORTUNITY STUDIOS & AFRICAN AMERICAN MILITARY VETERANS’ RETROSPECTIVE
Everyone from local residents & entrepreneurs, community groups, educational institutions, corporate partners and Opportunity Zone investors will benefit from Opportunity Studios’ tactics around diversity and inclusion:
Succeed with Diversity - D & I is a must have because exclusion based on race, gender, orientation, ethnicity, economic status and national origin is a prescription for failure. Period.
Bet on Women & Minorities - A vast body of research shows that diverse teams make better decisions and narratives featuring minorities and women can be extremely profitable.
Technologize the Enterprise - Opportunity Studios will expand the definition of inclusiveness by helping local industry businesses and productions access cutting edge technology, services and practices.
CRENSHAW OPPORTUNITY STUDIOS & AFRICAN AMERICAN MILITARY VETERANS’ RETROSPECTIVE
FINANCIAL BENEFITS
- Opportunity Pictures meets Opportunity Productions
- Creative and content investments stabilized by real property investments
- Coalition building / broad ecosystem of people and organizations
- Opportunity Zones
- 100% Fed Bonus Depreciation
- CA State Film tax benefits
- Ownership stake in the $6 B strong Media Industry
THE SOCIAL BENEFITS
- INCREASE ACCESS AND INCLUSION FOR UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES
- EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
All Rights Reserved, Kevin Clark © 2021
Project Budget
Real Estate
Renovations
Equipment
Set-up labor
Production Vehicles
Marketing and Advertising
Staff and Administrators
Content Development team
Content Development fees / IP Licensing Fees
Professional Advisors
Start-up / Admin fees
PROJECT BUDGET
OVERVIEW
-
Real Estate
-
Renovations
-
Equipment
-
Set-up labor
-
Production Vehicles
-
Marketing and Advertising
-
Staff and Administrators
-
Content Development team
-
Content Development fees / IP Licensing Fees
-
Professional Advisors
-
Start-up / Admin fees
OPPORTUNITY STUDIOS INVESTORS
THE ASK
- To stay on track for a 2022 launch, Opportunity Studios needs to complete it’s capital stack and have site control in the next 60 days
- Opportunity Studios hopes that you will support our project in the following ways:
- Direct financial support to contribute to our $_,_ _ _,_ _ _ million dollar budget in the form of equity
- Connecting Opportunity Studios with financial partners to close out our capital stack
- TERMS:
-
EXIT STRATEGY: Sell majority ownership in seven years paying off all debt and maintaining management rights.
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TIMELINE:, 2028 OLYMPICS
CRENSHAW OPPORTUNITY STUDIOS & AFRICAN AMERICAN MILITARY VETERANS’ RETROSPECTIVE PARTNERS & ADVISORS
WE ARE LOOKING TO FILL OUT THE REST OF THE OPPORTUNITY STUDIOS ROLES
- Opportunity Pictures meets Opportunity Productions
- Creative and content investments stabilized by real property investments
- Coalition building / broad ecosystem of people and organizations
All Rights Reserved, Kevin Clark © 2021
CONTACT US
WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO DISCUSS THIS WITH YOU PERSONALLY
- Opportunity Pictures meets OPPORTUNITY PRODUCTIONS
- Creative and content investments stabilized by real property investments
- Coalition building / broad ecosystem of people and organizations
THE LOGISTICAL PLAN
- Build a leadership and advisory team
- Inspire investors
- Buy real estate - and do renovations
- Buy gear
- Set up shop
- Create community alliances and programs
- Create development teams for content
- Create industry alliances with major producers / studios
- Tell our story to the world - PR benefits for all
- Marketing and Sales
- Create and Distribute Content
- Compete and Win awards
PROJECT BUDGET
2022
TAX INCENTIVES - California
In a major win for the local movie and TV production industries, California has extended the state’s film tax incentive program to 2025, adding five years to the program that has helped stem the tide of runaway productions to states including Georgia, Louisiana and New York.
The measure, which was part of Gov. Jerry Brown’s $201.4-billion budget plan that was signed Tuesday, will maintain the $330 million in annual tax credits handed out to selected productions. But it includes more tax credits for independent films and additional incentives for projects that hire labor outside the 30-mile radius around Los Angeles.
California raised the annual tax credit amount to $330 million from $100 million in 2016.
Filmmakers can recoup as much as 25% of their spending — up to the first $100 million — on crew salaries and other qualified costs, such as building sets. Star salaries and other so-called above-the-line compensation don’t count. Studios can then use the credits to offset state tax liabilities in California.
LUCAS - Museum of Narrative Art
https://lucasmuseum.org/museum
The Lucas Museum is a barrier free museum where artificial divisions between “high” art and “popular” art are absent, allowing you to explore a wide array of compelling visual storytelling. Visitors who might be less inclined to visit a traditional fine art museum will be invited to engage with and relate to art forms they recognize and love.
WE WILL INTRODUCE YOU TO NEW FILMS AND FILMMAKERS
Cinema is the most visible narrative art form of the 20th and 21st centuries. The Lucas Museum will present daily screenings of films ranging from legendary historic features to the latest and most innovative projects today. We will also present a lecture series featuring the most inventive and intriguing filmmakers of our time. WE WILL MAKE EDUCATION AND ACCESS A PRIORITY. Our programming and education will make pioneering use of our one-of-akind collection. The Lucas Museum will provide multiple opportunities for hands-on engaging educational experiences for all ages and curriculum-based learning for students. You will be able to experiment in many artistic processes, from painting to pre-professional cinema techniques.
EXPERIENTIALISM INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF URBAN ECONOMY AND LIFE IN THE LA OPPO RTUNITY ZONE www.Dakarfoundation.org Part 1 www.Dakarfoundation.org Part 2 Linkedin Facebook DIGITAL CONTENT LAB All Rights Reserved, Kevin Clark © 2023