TELL CONGRESS Pass the Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act (MPTERA)
Just last week, we officially saw the introduction of the bipartisan Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act (MPTERA), which is legislation seeking to create a federal incentive with the goal of bringing film and television jobs back to the United States.
This has been a priority of our International Brotherhood of Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien and Teamsters Local 399 for the past two years – working in Coalition with Hollywood Special Ambassador Jon Voight and his team, the Motion Picture Associations, Entertainment Unions and Guilds, independent producers, film commissioners, vendors, industry stakeholders across the U.S. film and television industry.
This effort is being championed by our U.S. Film and Television Production Coalition (learn more here) which recently launched an Economic Impact Report regarding the benefit of a Federal Film and Television Incentive (read report here). General President Sean M. O’Brien joined the official press conference announcing the launch of the coalition and report to express Teamsters solidarity and continued support in the fight to bring production jobs back to the United States.
“The U.S. entertainment industry should be making movies and TV shows in America with union labor. The Teamsters are proud to endorse the bipartisan Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act, which will give our country the competitive advantage to bring film and TV production back home. The Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act must get to the President’s desk this year.”
– Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien.
WHAT ARE THE KEY DETAILS OF THE MOTION PICTURE, TELEVISION, AND ENTERTAINMENT REVITALIZATION ACT?
The Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act as currently introduced would:
- Provide a 20% base tax credit on qualified compensation for qualified film and television productions.
- Eligible productions include feature films, television pilots, and television seasons with total costs above $1 million and at least 75% of principal photography days occur within the United States.
- Offer bonus credits of 5%, up to a maximum total credit of 30%, for productions that meet specified domestic investment requirements. Productions could qualify for bonus credits by:
- Filming in a rural qualified opportunity zone or federally declared disaster area.
- Meeting the bill’s requirements for qualifying as an independent production.
- Conducting at least 50% of principal photography in 10 or more states, with at least $10,000,000 in qualified compensation.
- Taxpayers who increase their number of domestic productions relative to a historical foreign base amount
- Provide a 20% base credit for qualifying traditional post-production and visual effects work when at least 75% of the total costs for the respective VFX and TPP services are incurred in the United States.
- The Federal Incentive would be stackable with State or Local Incentives bolstering work in production hotspots.
- Include an effective date, applying the amendments to productions commencing in taxable years, beginning after December 31, 2026 if passed by December 11th, 2026.
While this is the current terms of the introduced language, provisions can change throughout this process and we will keep members informed on any variations.
WHO IS SUPPORTING THIS LEGISLATION?
While the legislation was introduced last week by U.S. Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) alongside U.S. Representatives Nathaniel Moran (R-Texas-1) Linda Sanchez (D-Calif- 38), Brian Jack (R-Ga-3), and Laura Friedman (D-Calif-30) introduced the Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act (MPTERA), it has already gained a lot of bipartisan support.
Just yesterday, it was announced that additional cosponsor support was committed by Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Tim Sheehy (R-Montana), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.)
WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS?
The introduction of this legislation is a critical first step. Getting it across the finish line before December 11th, 2026 will be the major focus for the next (2) months.
Alongside our Coalition, our International is engaging with key stakeholders on Capitol Hill to highlight this legislation as a key Teamster priority and garner support. We will have much more to share in the coming weeks and months about HOW members can get involved and WHAT is next for this federal legislative process.
WHAT CAN I DO TO SUPPORT?
The path to success will take the efforts of our members both publicly and behind the scenes. While our coalition is already working to gather support and educate Congress members on the economic value of a federal incentive program, we will need the voices of all our industry workers to elevate the urgency and importance of the issue.
Take a moment TODAY to let your Congress members know that you are in support of the Motion Picture, Television and Entertainment Revitalization Act. It takes (1) minute for industry workers to show their support!
We will also be working alongside our International to mobilize our 1.3million Teamsters to show our strength, solidarity and support for this important legislation.
Films and television programs made in the U.S. have reached billions of people around the world and helped shape how generations of global audiences understand our country, our people, our communities and our values. This is our chance to reclaim good, union film and television jobs across our country, capture the national economic success of the industry and protect and grow our American Entertainment legacy.
Stay tuned for more updates and actions.
