American Coalition for Independent Content Production Formed

A task force of 25 organizations has assembled the American Coalition for Independent Content Production (ACICP) to support the independent content-production industry and call on the government to implement urgent funding and support amid the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The group is comprised of Oscar- and Emmy Award-winning content production companies, distributors, sales agents and completion guarantors. They are A24, Alcon Entertainment, Amblin Partners, Annapurna Pictures, Avalon, BRON Studios, Endeavor Content, Endless Media, Endurance Media, Film Finances, FilmNation, Gaumont, Le Grisbi, Madrona Drive, Media Guarantors Insurance Solutions, Origin Entertainment, PICTURESTART, Platonic Systems, Skydance Media, UniFi Completion Guarantors, Valence Media (MRC, dick clark productions), Village Roadshow Entertainment Group, wiip and XYZ Films.

The call to the government includes solutions and support for current and longer-term challenges, including liability protection that will provide companies with the legal certainty required if they are going to resume production successfully; government assistance that will support business continuity during pandemic emergencies that lead to suspension or abandonment of projects in this very fast-moving volatile industry; grants and long-term low-interest loans to get the domestic industry back on its feet; and relief through federal tax incentives to provide more capital to help businesses recover from the COVID-19 shutdown, along with incentives to bring productions back to the U.S.

Valence Media Chief Business Officer Scott Tenley commented: “The film and television industry is facing unprecedented business challenges; our actors, crew members, technicians and other artisans are suffering dire financial implications. In an effort to prevent catastrophic and undue loss to the creative, economic and cultural fabric of our society, we collectively ask Congress to provide urgent support to ensure the survival of these vital organizations and individuals that make up our creative ecosystem.”

Film Finances President Gregory Trattner added: “Production companies have been incredibly innovative and collaborative in establishing new protocols to safely produce film and television projects. However, despite these great efforts to provide a safe working environment, there are still several liability, financing and insurance issues hindering the resumption of production in any meaningful way. We are hopeful that Congress can provide the necessary support, as is being developed in other countries, to get the business functioning again and get people back to work.”

Media Guarantors CEO and President Fred Milstein added: “We need a collaborative solution that involves the players in the industry and the government.”