Ayinde O. Alakoye

It seems like California and LA might be getting their acts together to finally make homegrown production a more appealing prospect for Hollywood producers and filmmakers. LA Mayor Karen Bass announced an “executive order” (wonder where she got that idea) to cut through red tape and make filming permit in LA faster and smoother. This addresses a long-standing complaint by producers. https://lnkd.in/gb2cdFuh At the same time, our reporter Jeremy Fuster takes a deep look at the crisis of production flight in animation, a huge sector of the global box office, and another piece of business that has fled Burbank and northern California for cheaper climes. Now, he explains, the new tax incentive is going to try and bring that piece of the industry back as well. Jeremy writes: The state’s animation industry, one founded in Burbank by legends like Walt Disney and Bob Clampett and which continued through the 20th century with the rise of Pixar and DreamWorks, has ceded its cultural dominance to a global landscape. For members of The Animation Guild, IATSE’s union for animators, that has led to an increasingly untenable position stuck between the high cost of living in Los Angeles and a jobs market that has declined despite being part of a worldwide industry valued at $413 billion and estimated to more than double over the next decade, according to the guild. Lawmakers behind the proposed expansion of the California Film & TV Tax Credit program want to expand the types of films and TV shows that can qualify. That includes a section of entertainment that to this point has been closed off entirely from such tax breaks: animation. https://lnkd.in/gfMddNz4

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At PacRim Labs LLC — Today Film financing landscape is undergoing a transformation. Mainstream capital is only now catching up with what independent producers and global storytellers have known: the opportunity in media is real and under-invested. Investors such as my friends at Upstart Co-Lab are calling this out, events like the International Film Finance Forum are validating new models of cross-border structure, tax incentives, and risk-aware production finance. At PacRim Labs LLC, we are positioning the company at the intersection of production, finance, technology and global sourcing— deploying capital into quality pre-sold theatrical and streaming content offering package investors access via well-structured proceeds, security and upside. I believe this is how the next generation of film-fund managers and producers will operate — rigorous finance meets creative vision. A few key differentiators: -Financial discipline and investment structuring -Global production sourcing and incentive optimization -Distribution & sales funnel aligned from day one -Investor-oriented mindset with transparency, oversight and control

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The WBD bidding surge signals more than interest in media. It reflects a shift in how capital evaluates opportunity. When several global buyers reach a second round of binding offers for a company with studio assets, streaming operations and international distribution, it shows investors are prepared to handle complex structures again. That matters across the broader market. This type of activity often moves ahead of wider private equity confidence. Analysts, miners, RWA leadership teams and informed investors track these signals closely. When capital becomes comfortable with complexity, hiring acceleration is typically next. Firms begin reinforcing executive teams, upgrading capabilities and preparing for growth. The takeaway is clear. Executives who bring investor fluency, transformation experience and disciplined scaling capability will be prioritised as momentum builds. This is a moment to prepare, not pause. Market signals are moving and leadership expectations will rise with them.

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ALERT TO CALIFORNIA PRODUCERS: Major Film & TV Tax Credit Expansion & Key Dates   California has significantly expanded its Film & TV Tax Credit Program to boost local production and jobs.   Application Windows (Under New CA 4.0 Program): - Television Series (New, Relocating, Pilot, Limited, Recurring): July 7 – 9, 2025 - Independent & Non-Independent Feature Films: August 25 – 27, 2025   AB 132 (Funding) - Approved & Signed: Assembly Bill 132 was signed by Governor Newsom on Friday, June 27th, and takes effect July 1, 2025. - Funding: Annual cap increased from $330 million to $750 million for five years. This makes CA one of the most generous states for capped film incentives.   AB 1138 (Program Changes) - Expected Passage: This companion bill, expected to pass and take effect before July 4th, introduces significant improvements. While not signed as of today, July 2nd, reports indicate it's imminent.   Key Program Changes (Effective July 1, 2025, with AB 1138 passage):   - Enhanced Credit Rates: Base credit jumps from 20% to 35%. An additional 5% uplift (total 40%) for filming outside Los Angeles County.   - Expanded Eligibility (California Spend $1M+):   * Animated series/films   * Multi-camera sitcoms (animated, scripted, large-scale competition shows <30 min)   * Large-scale competition shows   * TV shows with episodes <30 minutes  Exclusions still apply for reality, documentary, game/talk shows, and above-the-line labor.   Workforce & Equity:  - 2% Bonus for Trainees: Additional credit for hiring 1-4 trainees from targeted programs serving underserved communities (in addition to union crew).  - Expanded Reporting: Productions must report ZIP codes and veteran status, in addition to race, ethnicity, and gender, for workforce inclusion. California Tax Credit Refundability (Major Change July 1, 2025):  - All qualified applicants can elect refundability.  - Electing refundability means receiving 90% of the credit paid over five years, regardless of tax liability.  - Non-refundable option still requires CA income/sales tax liability or independent producer transfer option. This significant investment is expected to support 40-50% more jobs, translating to roughly 4,400 to 5,500 new industry jobs, reclaiming California's position as a leading production hub. Entertainment Partners California Film Commission FilmLA California Production Coalition #StayinLA #StayinCA

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Enjoyed a great panel discussion with Matthew Dysart and Andrew Stroud last week for the Intellectual Property Law Section of California Lawyers Association. We discussed the copyrightability of AI generated content, the growth of content licensing to AI, licensing deal structures and privacy concerns, among other things. A brief excerpt below (photo credit to Julie S. Maresca). Protege Caleb Lee Emily Lindemer, PhD Carlos Sanchez Xenia Shevnina June Yeoh Ashley Snow

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Music publishing is a ~$10B business built on trust. Licensors trust royalties will be collected and paid; licensees trust they can use music without disruption. Sitting between them are the PROs (BMI, ASCAP, etc.). A recently filed lawsuit is challenging whether that trust still holds—specifically, whether PROs can reliably guarantee what both sides think they’re getting. On a recent road trip, I broke down what’s at stake and what it could mean for the publishing ecosystem: • Do venues keep relying on blanket licenses from PROs? • Or do they start licensing directly from rights holders? • How might greater transparency and tech reshape the model? Curious to hear from venue owners, publishers, attorneys, and artists: where do you think this goes? #MusicPublishing #MusicBusiness #MusicLicensing #Royalties #BMI #ASCAP #PROs #MusicLaw #EntertainmentLaw #CreatorEconomy #Transparency #MusicTech

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Wonderful news for the TV, Film, and Animation Industry in CA... The proposed $750M a year TV & FILM tax incentive has been approved by lawmakers, and a formal vote should be held on Friday. And it doesn't stop here. To reverse the declining industry in CA, The California Film Commission awarded $96 million in tax incentives to 48 films, 43 of which are independent projects, and many working w/budgets no greater than $10 million. https://lnkd.in/g7pc_Ha6

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California Film Credit Expansion in Flux as Lawmakers Delete References to $750 Million - article: https://lnkd.in/gvVitFYD - plus California’s Tax Credits May Soon Offer a Lifeline to Halt Animation’s Exodus - article: https://lnkd.in/g9dhnGea. - As currently written, the legislation would increase the amount of the tax credit from 20% of qualified expenses to 35% - That would increase to 40% for productions outside of the Los Angeles area, or in economically depressed areas of Los Angeles - The number of film & TV animation projects commissioned worldwide rose from 558 in 2019 to 860 in 2024, an increase of 54% - The bottom line: The desire for animation is rising, but California is not partaking in that increased business

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In our most recent DWT Insights column, me and my colleagues Adrian Vallens and Kara Andheller summarize the impact of California's recent AI legislation, AB2602, along with the California Consumer Privacy Act, on entertainment industry actor and participant forms.

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Recent years have seen legacy media companies take different approaches to launching subscription-based #streaming platforms and making them profitable. Fox Corporation is the latest broadcast behemoth to take on this task, and it’s charting a different path—one that is proving to be both savvy and sustainable.   Rather than pouring billions into the costly arms race of building a subscription streaming service, Fox made a strategic bet on Tubi, acquiring the free, ad-supported platform in 2020 for $440 million. At the time, it seemed like an experiment and a way to diversify revenue using Fox’s strength in traditional #advertising. Fast forward to today, and Tubi is quickly becoming a meaningful part of Fox’s business, outperforming expectations and even surpassing the advertising revenue of Fox Entertainment. The platform’s 97 million monthly active users and 10 billion hours streamed in 2024 highlight its rapid ascent.   Fox’s decision to stream the #SuperBowl on Tubi for the first time underscores just how integral the platform has become. Tubi allows Fox to gather valuable user intelligence, expand its audience, and strengthen its ad-supported ecosystem. Airing ‘the Big Game’ will no doubt attract a wave of new users who will hopefully stick around.   The real brilliance of Fox’s strategy here is that this is a strategic precursor to a new D2C streaming service that Fox intends to launch before the end of 2025 – a move prompted by the collapse of its aspirational Venu Sports joint venture. Fox’s solo offering will leverage existing rights and infrastructure to reach cord-cutters and “cord-nevers,” while endeavoring not to undercut Fox’s lucrative cable business.   Where this new service would leave Tubi is unclear, but having the successful and scalable platform in its portfolio could help Fox avoid the significant potential losses that come with building a streaming service from scratch.   This isn’t just a pivot—it’s a well-executed, multi-year plan that is proving its value in real time. When we look back in a few years, this may prove to be a case study for smart investment and futureproofing in the #mediaindustry.   https://lnkd.in/d3CQrcks   #sportsbusiness

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