Samsung starts mass production of DDR4 memories

Samsung Electronics has started mass producing DDR4 memories that it expects will go into enterprise servers in next-generation data centers.

A successor to the DDR3 (Double Data Rate 3), DDR4 memories are expected to offer higher performance, reliability and lower power consumption than its predecessor.

However, there have been some doubts as to whether the market is ready to transition in volumes from DDR3 memories which are still being designed into servers and other products. Some analysts have forecast that the component will get designed into servers and later PCs only by 2015.

Samsung said on Thursday that early market availability of the 4-gigabit (Gb) DDR4 devices, which use 20-nanometer process technology, will create demand for 16GB and 32GB memory modules.

Samsung did not immediately provide information on the schedule for shipment of the new memories. The pricing information is not available, a spokesman said.

Microelectronics standards body JEDEC Solid State Technology Association published in September 2012 the initial DDR4 standard.

Fox Pauses Production on Bollywood Film ‘Bang Bang’ After Star's Brain Surgery

Fox Star Studios is suspending shooting of Bang Bang, its Bollywood remake of the Tom Cruise starrer Knight and Day, after the film’s lead, Hrithik Roshan, underwent emergency brain surgery Sunday.

India media have been reporting that Roshan, one of India’s biggest stars, suffered a blow to the head while shooting stunts for Bang Bang in Phuket, Thailand two months ago (chronic subdural haematoma is often caused by a head injury that results in bleeding in the membrane surrounding the brain). But neither the actor nor the studio has confirmed the cause of his injury.

PHOTOS: Indian Talent Going Global

Roshan’s father, director Rakesh Roshan, was quoted widely in the Indian media as saying the surgery was a complete success and that his son would be discharged in a matter of days. The 39-year-old actor will need several weeks to recover, however, so a planned late July European shoot for Bang Bang has been postponed, according to leading local newspaper the Times of India.

"Hrithik's health and well-being is our top priority now. So, the shoot of the third schedule of Bang Bang has been moved forward," a spokesperson from Fox Star Studios told the Times.

The project is a joint production backed by Star TV and Twentieth Century Fox.

Q&A: Bollywood Star Turned Pop Singer Priyanka Chopra: 'Indians Know How to Party'

Roshan, well known for his lead roles in the Bollywood blockbusters Jodhaa Akbar and the superhero franchise Krrish, was reportedly set to begin work on postproduction and promotion for Krrish 3, written, produced and directed by his father and due out Nov. 3. According to the Times, there has been no change to the release schedule of that project.

Shortly before his surgery, the actor posted on his Facebook page: “We all know that we create a life of joy using the power of our mind. I’ve had the privilege of creating wonders with this amazing gift given to us called the brain. Occasionally, one must look within and realize its value. It gives us the power to see, hear, touch, smell and taste, it allows us to conquer fear and create courage to do things we never imagined. Maybe it's time for me to feel the power literally. I am going to go through brain surgery on Sunday and want you to know that I am going in with absolute power to recover fast. My thanks to all of you for using the power of your mind to contribute to my life. Love you all.”

Twitter: @sajilpl

Sunshine Sachs Creates Sister Company for Film and TV Production

Ken Sunshine, left, and Shawn Sachs

Sunshine Sachs, a public relations firm whose clients include Ben Affleck, Leonardo DiCaprio and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, is getting into TV and film production by way of launching a sister company called Madica Productions.

Sunshine Sachs principals Ken Sunshine and Shawn Sachs announced the formation of the new company Thursday, June 27, and said it will be run by managing director Jeff Tahler, who had spent six years as a senior vp with FremantleMedia.

Madica’s slate will include nonscripted content that will make use of some of the clients -- not only people but also corporations, brands, labor unions and nonprofit entities -- that Sunshine Sachs represents.

At FremantleMedia, Tahler oversaw acquisitions for global distribution of shows including Project Runway, The Apprentice and Oprah’s Big Give.

Madica said it has begun development on three untitled projects, including a mid-budget feature film.

“We are eager to develop and produce the type of content that reflects our wide range of passions and interests,” said Tahler. “Today, that can be anything from a short-form digital series to a big-budget feature film, and we will be developing stories for all platforms."

Twitter: @sajilpl

A Guide to the Latest Production Incentives

New York state has extended its production incentive program through 2019. California has its film tax credit for two years through 2017.

As states and foreign countries compete for film and television productions, they are constantly revisiting the incentives that they offer.

STORY: Locations Show: How Colorado Lured the Hallmark Channel

Here are some of the most recent changes, as compiled by the production services company Entertainment Partners:

NEW YORK

New York State Film/TV/Commercial Incentive Program has been extended and modified — Passed on Friday March 29, 2013

SB 2609 has been signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and will extend the Empire State Production Tax Incentive Program until 2019, as well as provide an additional $2.1 billion in funding. The yearly budget remains at $420 million with a rolling cap on qualified production expenditures.

In addition, $5 million has been allocated to a 40 percent credit on qualified labor for areas north and west of Albany for fiscal years 2015–19.

Also, any variety or talk show program produced outside of N.Y. for five years, with a studio audience of more than 200 as well as either a budget of more than $30 million or at least $10 million in capital expenditures, will immediately qualify for the NYS production incentive.

Lastly, the annual allotment for the N.Y. postproduction credit has been increased to $25 million from $7 million for fiscal years 2015-19.

While prospective applicants must still spend 75 percent of their project's total postproduction budget in New York in order to qualify for the post-only tax credit, the new budget stipulates a new and separate threshold of the lesser of $3 million or 20% of the total visual effects and animation spend in New York to qualify. The lower threshold makes it easier for films with larger visual effects and animation budgets to qualify for the program. Additionally, the post-only incentive now applies to post services on animated features and TV programs.

CALIFORNIA

Gov. Gerry Brown signed legislation (AB 2026 and SB 1197), which extends the film tax credit for two years through June 30, 2017, with funding of $100 million per year. The new law simplifies the information that taxpayers are required to include on their credit application with respect to members of a combined reporting group and partnerships or limited liability companies.

GEORGIA

The Georgia film incentive program remains stable.

NEW MEXICO

House Bill 641 will be effective after June 30, following the governor's signing of the bill April 4, 2013. The bill will allow for an additional 5 percent credit for qualifying projects, bumping the total available credit up to 30 percent if a project meets the criteria. The 5 percent credit may also be applied to wages and fringes paid to residents. All payments of wages, fringe benefits or fees to a resident for talent, management or labor, and payment to a nonresident performing artist, are all direct production expenditures given that they are subject to taxation in New Mexico.

STORY: Tax Lawyer: Hollywood Needs Federal Incentives Now (Guest Column)

NORTH CAROLINA

Gov. Bev Perdue signed a technical corrections bill (SB 847) that extends the film tax credit through Dec. 31, 2014

MASSACHUSETTS

The Massachusetts House of Representatives submitted a 2014 fiscal budget proposal that did not institute a cap on the film tax credit program. Gov. Deval Patrick’s budget proposal, submitted previously to the House, included capping the film tax credit program at $40 million.

PENNSYLVANIA

Governor Tom Corbett signed legislation that makes changes to the 25 percent film tax credit (HB 761), effective July 2, 2012, including an additional 5 percent credit for feature and television film or television series intended for a national audience meeting the minimum stage filming requirement in a qualified facility. The minimum stage filming requirements follow:

·       If PA production expenditures < $30 million (per project):

o   Build = 1 set at a "qualified production facility;"

o   Shoot = 10 days at a "qualified production facility;"

o   Spend = $1,500,000 in direct expenditures for use, rental or services of a "qualified production facility."

·       If PA production expenditures = $30 million (per project):

o   Build = 2 sets at a "qualified production facility;"

o   Shoot = 15 days at a "qualified production facility;"

o   Spend = $5 million in direct expenditures for use, rental or services of a "qualified production facility."

Annual funding is $60 million and allowance is made for "advance awards" from the next three successive years' funding (30 percent of the first successive year, 20 percent of the second successive year and 10 percent of the third successive year

OHIO

Gov. John Kasich signed legislation (HB 508) that doubles the 25-35 percent refundable film tax credit funding to $40 million for the fiscal biennium beginning on or after July 1, 2011. There is a $20 million cap for the first year of the biennium. The project cap remains at $5 million

ILLINOIS

Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation (SB 1286) that expands the film production incentive to include "accredited animated productions" commencing on or after July 1, 2010, but credits may not be claimed for a taxable year ending prior to December 31, 2012

TEXAS

The Texas legislature allocated 95 million for The Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program

UNITED KINGDOM

The British government formally appointed the British Film Institute to be the certification body for the proposed tax credit system for animation, high-end TV and video games.

The U.K. Tax Credit for high-end television, animation, and video games went into effect April 1,

CANADA – Saskatchewan

Eliminated film incentive program

GERMANY

The State Minister for Culture and Media secured an additional €10 million annually for the German Federal Film Fund. The increase brings the DFFF annual budget to approximately $90 million (€70 million) to support productions that shoot locally. The funding increase follows the European Commission's approval to extend the DFFF through the end of 2015.

MAURITIUS

Mauritius launched a 30 percent film tax incentive.

CROATIA            

The funding for the new Incentive introduced in March 2012 is set at €5,900,000

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - Abu Dhabi

The new 30 percent rebate came into effect September 2012. Guidelines, forms, FAQ and a glossary are provided on the Film Commission's website. While there is no local crew requirement, every project receiving the rebate will have an obligation to offer training and intern opportunities during local filming

MALAYSIA

The Malaysian government recently enacted a 30% cash rebate for foreign film and television productions that spend a minimum of MYR 5,000,000 (about $1.6 million), inclusive of postproduction, in the country. For local projects, the minimum is MYR 2,000,000. Additionally, the minimum spend for the post-production rebate is MYR 1,500,000 (about $480,000)

COLOMBIA

Colombia launched a new 40 percent location filming incentive. The program is available for features and television movies that spend $500,000 locally. In addition to the 40 percent rebate on production expenditure, producers can also claim a 20 percent rebate on accommodations, food, and transportation costs incurred locally. The Colombian government has earmarked about $14 million USD for 2013

LITHUANIA

Lithuania has introduced a 20 percent tax rebate for film production

Twitter: @sajilpl

TV Pilot Production Increases as California Loses Market Share: Study

More TV pilots than ever are being made, while production continues to spread to more places,  according to an annual survey by Film L.A.

There were 186 pilots shot for broadcast and cable TV during the 2012-13 development cycle (January-April) -- the most ever.

PHOTOS: The Faces of Pilot Season 2013

Of those, 96 were shot in L.A., the second-largest tally in history. From Jan. 1-June 10, permitted production days for pilots were up almost 40 percent compared to last year.

The bad news, however, is that L.A.’s share of the market fell to 52 percent, the second-lowest on record, down from 82 percent in 2006-07.

“The scary thing for the Los Angeles region,” says Paul Audley, president of Film L.A., ”is we continue to lose ground in our share of work to other states and countries.”

Drama pilots in particular went elsewhere. L.A. had 83 percent of comedy pilots (down from 91 percent last year) but only 22 percent of drama pilots (down from 28 percent last year and 63 percent in 2006-07).

“Comedy has traditionally stuck around Los Angeles,” says Audley, “because the turnaround time on writing for comedy is so short. They are writing up to the time of filming frequently, while dramas have a greater lead time. Comedies are also less expensive to shoot, so the incentives don’t have as much impact.”

The average cost for a half-hour comedy pilot is $2 million, according to the study, while a drama costs $5.5 million for an hour.

Film L.A. estimates that about $277.8 million was spent on TV pilot production in Los Angeles during the most recent development cycle, up from $262 million last year. That is about 39 percent of the total spent by all producers in all locations. In the same period last year, L.A. had about 40 percent of the spend.

“Drama producers use incentives to offset the increased cost of long-distance production,” says the study, “while affording higher-end production values. Often this means financial concerns trump creative concerns when deciding where to shoot.”

During the past three pilot seasons, drama pilots were filmed outside L.A. by a ratio of more than 2-to-1. In the 2012-13 cycle, the ratio was closer to 4-to-1.

“Dramas are highly lucrative,” adds Audley. “States are fighting to get those television dramas and keep them. We continue to lose ground substantially in that area.”

After L.A. (96 pilots) the top production locations were New York (19), Vancouver (15), Atlanta (nine) and Toronto (six), followed by Chicago and New Orleans (five each). All offer greater production incentives than California.

This marks a surge for Atlanta, which passed Toronto for the first time thanks to Georgia’s generous tax incentives, new studio facilities, efforts to train crews and the growing activity of Tyler Perry.

PHOTOS: Summer TV Preview: 51 New and Returning Series

“Atlanta sees itself as a future production center and is really working hard to entice (productions) with money and new facilities,” says Audley. “They have been successful this year.”

One consideration, says the study, is where the comedy or drama is supposed to be set. While L.A. often subs for other places, New York and Chicago mostly play themselves. New York is often used in place of Washington, D.C.

Digital distributors like Netflix and Amazon represent a small but growing part of the total. One difference is that like many cable TV networks, the emerging digital players create pilots throughout the year.

There are real consequences to these location shifts as shown by an additional study done by Film L.A., which analyzed new and continuing pickups of series on broadcast networks during primetime for 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14.

At the beginning of the 2012-13 season, there were 47 L.A.-based shows on broadcast (18 dramas, 29 comedies). There also were 24 shows shot elsewhere (23 dramas, one comedy). “Last year,” says the study, “marked the first time during Film L.A.’s ongoing study in which L.A. accounted for less than 50 percent of network screen time devoted to primetime scripted drama.”

Audley is frustrated by the California incentive plan, which serves up $100 million annually but does not come close to meeting the demand. That law, he notes, does not even include incentives for broadcast network or premium cable series – unless they are returning to the state after shooting elsewhere for at least one full season.

He says California is shortsighted and as a result is losing one of its most important industries.

“If the pilots go, that means the shows will also go elsewhere,” says Audley, “and that’s tens of thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions if not billions of dollars being spent outside of California.”

Film L.A. is a nonprofit organization that coordinates permits for filmed entertainment shot on location in Los Angeles and L.A. County.

 

Head of Russian Film Production Company Detained

MOSCOW – Denis Alexeyev, a Russian film director and co-owner of the film production company Triada-Film, has been detained in Moscow amidst accusations of misappropriating state funds slated for film production.

Alexeyev was detained late June 24 as part of a criminal investigation of an alleged misappropriation by Triada of nearly $1 million, released by the ministry of culture for the production of a feature titled Mister X, the online publication Gazeta.ru reported.

According to the report, Alexeyev was taken to the city’s investigative department, where he complained of health problems and was then escorted to a Moscow hospital. He refused to be treated, but while he was inside, a group of unidentified people gathered in front of the building and aggressively demanded that Alexeyev be released, the police said.

He was still taken back to the investigative department. The city police didn’t say if charges had been brought against him. If charges of “grand misappropriation” are brought against Alexeyev, he could face a prison sentence of up to five years.

Originally, investigators discovered the misappropriation of one million rubles ($31,700), but they later said that, although they couldn’t give a precise figure, the total amount of funds allegedly misappropriated by Triada is about 30 million rubles ($917,000).

Triada’s case comes as Russia’s first criminal probe into misappropriation of state funds in the film industry. It was opened last month, shortly after President Vladimir Putin called for tighter control over government funding at a meeting with filmmakers.

Triada, co-owned by stuntman Alexander Inshakov and lawyer Alexander Treshchev, is a relatively small player in the Russian film industry and doesn’t belong to the “big 10” production companies, which are entitled to the lion’s share of state cash for the film sector.

 

Church sponsors original production

BRIGHAM CITY — Members of North Hills Christian Fellowship of Tremonton will perform their first full-length original play “Lucan” at 7:30 p.m. today and Monday at the Brigham City Fine Arts Center, 58 S. 100 West.

“Lucan” is set in an ancient Celtic village at the end of the second century.

The play was written and directed by Amanda Bradford and sponsored by North Hills Christian Fellowship of Tremonton.

Cost is $5 for ages 13-older; $3, ages 4-12; and free for 3-younger. Tickets can be purchased the night of the play at the door.

For information, call the church office at 435-730-5034.