Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Los Angeles) has introduced legislation that aims to protect moviemakers by attracting film and television production projects back to the United States. The bipartisan “Runaway Productions Prevention Act of 2007” would create permanent incentives for producers to make movies in the U.S. by allowing an immediate write-off for the first $15 million of production costs, regardless of production size. The $15 million limit excludes payments to actors, directors and other creative talent.

“Runaway production has cost our economy thousands of well-paying, high-skilled jobs and billions of dollars,” Becerra said. “When we make movies domestically, it has a profound economic and cultural impact in our communities.”

The legislation is supported by the Screen Actors Guild and Directors Guild of America.

Hyperfactory Funding

Mobile media company the Hyperfactory is launching an entertainment division, and expansion backed by a “significant” round of financing from Hollywood that was completed last week.

The money was contributed by the following investors: Rich Frank, former president of Walt Disney Studios and Paramount Television Group and recent chairman of talent management agency Firm; Grant Baker, former chairman of 42 Below vodka; Geoff Ross, founder of 42 Below vodka; and Paul Frank, head of Firm TV. The funds will fuel the launch of the company’s new entertainment division. Frank and Baker will join the Hyperfactory’s board.

The new venture will use mobile networks and content to support record labels, film and TV studios, and media companies. Frank and the other investors will recruit new clients for the company. Hyperfactory will create marketing campaigns for artists to support new films, TV shows, artist and album releases and concert tours.

Acting Out

Players Directory, a huge print and online resource for the casting industry, has signed an exclusive agreement with Baseline StudioSystems, to provider services for actors, including photos, resumes, representation information and for the first time, demo reels.

Baseline, part of the New York Times Co., is a large provider of film and television information with clients including all major studios, broadcast networks, representation firms and media outlets in North America.

An extensive re-design debuted last week. The site features a database of more than 120,000 actors worldwide with more than 250,000 photos.

First printed in January 1937, the Players Directory is the industry’s oldest casting directory.

The first issue was a 248-page publication listing 1,257 players, including names such as Mae West, James Stewart, Gene Autry, Bette Davis, Mary Astor and Gary Cooper.

Gay Day

Regent Entertainment has announced its gay-themed digital media division, HIM Corp., will turn into GayWired Media as part of a re-branding campaign. The company owns 21 Web site portals in its network, including GayWired.com, LesbiaNation.com and 247gay.com, which provide a variety of content across news, business, entertainment, social networking, travel and sports themes. The company will roll out new site designs in early 2008 as part of the re-branding effort.

HIM Corp. was acquired by Regent in 2006. Regent’s other properties include Regent Releasing, Regent Theaters, Regent Studios and gay-oriented cable channel Here Networks. Here was founded in 2002.

International Cinema

Film marketing and distribution executive Kristine Kreska has launched Collaboration Entertainment, a company that will represent films and TV projects for global distribution deals, financial co-production partnerships and promotional services.

Kreska has teamed up with Australia-based financial specialist Iggy Kos in hopes of taking advantage of legislation in the country that provides a 40 percent production rebate for capital expenditures. The legislation was passed last week and is pending approval.

CE is seeking to collaborate with indie and mainstream Hollywood-films budgeted between $3 million and $100 million.

The Beverly Hills-based company debuted at this year’s American Film Market, which took place last week and continues this week in Santa Monica.

Staff reporter Anne Riley-Katz can be reached at

[email protected]

or at (323) 549-5225, ext 225.