The discussion of shipping jobs overseas generally revolves around production, such as automotive industry positions. The trend is having an impact on the film industry however, as many studios are having their films scored in Europe. A group from the American Federation of Musicians, working as part of the "Listen Up!" project, gathered to protest Lionsgate with relation to the release of its new film Draft Day.
"People who love the movies know that music is the heart and soul of a film," said AFM president Ray Hair. "They also know that musicians are vital to the motion picture and TV film industry. Our work must be afforded the same dignity and respect that other cast and crew members enjoy. We will engage industry leaders on these issues until there is positive change for musicians."
Lionsgate in particular has drawn attention from the AFM due to its shipping of scoring jobs for the films Avengers, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and The Hunger Games, among others. The AFM has more than just patriotic morality on its side however, pointing out that the actions of studios such as Lionsgate can be less than legally logical. Film projects often earn tax credits for shooting in the U.S. and that makes it sketchy to handle music production on another continent. Draft Day received $5 million in tax incentives for shooting in Ohio.
The score itself was written by John Debney, an American (if that makes anyone feel better) composer best known for his The Passion of The Christ score. An American was necessary in this case, especially if drafting a score for European musicians to perform: Draft Day is about football, and that means something completely different across the pond.
