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Brad Pitt Flick Costs Louisiana Taxpayers $27 Million!!!!!
Looks like you can lump Hollywood into that pile of crappy, greedy people mooching off of the American taxpayer.
On Saturday, the New York Times reported on the millions of dollars from states that have been going straight to the pockets of Hollywood studios to finance movies via tax breaks.
Hollywood is just as bad as those shady Wall Street finance people!
For example, Louisiana taxpayers funded $27 million of Brad Pitt's $167 million dollar movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. The paper also notes that this is the state’s biggest movie payout to date!
Hollywood producers and studios claim that the state tax breaks allow them to keep entertainment jobs in the U.S. and create jobs.
But, au contraire!
The report points to the case of a straight-to-DVD Wesley Snipes and Cybil Shepherd-starring picture called Hard Luck filmed in the state of Rhode Island.
The seaside state gave Hard Luck $2.65 million in tax breaks, but Rhode Islander's only netted $1.9 million in return.
Why don't the politically 'active' stars take on their own greedy industry.
Ahem, Brad?
Did that Benjamin Buttons movie generate more than $27 million in revenues for Louisiana?
[Image via Doug Meszler/WENN.]
That's More Like It!
wow.. he's hot
ridic
you're suprised??? Hollywood is shady…don't act coy Perezito
BRAD PITT is looking SOOOO OLD! Yuk.
These are the same celebrities that complain about the environment but fly in private jets on a whim, own and drive range rovers and porsche's, live in houses that eat air conditioning, and then say YOU have to do a better job. That's why no one gives a damn what they think. They are amoral hypocrites. It's OKAY to be rich- but stf up and leave everyone else out of your agenda. What an asshole to take money from Louisiana.
Lay off. This is exaggerated.
The movie hasn't come out yet. I think it comes out around Christmas. Be patient, Perez.
The little things give people away. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are both hypocrites who do charity work to help themselves feel better about themselves. They're not genuine.
Do you realize that if there are not tax breaks and incentives for movies they will be made in Canada? Do you consider the number of jobs created and the publicity the city receives from movies made on a state?
'
'
Yeah, didn't think so.
Not Surprised. Hipocrites.
hmm.. so he's not the perfect unselfish, non-greedy Mr. Messiah you claim he is. Interesting.
anyone stop to think how much money we are blowing on nothing but lousy entertainment? that much money for a fricken movie?? something that's not even REAL! has no important role in the world and will do NOTHING for the betterment of society. it's so wasteful.
I work for the Film Industry in Texas and Louisiana. These tax incentives are used to get work in the State. Without the incentives the production would have filmed in Los Angels or Toronto or Mexico - taking with it equipment rentals, catering, hotels shopping, and jobs. All of these items in return are taxable back to the State through income and sales tax. In the past 3-5 years Louisiana has gone from $50 million a year to $400 Million a year in filming as a direct result of the incentives. Texas on the other hand has LOST that business to Louisiana because it cannot match those incentives. In the end - the state will take in much more than it puts out. If the budget is $127 Million - much of that money will boost the economy, jobs and taxes to the State. (Remember Brad and Angelina own a very expensive house and pay very nice taxes to the state.)
I don't care how much money Brad makes off of Americans. He's hot, and that is all that matters.
Re: an_animator –
Thanks for your lecture. It must really suck to live in Louisiana. Texas is great though. It's home of the sexy Steve Austin.
Hassel 9
I agree and disagree with you. Without the entertainment business - Your Tuesday night would be boring indeed. Entertainment is a HUGE business. Do you realize that Simple things such as Rock Band and Guitar Hero made over $900 Million last year. How many widget companies can do that? And for many of us - Movies and TV shows are escapism for every day reality. And the price to escape from the financial woes, stresses from work is just $7.50.
:)
It really sounded like a few people booing, not a majority. I think it is obnoxious to boo when she was an invited by the team.
Re: Buttsex –
You should know whether Brad and Angelina are genuine. You are omnipotent and you can get into their brains and hearts.
Brad Pitt is worth every Million dollars that are fucking spent. He is like Johnny Depp, the fucking best of the best. We are fucking lucky to even have his tight little ass.
Damn, last post was for the wrong thread. Perez, you need a delete option. Anyway, about Brad…. is this really surprising ? All these celebrities are hypocrites. Lord knows what the carbon footprint is for the Brangeloonie clan.
ONE MORE NOTE
These are brokered tax incentives. That means it is TAX BREAKS to the film industry that are in returned brokered to the local vendors. Its not as simple as being handed a $27 million dollar check.
Re: an_animator –
That's why I have begun to buy pirated movies. In Canada, the minimum wage is $8.75, and new release movies are $20-$30 dollars, plus our outrageous 13% tax in Ontario. How many hours does a minimum wage worker have to work in order to buy a 2-hour movie? Most new release movies I buy now are only $2.00 per movie. That's right, $2.00 per movie. Great DVD quality, subtitles, scene selection, etc.
The world is going to cum to an end because he took pix of his old lady breast feeding one of their brood.
wow, perez, clearly you don't remember the pink houses project in the lower ninth ward of new orleans…
you know, the project brad pitt helped fund? 150 houses to help impoverished families after katrina and rita hit?
way to attack a celeb who's done much more good for louisiana than you realize…
Re: MissBabs – It does not suck to live in Louisiana.
Perezito, it was about time you start realizing that most of these "stars" are so hypocrite…
They are always telling people how to live and go "green" when they are jet setting all around the globe…
Okay, I agree that a "Brad Pitt flick" doesn't mean HE's responsible for the shady dealings but has anyone stopped to check what the dude makes PER PICTURE? Hmm??? Folks, he's definitely not working for FREE! Maybe he could give some of his "hard-earned" to the poor folk in LA? (LA = Louisiana NOT Los Angeles!)
I can't be angry at this at all!!! The question should be, why does shooting a movie at a state require tax payment???? All the people who work on the movie (actors, camera people, directors, etc.) have to pay income tax, right? The corporation who owns the studio has to pay corporate tax also, right? And then on top of that a tax for shooting the movie, and we are supposed to be disgusted??? Why not tax them for breathing the air too…..
Re: akonikui – I agree. Plus, he doesn't "HAVE to" give at all if he chooses, so he's admirable for that many times over already.
I'm sorry, he's just not worth all that. Can't believe I've been here this long. I'm bored, I'm out.
Love it!
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Love it
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Love it
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The "sainted" taking from the poor and ummm sticking it to the poor!
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This stuff can't be made up…LOL
Go Brad!!!!!!****** Go Angie!!!!!!!
Love it!
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Love it
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Love it
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The "sainted" taking from the poor and ummm sticking it to the poor!
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This stuff can't be made up…LOL
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Go Brad!!!!!!****** Go Angie!!!!!!!
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Keep finding those loopholes !!!!!!!!!!!!
Why should it cost the tax payers…they don't see any movie profits like these overpaid jackasses !!!
gee, i wonder why all the celebs vote democrat….
Do you really think Hollywood or any industry is going to be walking on eggshells to avoid tax money being wasted? Give me a break! The government itself is the first organization to spend tax dollars on stupid and pointless projects. At least movies benefit the general public. Don't underestimate the power of escapism.
Poor Perez, you are kind of naive…Hollywood is the most corrupt bunch of assholes in America….A town full of greed, drugs and ambition…Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are two egotistic people and you are part of their games…For months you have made Angelina and Brad look like real saints….The same with Obama…You will have a very hard and sad "despertar".-
That "headline' is a bit misleading if you look at the facts.
factcheck dot org
Re: akonikui – While Brad Pitt may be doing a lot to help out the Lower Ninth Ward, that does nothing to help out the Louisiana taxpayers. Lower Ninth Ward residents are not the same as Louisiana taxpayers. The Louisiana taxpayers help out the Lower Ninth Ward as much as Mr. Pitt does. It's time for someone to give the TAXPAYERS a break, instead of continually giving breaks to those that ALWAYS have things just handed to them!
well it is creating tons of jobs so idnoooo…
Are those figures correct by the way? a 27 million tax break for a 168 million dollar movie? How much is the freaking tax?? so that means without the tax break it would have cost them 195 million to make the movie (16% more)….thats a huge tax for shooting a movie in a state. And again, any money Brad Pitt got paid on this movie, he will pay income tax….any money the director got paid, he will pay income tax, any money the guy who gets coffee for people got paid, he will pay income tax…….any profit the corporation made off of this movie, they will pay corporate tax…..and if there is any profit left after all of that, and it gets paid to the shareholders of the corporation, they will have to pay tax on that as well….and all these taxes are seperate and don't cancel each other out…….if from the way you describe it, it sounds like even with the 27 million tax break they still had to pay some taxes to the state just to shoot the movie….why are they charging so much tax???
p-rez.. your missing the point everyone who comes to town to film those movies spends money, lots of money on hotels, eating out, etc. Many people in New Orleans would not have had jobs to come home to after Katrina if the film industry was not involved.
perez your an idiot and it looks like most of your readers are too, with the exception of an_animator and a few others.
The tax breaks given to movies are needed. Without the breaks the films wouldn't be filmed in those states, instead they'd be filmed in other cheaper locations. Like an_animator said, it generates far more revenue for the state giving the tax break than it costs them. And technically it does not really cost them anything in the first place, the states are just giving tax breaks.
As a fellow citizen of Louisiana, I wish Brad would stay in France and quit trying to play God. Also, he needs to keep his political views to himself. He maybe trying to help our state after Katrina, but with that kinda payoff for a movie we do not need his help.
Yeah Perez these are the "saints" you always defend and post about/
Make up your mind you either like them or you don't
Don't be two faced Perez….
LoL Grandpa Zaquisha spends more on his yearly BOTOX treatments.
He's way to overrated !
Re: SheriMoonZombie –
Eww don't even try to compare Grandpa Zaquisha with Johnny Depp. Are you retarded?
Johnny Depp is way cooler than that plastic old fart Grandpa Zaquisha Pitt. Bleck
I'm from Louisiana, and I have a lot of friends in Shreveport, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans (the 3 cities where a lot of productions are being shot).
A lot more people in the film world are moving to these areas because of the tax breaks, yes. But they are also stimulating the economy down there big time! I wouldn't be surprised if they were bringing just as many millions to the state through these cities' local economies.
verrrry interesting….
Think about all the work Brad has put into LA……he's paid that and some. Do you think he's the one who drafted the legislation? C'mon.
Dude can only do so much, he is human. Out of all the douche bags who NEGATIVELY commented, how many of you have done any HUMANITARIAN work? Frack'n dirtbags.
wow, they spent that much money on benjamim button? i highly doubt the movie is going to do well at the box office. it's very precious and big fishy looking. BOMBS AWAY!
167 mil. $ for a movie that would probably bomb ! Outrageous.
the apostrophe in "Islander's" should be AFTER the last s. (not in between the r and the s.)
You are normally right on a lot of things, Perez. You don't know what the hell you're talking about on this issue.
Wait, are you telling me that all of the Hollywood people who continuously and contemptuously tell us who we ought to vote for and how much better they know about how to help America would greedily go off and make a movie in another country without tax breaks? What about America first? What about American jobs? If American's are supposed to be patriots for paying more taxes, shouldn't Hollywood be leading the charge to pay full boat to help American workers and pay their fair share of taxes??? Shouldn't they? Hypocrite might be too weak a term for most of these people.
Re: MissBabs –
You don't need to get into their hearts and brains to understand their motives, my retarded friend. Their actions speak for themselves.
Mario, you're such a fuckwit. Maybe you should try understanding more of the issue rather than running around spreading bad information.
It's not like Brad Pitt has a lot to do with the business end of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (which hasn't even come out yet, so what revenues are you talking about?). The creative side of the production chose to do that film in NOLA in part so that they could refocus industry attention on the area, and this is how people like you want to spin that? Especially after everything he's done for the people over there?
What happened—did he refuse to pose for a picture with you too? If your biggest contribution to New Orleans is to supply its residents with idle blog gossip, I suggest you shut up about things that are way over your head.
Re: Anom0335 – Most if not all actors and producers get paid through their personal production company like an S Corp, or LLC. This means they get all the take breaks of fortune 500 companies and pay little taxes by funneling money through these shelters.
Re: Shaun1138 – by the way without these tax incentives the films would go to other countries to film sending more jobs over seas!! Tax incentives for films keep this site in business letting celebrities work on films!! Don't bite the hand that feeds you!!
Re: Iheart420 –
Ok, you're right. Johnny Depp is a King compared to Brad. No one is better or even comes close. They should clone him in case something happens to his sweet tight ass.
You fail to mention that Brad bought a home in LA and so, having lived there for a short period of time, he also *gave back* to the economy of that State!
This doesn't suprise me. The taxpayers dish out all this money to a guy that doesn't think the US is good enough to born his children but want you to pay money for his acting salary.
Jolie-Pitt have all americans fooled. They have their Jolie-Pitt foundation for tax purposes. The 14 mil that they received for their pics of the twins; did that go directly to a charity? No, it probably sat in the Jolie-Pitt foundation waiting to be distribute while they get the tax write off.
I'm confused as to why the tax payers had to pay for it and not the studios? Did anyone ask the people of Louisiana if they wanted to pay for that movie to be made in their home state before they filmed it? Doubt it… but Brad's so philanthropic, right?
Perez, why do you "spin" things and lie when it is SO unnecessary!!! Brad Pitt is only working IN the movie. The director is David Fincher. The Director and the producers cost the state of Louisiana, not Brad Pitt or any of the other acotrs in the film. A lot of states are giving "incentives" to movies to encourage them to shoot in the USA. And they do make money. They create jobs, they also pay for the locations they use, and lots of other stuff. It is better then watching our film industry go to Canada or the Czech Republic which is what they've been doing!
Tax breaks are standard in the industry. Our Gov't built a sound stage to attract more feature film location business. We console ourselves with the drop in the $cdn because the films will come back and they bring lots of money and work. Whatever the governments lose in taxes goes pretty directly into the pocket of our local film crews and service providers. Governments give tax breaks to all kinds of industries. This has nothing to do with Brad Pitt at all.
So basically the people of Lousiana paid Brad Pitt's salary on the movie so that he could "live" in that state and so that he could "spread" the cause of rebuilding after Katrina. Yeah, Perez, that is how your precious Brangelina operates. Remember when he was filming Tree of Life in Austin? I'm from TX, and he literally asked the FOUR SEASONS if they could stay there for three months for a grand total of $3,000. Nice.
Aww Perez, there may be hope for you yet!!! It's about time you see a glimpse of what most of us have been trying to tell you!! These 2, and most of Hollywood, are nothing but egomaniacal, selfish, self-important a-holes!! I'm so proud of you for this thread!@!!!!!
As for Brad's supposed pink houses…how many needy families are actually occupying those homes?? Seriously!! It seems he started up the charity, got the publicity, and then abandoned them. The last I heard, they weren't doing too well, and Jolie bought some so Brad didn't look like such a fool!!
I hear the same stuff for a certain stadium that is being completed in my area. I heard it a few years ago when the golf US open came to my town. all the store owners got excited, some redid their stores, and you know what? No one from the open came into my town to eat, shop, anything. They went back to the Hilton afterwards, ate there. so the hilton had some extra $$$ for a week. We were not allowed near our public owned golf course. Any jobs (and I don't know 1 person who got one) were temporary jobs. And as soon as it ended, they were gone. People around me lost money, we as citizens paid for the police coverage (okay, they got extra $$$ for ONE week), streets were blocked off and some business lost even locals because you could not get near them. and the revenue for STATE income tax were the ones who lived here in NY. Tiger Woods and the rest live in different states. They might be paying federal income tax, but that does not come directly back to the state level.
Ok, in defense of Perez, many of you are not READING the post. After all of the jobs supplies, after all of the extra economy brought into the state, the state is still ending up with a net LOSS. Also, being in the film industry, it is all about the bottom line, not "helping" people. It actually hurts other states who lose workers and companies who leave their own states in order to move to Louisiana. I live in TX, and we can't afford the tax breaks to H-town. Brad is doing an honorable thing in Louisiana, but the classiest of them all, Paul Newman, was able to raise $150 million!!! without ever bringing that kind of attention to himself. Basically, Brad got a $20 million paycheck and then had other investors fund his project (he probably gave about $2 mil) in New Orleans. So relax, Brangeloonies, Perez is right on this one.
4. Either get used to being panhandled by the government or vote for true change; keeping our constitution upright and keeping the government OUT of our POCKETS and PERSONAL LIVES….vote Libertarian.
If you want to vote for the less of two evils, I'd vote for McCain considering he's going to take less of your money, but not a whole lot less.
oh, and I have another one.
NUMBER 5:
Stop looking up to the IDIOTS in Hollywood who use our sick and twisted obsession with them to campaign for POLITICAL issues they have absolutely NO EXPERIENCE or SCHOOLING in!
Common sense, stargazers!
Rant over.
Re: Cherry Bomb – He didn't take money from Louisiana. Louisiana gave tax breaks to these film companies. Perez wrote the post in a confusing way making it seem like Brad Pitt stole money from Louisiana… And that aint true. In fact, Brad Pitt has done more humanitarian work in New Orleans and dumped more of his own money into the reconstruction of the city and individual families that he should have a fucking statue in his god-damn image
lol rich people are greedy, that's how they got that way.Are you really surprised they steal the commoners hard earned money for shit like that?? Don't trust your government and don't trust the rich…they just want to rape you in the a$$. It's as simple as that.
Perez ~
RUN FOR PRESIDENT. "PEREZ FOR PREZ…"
I'd vote for you. I wish to be on your cabinet and/or staff.
He's the equivalent of a male model.
Dumb as a puck.
No, but I bet Brad did through his efforts to educate and help rebuild New Orleans. As someone who lives in Louisiana, I'm proud that my state can offer a tax credit to help attract the movie industry and create jobs. Canada does…
Re: moonbeams – THANK you! I concur!!