Rep. Chu and Rep. Collins Showcase Movie and TV Magic on Capitol Hill
Washington, D.C. – Today, Reps. Judy Chu (CA-27) and Doug Collins (GA-9), co-chairs of the Creative Rights Caucus, collaborated with film and television stakeholders to bring to Capitol Hill the 2nd annual Beyond the Red Carpet – an interactive showcase of the women and men behind-the-scenes of the creative industries. The event featured representatives from popular movies and shows, including Star Wars, Gravity, Goosebumps, House of Cards, and others.
The creative industries, whose work is enjoyed around the world, embodies American culture and innovation. It’s through the efforts of the individuals behind the screen that these works find an audience. Protecting intellectual property rights allows this crucial industry to reach the international stage and continues to drive future investment in this important field. The chairs of the Creative Rights Caucus issued the following statements:
Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27):
“For the second year now, I am thrilled to work with the creative industry to bring the many workers behind the scenes to Washington. It is so important for my colleagues to meet these costumers, lighting technicians, make-up artists and more so that we understand the impact of the policies we consider in Congress. After all, these jobs are not just in Southern California – the creative industries contribute to the economies in all 50 states. We must ensure that everyone here has an understanding of why protecting intellectual property is important, so there continues to be an incentive for the industry to create and invest in future works to bolster our economy.’
Rep. Doug Collins (GA-09):
“Beyond the Red Carpet is a chance to showcase the contributions the creative people behind the scenes of the entertainment industry have made to our country”, said Congressman Doug Collins. “For my home state of Georgia, the film and television industry accounted for over $6 billion in economic impact last year. Georgia is proud to provide a friendly environment for artists, writers, directors, and those that support them to come do their work in our state. I am grateful for the opportunity to talk to some of these talented folks tonight and to discuss how we can help protect creativity and create opportunities for this industry to grow and thrive.”
Other participants at this year’s Beyond The Red Carpet include: 21st Century Fox, American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada, CreativeFuture, Deluxe Entertainment, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Motion Picture Association of America, NBC Universal, SAG-AFTRA, Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., Time Warner/Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., Viacom, and The Walt Disney Company.