North Carolina Senate agrees on decreasing the State’s TV and Film production tax credits.

The North Carolina state Senate voted on Thursday to approve a decreased form of the state’s film tax incentive.

The new tax incentive would decrease funding for the program by two-thirds, according to Deadline.

Currently, North Carolina‘s production credit has been accused of being abused by production companies and Gov. Pat McCrory has called for deep cuts in the program.

On Thursday, the State Senate approved a proposal that would turn the incentives program into a grant program and reduce the state’s funding of the program from $60 million to $20 million.

But, before North Carolina eliminates their production tax credit, the new program will have to be passed in the state’s House of Representatives.

The MPAA‘s SVP of Government Affairs, Vans Stevenson commented on the recent Senate vote expressing his pleasure in state incentives.

“We are grateful the Senate has recognized the importance of motion picture and television production jobs in North Carolina by voting to give preliminary approval to continue a production incentive program.”

We remain hopeful that the North Carolina House of Representatives, with its bipartisan bill, will work together with their Senate colleagues and the governor to reach agreement on a competitive, sustainable incentive program thereby ensuring motion picture and television production in North Carolina remains a catalyst for job growth and significant economic development in the state into the future.”

According to the MPAA, the film and TV industry is accountable for more than 12,000 jobs in the state including more than 3,000 production jobs and more than $538 million in wages from production and distribution-related jobs.

Discuss this story with fellow Project Casting fans on Facebook. On Twitter, follow us at @projectcasting.

Justin Bieber Uses N-Word and KKK Joke in New Video

Everything was really funny when Justin Bieber was telling jokes earlier this week, until he said the N-word. A clip of Bieber saying the N-word was recently released by The Sun.

The clip highlights Bieber singing theses lyrics…”One Less Lonely Girl to One Less Lonely N*****.

Immediately after using the word nigger, Bieber jokes about joining the Klu Klux Klan.

The New York Daily News points out that it’s unclear when the video was filmed, but it seems to be after Bieber was signed by Scooter Braun — though still a young star on the rise.

“Unfortunately this is the devastating reality of how Justin has behaved and reveals his attitude toward such a deeply emotive subject,” a source told the Sun.

“People need to see this. Normal kids in society do not make these kind of jokes. He is protected by a network of staff, but the camera doesn’t lie. This is the real Justin.”

What is more shocking is that the video was taking during the time Justin Bieber was being mentored by Usher. According to TMZ, Justin Bieber “knew almost immediately it was a stupid thing to do. Usher took him into a room and shoed him historically racist videos to drive home how hurtful thsee words can be used.

“Bieber and his team say various people have tried to extort him over the last few years — demanding money for both this video and the one he made when he was 15.  Justin says he will not be shaken down anymore. He says he wants people to see the video and he wants to accept responsibility.”

Justin Bieber recently apologized for his previous video:

“As a kid, I didn’t understand the power of certain words and how they can hurt. I thought it was ok to repeat hurtful words and jokes, but didn’t realize at the time that it wasn’t funny and that in fact my actions were continuing the ignorance. Thanks to friends and family I learned from my mistakes and grew up and apologized for those wrongs. Now that these mistakes from the past have become public I need to apologize again to all those I have offended. I’m very sorry. I take my friendships with people of all cultures very seriously and I apologize for offending or hurting anyone with my childish and inexcusable mistake. I was a kid then and I am a man now who knows my responsibility to the world and not to make that mistake again. Ignorance has no place in our society and I hope the sharing of my faults can prevent others from making the same mistake in the future. I thought long and hard about what i wanted to say but telling the truth it always what’s right. Five years ago I made a reckless and immature mistake and I’m grateful to those close to me who helped me learn those lessons as a young man. Once again…. I’m sorry.”

TMZ reported that someone approached Justin’s reps two months ago with the video, demanding $1 million or it would be leaked to the press. Justin Bieber’s reps didn’t accept the offer, the price was dropped to $800,000. Then one week ago, they were approached yet again with the video, this time with a $500,000 offer and Justin’s reps still said no.  “Bieber’s people wouldn’t make the deal because they didn’t think the tape was that harmful … especially because Bieber was 15 years old when he told the racist joke,” said TMZ.

Discuss this story with fellow Project Casting fans on Facebook. On Twitter, follow us at @projectcasting.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock