Arizona’s $125 Million Movie and Television Tax Credit Becomes Law

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterTwo Arizona studio projects are preparing to break ground next year, now that the state has approved a $125 million incentive for film and TV production.Acacia Filmed Entertainment unveiled its plans Monday to build 14 soundstages on a 70-acre site in the Scottsdale area. The other project, Desert Studios Complex, is slated to be built in Buckeye, in the Southwest Valley.Both projects were intimately involved in designing and lobbying for the state’s new tax credit, which is targeted to incentivize construction of new soundstage facilities.“We basically helped craft this bill so we could help protect the ability to finance the studio,” said Matthew George, president of Acacia Filmed Entertainment.

"Naked and Afraid" star Melanie Rauscher was reportedly found dead while dog sitting at a home in Prescott, Arizona, July 17. She was 35. The Discovery Channel show contestant had been staying in a guest room in the house while the homeowners were out of town, according to TMZ.  Fox News Digital contacted the Prescott Police Department, but a spokesperson was unavailable for comment.

A two-time contestant from Naked and Afraid has died under what has been described as “mysterious circumstances.”

Former Naked and Afraid contestant Melanie Rauscher suddenly died. She was 35.

Melanie Rauscher has sadly died.

Melanie Rauscher, who appeared on two versions of Discovery Channel’s Naked and Afraid reality show, was found dead on July 17 in Prescott, Ariz., according to reports. She was 35.

“Dear Zoe,” the coming-of-age drama starring “Stranger Things” actress Sadie Sink, has been acquired by Byron Allen’s Freestyle Digital Media and will hit theaters and digital platforms on Nov. 4, 2022.Sink stars as Tess, a young woman grappling with the immeasurable and shattering death of her younger sister, Zoe (Mckenzie Noel Rusiewicz).

Maria Paula Mazon is sharing her talent with the world! This 10-year-old girl from Tucson, Arizona, is going viral on social media for her incredible voice and passion for music, showing her skills as a performer and showcasing her love for the iconic Selena Quintanilla with identical dance moves.The young singer is surprising everyone, making many online users emotional with her powerful stage presence, recently having the opportunity to belt out the fan-favorite song ‘Como La Flor’ in front of Selena’s brother A.B and Selena’s husband Chris Perez.“I just love singing and that’s why I wanted to show the whole world my talent and how I would love to just grow and be big,” Maria Paula declared, explaining to KOLD news that she wants to share her talent and has already been offered some music deals, however she wants to be accepted as she is.Mariapaula singing to Chris Perez "Como La Flor" She had us all in tears.@mazonmariapaula1 @chrisperezrockofflcial“I am who I am, I’m Maria Paula and I want to tell the whole world to love me for who I am and love me and accept me,” the singer said. “It makes me feel a lot of emotions and I feel happy, nervous,” she said about a potential career in the music industry, “And I’m so thankful for all the fans that support me and love me.

Paul Petersen, founder of the child-actor advocacy group A Minor Consideration. No cause of death was given. Longterm partner Chrissy Brown told THR that Rooney Jr.

Mickey Rooney Jr., the eldest son of Hollywood star Mickey Rooney who went on to become an original Mouseketeer, musician and actor, has died. He was 77. Rooney Jr.’s death was announced by Paul Peterson, the former actor and founder of the advocacy group A Minor Consideration.The 76-year-old, who posted the news on Facebook, did not specify a cause of death.

Carson Burton Mickey Rooney Jr., an original Mouseketeer, musician and actor who was the first child of Mickey Rooney, has died. He was 77.Rooney Jr. died Saturday at his home in Glendale, Arizona, according to a Facebook post from friend and actor Paul Petersen.

confirmed the news to the Hollywood Reporter. She noted that the musician died from unknown causes at his home in Glendale, Arizona.Rooney Jr. was an original Mouseketeer who appeared on Disney’s “Mickey Mouse Club” in 1955 alongside his brother Tim.He also was a born-again Christian, according to the Riverside Press-Enterprise, and performed in bands with singer Willie Nelson.The Birmingham, Alabama, native appeared alongside Nelson on the silver screen in 1980’s “Honeysuckle Rose” and 1984’s “Songwriter.” His first film role was in the 1966 movie “Hot Rods to Hell.”His former “Mickey Mouse Club” castmate Paul Peterson penned a tribute to Rooney Jr. on Facebook over the weekend.“I first met Mickey, the oldest of nine siblings sired by his famous father when he and Timmy were hired by Disney to be Mouseketeers in 1955,” Peterson began.

Mickey Rooney Jr. has sadly died at the age of 77.

Addie Morfoot Contributor“Gabby Giffords Won’t Back Down,” an inspirational story about the former Arizona congresswoman’s fight to recover from an assassination attempt in 2011 and lobby for greater gun safety laws, arrives in theaters July 15 amid a troubling surge in mass shootings across the country, underscoring the scope of her challenge. But Giffords, who struggles to speak due to injuries she incurred in that attack, remains undaunted, even in the wake of the July 4 mass shootings in Illinois and the June 23 Supreme Court decision overturning concealed-carry gun restrictions in New York.

Arizona this week enacted the Arizona Motion Picture Production Program, an annual film and TV tax incentive that will offer qualified productions up to $75 million a year in 2023, $100,000 in 2024, and $125,000 in 2025 and thereafter.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterArizona has adopted a new tax credit for film and TV production, as the state aims to attract productions that have gone to New Mexico and other states in recent years.Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican, allowed the legislation, HB 2156, to become law without his signature on Wednesday. Ducey’s office declined to comment on the unusual maneuver.The program will provide a refundable credit worth 15% to 20% of qualified production costs, plus additional bonuses for meeting certain criteria.