California Film and TV Tax Credit Program Taps Record 51 Titles As State Aims to Boost Production

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Fifty-one movies are set to qualify for tax incentives while filming in California, a move aimed at reviving production that has been dwindling due to a growing competition between states vying to attract Hollywood productions through a series of reciprocal incentives.

In a single round of California’s film and TV tax incentive program, as reported by the California Film Commission, the most chosen titles have accumulated the highest total marks. These productions are projected to provide employment for around 6,490 cast and crew members, distributing almost $347 million in wages. Additionally, they’re expected to stimulate approximately $578 million in overall economic activity.

Governor Gavin Newsom remarked, “Other states may strive to emulate California’s screen dominance, but they can never surpass the Golden State, which is undeniably the global hub of entertainment. This status has been earned over decades by relentless innovation and tireless effort.” He further emphasized, “Today’s awards are crucial in maintaining the industry where it rightfully belongs – providing countless high-paying jobs ‘below the line,’ and boosting the local businesses that thrive on a flourishing film and television sector.

The untitled upcoming movie by the directors of “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, has been chosen for this round of projects and is anticipated to secure $20.8 million in tax credits from NBCUniversal.

In this round, only two other significant studios have been selected for incentives: Twentieth Century Studios for “Business Women,” which will receive $5.7 million in credits, and Warner Bros. for “Cut Off,” earning $10 million in credits.

A significant portion of this funding round is earmarked for a group of 46 independent films. These big-budget productions are choosing to film in other locations, such as Georgia and the U.K., where there are more attractive tax incentives. The majority of these movies will be filmed outside Los Angeles, with plans to shoot for over 360 days in Contra Costa, Oakland, Ojai, Merced, and San Diego Counties, among other places, as stated by the film commission.

The independent movies that qualify for tax incentives are “Animals”, “Not Hers”, “TBTN”, “Phantom”, “Something About Bobby” and “Reenactment”.

Colleen Bell, head of California Film Commission, highlighted the impact of Los Angeles’ wildfires earlier this year on film production. She explained how these disruptions have affected thousands of cast and crew members, influencing aspects like scheduling, financing, housing, and location availability. In light of these challenges, she emphasized that this program is essential for aiding recovery in productions, maintaining jobs and investments within our state, and preserving California’s status as the epicenter of the entertainment industry.

Kwan and Scheinert emphasized the crucial role that California’s state film and TV tax incentive program plays in maintaining production within the state. In a statement, they declared, “We are filmmakers based in LA, with close friends in the same city who are exceptionally talented creators. On ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’, we received the California tax credit, and without it, producing that film would have been an insurmountable challenge.

Previously, Newsom announced his intentions to boost California’s film and TV tax incentive program budget from its current $330 million annually to a staggering $750 million. This ambitious move aims to rejuvenate production within the state following the impact of strikes and to counteract the long-term trend of production migration away from the region. The specifics are still under discussion.

See the list of other productions that were selected to receive tax credits here.

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2025-03-19 19:54