Ending months of anticipation about the potential impact of California’s new $330 million Film & Television Tax Credit Program, the California Film Commission (CFC) today identified the first 11 television projects that will receive credit under the state’s recently expanded film incentive. The 11 projects, competitively selected from a pool of 37 applicants, include 6 new television series, 4 relocating television series and one television pilot.
The four TV series set to relocate production to California were previously filming in Louisiana, Georgia, Maryland and North Carolina.
According to the CFC, California crews and support businesses will begin to feel the impact immediately as these first 11 projects begin pre-production. The 11 approved projects will generate an estimated $544 million in direct in-state spending, including $216 million in wages for below-the-line workers. These projects will draw on a combined credit pool of $82.8 million specifically devoted to the attraction of television work in fiscal year 2016.
In addition to announcing the first round of projects selected for the newly-expanded program, the California Film Commission also announced the list of projects approved conditionally for the final round of state’s first-generation tax credit program, which held its final abbreviated lottery on April 1.
The final lottery was open only to independent projects due to the program’s success in attracting and retaining television series. A total of 246 applications were received, and 16 films were randomly selected to receive credits reserved specifically for independent projects. The rest of the old program’s final $100 annual allocation will go to the 11 returning TV series accepted for an automatic allocation renewal.
Under both the old and new programs, the California Film Commission awards tax credits only after each selected project: 1) completes post-production, 2) verifies that in-state jobs were created, and 3) provides all required documentation, including audited cost reports.
The California Film and Television Alliance — a coalition of guilds, unions, producers, small businesses, studios, and associations that have worked together for more than a decade to promote, improve, and enhance film and television production in the State of California — issued the following statement in response:
Last year, thanks to our supporters in Sacramento, and the tireless work of this Alliance across the state, the California Film & Television Job Retention and Promotion Act was passed and signed into law. Today we begin to see that legislation put into action. The California Film Commission’s announcement of the 11 TV projects to receive the first allocations under this new law on July 1, demonstrates that AB 1839 will indeed have the impact we sought. The thousands of jobs that will be created, the $216 million in wages, and the $544 million that will be spent in California and poured into small businesses and vendors that support TV production will make a difference in the economy of this state and the lives of the people our organizations represent.
In addition, four veteran TV series that wanted—and are now able—to relocate to California are further proof that this legislation will have its intended result: creating jobs for Californians who want to live and work in their state.
The next application period for the new tax credit program is scheduled for July 13-25, with a funding bucket of $48.3 million for feature films and $6.9 million for independent projects.
More information about California’s newly-expanded Film and Television Tax Credit Program 2.0, including application procedures, eligibility and program guidelines, is available at http://film.ca.gov/incentives.
About the California Film and Television Production Alliance
The members of the California Film and Television Production Alliance include: Academy of Television Arts & Sciences; American Federation of Musicians Locals 47 & 6; Association of Talent Agents; California Attractions and Parks Association; California Chamber of Commerce; California Lodging and Hotel Association; California Labor Federation; California Teamsters Public Affairs Council; California Travel Association; Chef Robért Catering; Directors Guild of America; FilmLA; FLICS – Film Liaisons in California Statewide; Independent Studio Services; International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees; International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 399; Laborers’ International Union of North America, Local 724; Motion Picture Association of America, Inc.; National Association of Theatre Owners of California/Nevada; Producers Guild of America; Quixote Studios; Recording Musicians Association; Recording Industry Association of America; SAG-AFTRA; The Recording Academy; and Writers Guild of America, West.