A 2014 bill to triple the size of California’s film and television production is showing signs of long-term success, according to a report from the California Film Commission released Monday.
According to the report, expanded Film and Television Tax Credit Program 2.0 led to a sustained 12 percent increase in hours worked in-state, resulted in the relocation of a growing number of established TV series to California from out of state, and grew filming outside of the greater L.A. zone. In two years of operating the expanded program, California has gained 38 feature film projects along with 50 television projects comprised of eight pilots, two movies of the week, 27 television series, one mini‐series and 12 relocating television series.
In addition, tax credit projects are on track to spend $28 million across 10 counties outside of Los Angeles County, the report says.
The bipartisan legislation, which was signed by Gov. Jerry Brown in 2014, more than tripled the size of California’s film and television production incentives from $100 million to $330 million annually through fiscal year 2019-2020.
The incentive also extended eligibility to types of production that were excluded before, including big-budget feature films costing $75 million or more, TV pilots and one-hour series for any distribution outlet.
In order to encourage statewide filming, the state provides an additional 5 percent tax credit to productions that shoot outside the 30-mile zone around Los Angeles, where the bulk of state filming traditionally happens, or have qualified expenditures for music scoring or track recording.
“The encouraging short-term results we reported in last year’s annual report have evolved into sustained and very encouraging long-term results for Program 2.0,” Amy Lemisch, California Film Commission executive director, said in a statement. “The expanded tax program is working as intended and having a real impact.”
Contact media and entertainment reporter Diane Haithman at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @dhaithman for the latest in L.A. business news.
