Two bills have been introduced that aim to strengthen current film and tax credit programs in California. This is more than double the annual tax cap, following Governor Gavin Newsom’s announcement this fall, to $750 million a year.
Tax incentives are a much-needed boost for the crisis industry, where many films are filmed out of state and even countries.
“It’s said that showrunners like me can shoot in New York, Georgia, Illinois, New Mexico, Vancouver and Budapest. I’m no joke, but I can’t shoot in California.”
Members of lawmakers, entertainment associations, studios and small businesses gathered to demand better incentives to maintain television and film production here in California.
“77% of projects that don’t have a state tax credit will go elsewhere. These are the works that you’d like to work here, and almost anything that doesn’t earn credits will leave,” Senator Ben Allen said.
Members of the local union also expressed their opinions on how the works leaving the nation left without work.
“I spent time with the Mandalorian union and two months ago became an official member of the local 80,” said Angel Isarrares at the Grip Local 80 Union. “It was an amazing experience, but for economic reasons, the Mandalorians decided to move filming to London, so I, me and hundreds of crew lost their jobs.”
After experiencing a pandemic, strikes and wildfires, Hollywood has lost its grip for entertainment productions. These new bills focus on creating competitive programs that will help maintain and ensure high-quality jobs to stimulate the industry California is struggling with.
“I am extremely proud of what is going on in the state legislature because I don’t want to be here five years from now and remember the industry that left us,” Mayor Karen Bass said.
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