California legislators aim to enhance the appeal of the state’s film and television incentive by offering greater financial benefits for individual projects, while simultaneously expanding the entire program twofold.
On Wednesday, legislators unveiled two bills – AB 1138 and SB 630 – at a press conference, aiming to make our state’s program more competitive with others. It was pointed out that Georgia and New York have made significant strides in enhancing their tax incentives to attract the industry.
Assemblyman Isaac Bryan, one of the bill’s supporters, declared, ‘We will not allow that situation to occur without putting up a strong resistance.’
Alex Aguilar, the manager of Laborers Local 724’s business department, advised some of his team members that, if they can’t secure employment promptly, it might be wise for them to consider a change in their professional field.
As a movie critic immersed in this ever-evolving field, I’ve noticed a troubling trend. Many talented individuals are finding themselves displaced, forced to relocate from their homes and leave the state. The reason? They’re increasingly uncertain about the prospects of forging a future in the entertainment industry.
Governor Gavin Newsom expressed his intention in October to boost the program’s budget from $330 million yearly to $750 million. However, at that point, he didn’t propose any further modifications to the program.
Last week, Bryan, along with Senator Ben Allen and Assemblyman Rick Chavez Zbur, presented a pair of bills aimed at revitalizing the current system and safeguarding employment opportunities that are being relocated from California to other states. In simpler terms, they introduced legislation to update the program and preserve jobs that are moving out of California.
Initially, the proposals were submitted as tentative drafts. During a recent press briefing, Zbur emphasized that the specifics are yet to be finalized through consultations with relevant parties in the industry.
At present, California’s program grants a 20% tax reduction for most productions. This is significantly lower than what other regions typically offer. For instance, in Georgia and New York, the rebate is 30%. Last autumn, British Columbia made plans to boost the province’s credit for international productions from 28% to 36%.
As a devoted fan, I’m excited about Zbur’s announcement that the bills he proposed aim to boost rebates in California, even though he hasn’t disclosed the exact percentage increase yet. What I find truly intriguing is that these bills intend to expand the scope of productions eligible for this program. Currently, it only includes scripted TV shows and movies, but excludes animation, reality shows, game shows, and episodes under 40 minutes. If passed, this could potentially open up a whole new world of opportunities for various types of productions!
Last month, during an interview, Zbur mentioned that he was still striving to achieve agreement between the film studios and the labor unions.
He mentioned that the industry is in a slump, as he often hears from his neighbors that due to reduced production, they are earning only about one-third to half of what they used to make a few years back.
He observed that those working in entertainment were similarly affected by both the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent wildfires in L.A.
He emphasized that it’s our responsibility to see this project through, secure the $750 million approval, and modify the program to ensure it matches the competitiveness of other states.
The legislation is anticipated to move forward in the Legislature. However, during a press conference, Zbur pointed out that there’s been some resistance in Sacramento from legislators who feel that expanding tax credits for Hollywood detracts from other programs. In response to this argument, he emphasized that the program has demonstrated substantial returns on investment.
In December, the Motion Picture Association initiated a campaign, named the California Production Coalition, with the aim of advocating for favorable conditions for specific productions eligible for the state’s tax incentive program.
One of the topics they’re considering involves providing an allocation for expenses categorized as “overhead costs” – these are the wages paid to directors, actors, producers, and writers, which are presently disregarded in the formula for tax credits. In a recent interview, Zbur hinted that this could prove to be a challenging endeavor, and he did not bring it up during the press conference held on Wednesday.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, instrumental in launching California’s film incentives back in 2009 when she was a member of the Assembly, expressed concerns about rivalry from Toronto during that period.
Bass stated, “We implemented tax credits, however, our approach wasn’t agile enough to maintain pace.” He further explained, “In contrast, other states swiftly constructed a tax credit system that is far more adaptable to the industry.
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2025-02-27 03:16