What you need to know: California will welcome ten new television and film projects to the Golden State. The projects will spend $509 million, boosting job creation and economic growth.

December 19, 2024 – SACRAMENTO – Governor Newsom on Wednesday announced that the California Film Commission (CFC) has awarded $108.6 million in tax credits to 10 film and television projects through California’s Film and Television Tax Credit Program and Soundstage Filming Tax Credit Program. Together, these productions are expected to generate $509 million in qualified California expenditures, support local businesses and create 3,583 cast and crew jobs.

This latest round of awards includes one relocating television series, one recurring television series, five new television series, one miniseries, and two non-independent feature films.

“California’s film and television industries are not only iconic pieces of our history but also continue to play an important role in California’s economic future. Our state’s tax credits help spur the ongoing success of these industries and create good-paying jobs for tens of thousands of Californians.” 

 

This latest round of awards includes one relocating television series, one recurring television series, five new television series, one miniseries, and two non-independent feature films. Collectively, these projects will invest $276 million in below-the-line wages, employing 1,666 cast members, 1,917 crew members, and 28,404 background performers, measured in days worked. The productions will also generate 835 filming days throughout California.

Nine out of the ten projects announced today received the credits through the Film and Television Tax Credit Program, with one project receiving credit through the Soundstage Filming Tax Credit Program. In September, Governor Newsom announced his intent to expand the Film and Television Tax Credit Program to $750 million annually, a massive increase from the current $330 million annual allocation in order to maintain California’s competitive edge against other states’ tax credit programs. 

“We are working hard to keep productions filming in California,” said Colleen Bell, Director of the California Film Commission. “These tax credits help us keep jobs here in our state and drive economic growth, but the impact goes beyond the entertainment industry – it supports families, local businesses, and communities statewide.”

Among the highlights is “Imperfect Women” from 20th Television, a part of Disney Television Studios for Apple TV+, from Annie Weisman and starring and executive produced by Elisabeth Moss and Kerry Washington. Based on Araminta Hall’s dark novel, the series delves into the complex, decades-long friendship of three women who meet in college. The project will film for 85 days in California, spending more than $61 million in qualified expenditures and employing over 375 cast and crew members. 

“It’s a tremendous honor to be able to film Imperfect Women in Los Angeles thanks to the California Film Commission’s Tax Credit,” said lead actor and executive producer Kerry Washington. “It’s exciting to know that this invaluable program will allow us to keep production close to home while also supporting the talented artists and artisans here in LA that make storytelling possible.”

“I’m incredibly thrilled that we will be able to go into production on ‘Imperfect Women’ in Los Angeles, directly due to the support of the California Film Commission and their Tax Credit Program,” added lead actor and executive producer Elisabeth Moss. “Being able to produce and shoot this project where I was born and raised is thrilling and the importance of supporting our unrivaled local crews, while tapping into local production resources, cannot be overstated.”

Another standout project is “Bad Monkey” from Warner Bros. Discovery, which is relocating from Florida for its second season. Created by Emmy Award-winning producer Bill Lawrence, the series follows a former Miami detective turned restaurant inspector whose life takes a dark turn when a severed arm washes ashore. With 93 filming days in California, the production will generate $82 million in qualified expenditures, employing 460 cast and crew members and 4,290 background performers. 

For more information on the awards announced today, as well as upcoming application windows for the CFC’s tax credit programs, see here. 
Source: Office of the Governor