California is betting big on bringing Hollywood productions back home. State officials announced the first wave of awards under the newly expanded entertainment tax credit program, totaling $256 million for 22 television projects, including Apple TV+’s The Studio and a new HBO series from Larry David.
The California Film Commission says the incentives will generate $1.1 billion in economic activity, employing more than 6,500 cast and crew members and 46,100 background performers. Most of the filming will take place in Los Angeles, where crews have faced a job drought since the dual writers and actors’ strikes.
The program’s recent expansion nearly doubled its annual cap to $750 million and broadened eligibility to include shorter TV shows, sitcoms, animated projects, and large-scale competition series. Applications jumped nearly 400 percent from previous rounds, reflecting surging demand.
Meanwhile, in Georgia, once a hub for blockbuster productions, Marvel Studios is pulling back. According to the Wall Street Journal, the studio is shifting future films to the United Kingdom, citing rising costs. The move has left local actors, crews, and nearby businesses scrambling.
For California, however, the timing is ideal. Officials hope the expanded tax credit will not only lure back runaway productions but also restore Los Angeles as the world’s entertainment capital.
KFI’s Heather Brooker breaks it all down with Gary and Shannon in the entertainment report.
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