Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Apr. 23 that 38 film projects have been awarded tax credits through the California Film Commission’s expanded Film & Television Tax Credit Program. The productions are expected to generate $796 million in economic activity across communities throughout California.
The announcement highlights the ongoing effort to keep film production within the state, supporting jobs and local economies. With a diverse mix of big-budget features, animated films—which are newly eligible for the program—and independent productions, officials say the initiative aims to reinforce California’s status as a global leader in entertainment.
Among the awarded projects are major studio titles such as “The Simpsons Movie 2” from 20th Century Studios, “Phineas and Ferb” from Disney Television Animation, “Self Help” produced by Will Ferrell, and “Black Is Blue” starring Laverne Cox. The productions will collectively employ over 5,300 cast and crew members and utilize more than 1,000 shooting days statewide—including nearly half outside traditional studio zones in counties like Humboldt, Inyo, Kern, Mendocino, Nevada, San Francisco, San Diego, Marin and Ventura.
Colleen Bell, Executive Director of the California Film Commission said: “This round marks a truly exciting milestone for our program. For the first time we’re welcoming animated feature films from powerhouses DreamWorks Animation, 20th Century Studios and Disney Entertainment Television…With more than 45% of filming days taking place outside the traditional studio zone we’re seeing the real-world economic impact of this program reach communities across the entire state.”
Randy Lake of DreamWorks Animation said: “We are incredibly grateful to be the first animated feature selected by the Film Commission to receive a tax credit in California. This credit will have a massive impact on our budgets allowing DreamWorks to hire more local talent…” Will Ferrell added: “We’re honored that Self Help has been selected for California’s Film & TV Tax Credit Program…it’s incredibly meaningful to be part of bringing production home.” Lead actor Laverne Cox also said: “California has always been a place where bold authentic stories come to life…being able to make this film here means we get to collaborate with some of the most talented crews and artists in the world while investing back into the creative community…”
State officials note that since July last year there has been a significant increase in applications—over four times higher—with approved credits for nearly one-and-a-half times as many productions compared with previous years.
