Hot on the heels of a series of pushes to increase film and television production in Los Angeles, the California Film Commission has announced 48 new productions that will film in the state thanks of its tax credit program — among them 43 independent features and projects from the likes of Ang Lee and Issa Rae. The announcement was the ninth such of the 2024-25 fiscal year.
“California didn’t earn its role as the heart of the entertainment world by accident — it was built over generations by skilled workers and creative talent pushing boundaries,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said. “Today’s awards help ensure this legacy continues, keeping cameras rolling here at home, supporting thousands of crew members behind the scenes and boosting local economies that depend on a strong film and television industry.”
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The commission said that the projects will collectively generate $664 million in economic activity for the Golden State and employ roughly 6,500 workers, as well as 32,000 background performers. Those cast and crew members will take home a collective $302 million in wages. These films and television series fall under the current version of the tax credit program, which is capped at $330 million annually. Industry professionals are currently awaiting final word on whether or not the state’s next budget will include the full proposed expansion to the program, which more than doubles that cap to $750 million.
Los Angeles County will benefit most from the awards, with over half of the productions to be shot in the area, which the commission says will help “sustain the birthplace of the iconic industry” and support “the community as it recovers from recent wildfires.” Also included in the tax credits are productions that will utilize the Bay Area (“High Priestess of Souls”), Bakersfield (“Counting by 7s”), El Dorado (“Gold Mountain”), Ventura County (“Things We Cannot Touch”), San Bernardino (“Superbloom”), and Half Moon Bay (“Sponsor”), among other locations.
“This industry is core to California’s creative economy and keeping production here at home is more important than ever,” commission director Colleen Bell said. “This round of tax credits shows our commitment to supporting both indie and studio productions while spreading the economic benefits of filming across the state.”
Among the major studio projects was producer Issa Rae’s “One of Them Days” sequel, which is anticipated to spend around $39 million in qualified expenditures. TriStar Pictures president Nicole Brown said that “Los Angeles was an essential backdrop” to this year’s hit “One of Them Days,” which starred SZA and Keke Palmer.
“We are thrilled that Dreux and Alyssa will embark on another authentic escapade through the city’s streets in the sequel through the support of California’s Film and Television Tax Credit,” Brown said.
The next application window for film productions looking to qualify will be July 7-9 and for television productions August 25-27. For information, visit the California Film Commission website.
