22 TV series will receive a California film tax credit as applications increase 400%

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Approximately twenty television series stand to benefit from financial incentives for filming in California, with two previously based in Texas and Canada among them. This comes during the initial grant period following California’s summer enhancement of its film and TV tax credit program.

22 shows were selected for production in response to overwhelming interest in the state’s incentive program. This program now has an annual limit of $750 million, which is an increase from its previous cap of $330 million. In this application round alone, the California Film Commission experienced a nearly 4-fold rise in applications, according to Colleen Bell, the agency’s director.

In an interview, she explained that the upgrades to our program are not solely focused on reducing excessive production. Instead, they aim to foster growth and expansion of production right here in California.

In summary, these 22 shows were given a total of $255.9 million in production credits and it’s projected they will stimulate around $1.1 billion in economic development within California. Approximately 6,500 people are expected to be employed as cast and crew members, along with over 46,000 additional background actors.

Awards

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Among the 22 winning television series, 15 were fresh productions, 5 continued shows, and 2 had originally been produced outside of California but moved here – such as “Bad Thoughts,” a darkly comical Netflix series by Tom Segura, that was previously filmed in Texas.

In this round, Apple TV+’s comedy “The Studio,” legal thriller “Presumed Innocent,” CBS’ “NCIS: Origins,” a new HBO series by comedian Larry David, a show called “Group Chat” from the creator of “black-ish,” Kenya Barris, and a new Hulu drama led by Dan Fogelman of “Paradise” and “This is Us” were all given production incentives. All qualified projects that applied in this round successfully received a tax credit, according to Bell.

Governor Gavin Newsom stated, ‘California has been the global hub for entertainment for a long time, and the broadened film and TV tax credit scheme is ensuring this continues.’ He further added, ‘We’re not just preserving our past success; we’re emphasizing why California still pulses as the epicenter of cinema and television production.’

Last year, I, as a passionate advocate, joined forces with fellow enthusiasts in the film and TV industry when Governor Newsom advocated for an expansion of California’s tax credit program for movies and television. Our goal was to counteract the growing trend of productions migrating to other states or foreign countries that offer attractive incentive packages.

For months, we banded together – Hollywood studios, producers, unions, and workers alike – rallying around this issue. We traveled all the way to Sacramento to voice our concerns directly to legislators, emphasizing the significant role the entertainment industry plays in California’s economy.

As a film enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that the updated version of our film incentive program comes with an increased cap! This means more resources for movie magic. But wait, there’s more! The program now embraces a wider range of productions too. Now, half-hour TV shows, large-scale competition series, and even animated shorts are eligible for these incentives. So, buckle up folks, the silver screen is about to get a whole lot brighter!

In the current round of incentives, the California Film Commission wasn’t able to take into account animated series and big-scale competition shows due to the fact that new regulations for these categories are still being written. However, Bell mentioned that these categories might become eligible from the start of next year.

The updated program offers a tax credit of up to 35% on eligible expenses for productions filmed within Greater Los Angeles, and up to 40% for those produced outside the region during this application period. Notably, most television series will be filmed in L.A., with only four exceptions that will partially or fully film outside of this zone, as stated by Bell.

Bell stated that many individuals are considering launching their ventures in California. Previously overlooked, California is now receiving a fresh examination from key figures due to the significant improvements we’ve made, making us significantly more competitive compared to other regions.

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2025-08-27 17:01