As post-production work moves out of California, workers push for a state incentive

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With more film and TV editing and finishing work moving out of California, industry workers are advocating for a new tax credit specifically designed to support their jobs.

I was really excited to hear some good news last night! Apparently, Assemblymember Nick Schultz – he represents Burbank, by the way – is going to champion this bill. It’s a huge step forward for the whole project, honestly.

Over 100 people at a town hall meeting in Burbank’s Evergreen Studios responded to the news with cheers and applause.

“While this win is significant – it shows we’re being taken seriously – our work is far from over,” explained Marielle Abaunza, president of the California Post Alliance, a recently established organization for post-production professionals, during the meeting.

California’s post-production industry – the people who handle things like sound editing, visual effects, and music for film and TV – is really struggling. A lot of film and TV work has moved to other states and countries, and while these workers aren’t always in the spotlight, they’re essential for making sure movies, TV shows, and music sound and look their best.

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Independent studios scramble to stay afloat as film and TV production lags

Independent film and television studios in Los Angeles are facing hard times due to a significant drop in production work.

California lawmakers increased funding and broadened the requirements for the state’s film and television tax credit program last year, hoping to attract more production to the state. Since then, over 100 film and TV projects have received tax credits through the updated program.

Post-production professionals argue that California’s current incentive program isn’t effective at keeping jobs local. It only applies if a production spends at least 75% of its filming time or budget within the state. The newly formed California Post Alliance is pushing for a program that would support in-state post-production work, even if the main filming happens elsewhere or the project doesn’t meet the requirements for other California incentives.

As a long-time observer of local politics, I’ve been following Representative Schultz’s support for this new bill, and it really comes down to what he’s seen happen to the working people back home over the last ten years. He’s told me directly it’s about protecting jobs and livelihoods in his district – it’s a deeply personal issue for him, and it’s clear that’s driving his decision.

According to a statement released Thursday, our state is facing intense competition from other states and international locations for film and television post-production work. This competition poses a significant risk to current industry jobs and the future careers of those hoping to enter the field.

So, I was at this industry meeting the other day, and it was pretty clear California’s losing ground in post-production. Everyone was talking about how places in Europe and other states are attracting work with awesome incentives. Apparently, according to Tim Belcher from Light Iron, post-production jobs here have actually dropped over 11% since 2010 – and that was based on data presented at the meeting. It’s a real concern, honestly, because we’re seeing projects leave for better deals elsewhere.

He explained during the meeting that we’re all connected, and problems for one part of the industry create problems for everyone else. If post-production moves out of California, it will negatively impact us all.

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2026-02-06 01:01