Producing : Christmas Comes Early For Kerry Washington, Elisabeth Moss, Vince Vaughn & Keke Palmer With $109M In Gift-Wrapped California Tax Incentives by Richard "RB" Botto

Wow. I'm hopeful that the 3,583 cast and crew jobs that the article says will be created by these projects, along with sound stage rentals and other vendor usage, will help the community in 2025. With production booming everywhere in the world I keep reading that jobs have been harder to come by in LA lately. Also, if you're an independent filmmaker in Cali, looks like having your package ready to apply for some of the incentive needs to happen by January 27 - something to aim for as they'll have to award a chunk to indies, right? Am I a Pollyanna?

The jobs are great, of course, but a fraction of where we need to be. I think you may be a little Pollyanna-ish when it comes to the independent side of things. We'll see. We'll see just how "independent" these projects are.

A semi-adjacent update...

As Movies and Shows Leave California, New Coalition Forms to Keep Production In State

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/california-prod...

I'm speechless. But, then again, I'm not. It's bullshit that it never goes to the little guys. This is why every day in the 4 walls of this office all our conversations are everywhere BUT California. Creativity is TRULY Universal. Thanks for sharing RB.

Hahahahaha! Wow. Real up and coming talent here.

They must do something to keep Hollywood in Hollywood because if they don’t do it, the filmmaking industry will change location more and more. What it seems to me is that’s is the same policy European states have when they receive Grants from UE and apply them only for the “Little Guys “ ( major companies) because the real “little” don’t have access to them. It’s the old fashion way, but world is changing and they must adapt to that or Hollywood will change location. I am not a expert in these fields, only concerning other businesses industries, but I see that in the filmmaking industry, the formula is the same :)) I am with you Richard "RB" Botto Amanda Toney and Sam Sokolow . Pollyanna concept :)) Let’s hope something good comes out from this news :)) Thanks for sharing RB!

The ground has been shifting under our feet for years, Sandra Isabel Correia. Look for the movement to accelerate even faster in 2025.

It will accelerate Richard "RB" Botto you will see it!

There are no California film incentives that don't benefit the studios and mega-budget films. In other words, no, your independent project is locked out of this program unless a major is involved, which no longer makes it independent, right?

yeah - I'm with Richard "RB" Botto & Amanda on this - not because I don't realize that these incentives are usually about increased income tax revenue and sometimes political show fronting to voters and, of course, always catering to the big corporate donor/tax base, but because independents would be in their right to ask the politicians to not insult their intelligence by lying when promoting these incentive efforts. Just tell the truth - they'd come across as less of a hypocrite. Just be honest that this is much MUCH more about the economy of the state than about some virtuous support for creative and producing fostering of (as RB said) 'the little guy'

A quick allocation overview:

Television Projects: 40%

Non-Independent Films: 35%

Relocating TV Series: 17%

Independent Films: 8%

And even though minimums are lower for the 8%, I understand there's plenty of other factors that make getting the incentives quite challenging, least of all the immense competition thorough the sheer numbers of applicants in that pool.

And who was this mysterious group that advocated and supported Newsome's bold move to keep production in the state? Who is the California Production Coalition?

- Motion Picture Association (MPA): Represents major studios including Disney, Universal, Sony, Paramount, Netflix, and Amazon MGM Studios.

- Hudson Pacific Properties: A real estate investment trust with significant holdings in studio properties.

- Raleigh Studios: One of the oldest continuously operating studios in the U.S., providing production facilities in Hollywood.

- Entertainment Partners: A leading payroll and production management services company for the entertainment industry.

- Wrapbook: A digital payroll platform tailored for the entertainment sector.

- Television City Studios: A historic television studio complex located in Los Angeles.

- Hollywood Chamber of Commerce: An organization representing businesses in the Hollywood area, including those in the entertainment industry.

- Camtec Motion Picture Camera Systems: A Burbank-based company providing camera systems for the motion picture industry.

- History for Hire: A North Hollywood-based prop rental company serving the film and television industry.

Did you catch all the independent producers/filmmakers in that list? yeah - me neither. Again - no judgement of any of these California Film Tax Incentive decisions ... except for the promotional hypocrisy.

Meanwhile? I hear New Mexico is beautiful all year round ;)