The California Film Commission today announced the list of 11 projects selected to receive tax credits under the second TV-specific allocation of the state’s expanded Film and Television Tax Credit Program 2.0.
The second TV application period (third for the program overall) was held November 30–December 6, and drew 32 applications vying for $42 million in tax credit allocation.
The 11 approved projects consist of five existing TV series, two new TV series, one telefilm, two pilots and a relocating TV series.
The “Existing TV Series” category includes three ongoing series and two pilots that were selected previously as part of the expanded tax credit program’s first TV-specific allocation. These five projects remain in production, so any additional episodes or pick-ups from pilots carry over to the latest allocation.
The “Relocating TV Series” category sports the series Mistresses, which is returning from Vancouver to California for its fourth season.
Based on data provided with each application, the 11 approved projects will generate an estimated $254 million in direct in-state spending, including $103 million in wages for below-the-line crew members.
“The expanded tax credit program is working exactly as intended,” said California Film Commission executive director Amy Lemisch. “It’s making California more competitive for high-impact TV projects that provide long term jobs for cast and crew members, while boosting spending at support vendors and service providers.”
Lemisch noted that there are now four relocated TV series participating in California’s tax credit program. They include Mistresses from the latest application round, plus Veep (from Maryland), Secrets and Lies (from North Carolina) and American Horror Story (from Louisiana).
“We can’t wait to bring the Mistresses series back to California where we have access to the best crews, the best talent and the best of everything we need,” said Disney sr. VP of production Gary French. “Our goal is to get superior production and financial value for our investment, and we can get both here at home."
All projects in California’s expanded film and TV tax credit program are selected based on their jobs ratio score, which ranks each project by wages paid to below-the-line workers, qualified spending (vendors, equipment, etc.) and other criteria.
Of the 21 projects that applied but were not selected for the latest TV-specific allocation, those with a jobs ratio score ranked in the top 200 percent of applicants (i.e., those that that would qualify if twice the amount of funding was available) have been placed on a waiting list.
The expanded tax credit program allocates tax credits in “buckets” for different production categories, including TV projects, relocating TV series, independent projects and non-independent films. This enables applicants to compete for credits directly against comparable projects. Funding for the current (first) fiscal year totals $230 million, with an additional $100 allocated for the final year of the state’s expiring first-generation tax credit program. Funding in subsequent years will total $330 million per year.
Under both the old and new programs, the California Film Commission awards tax credits only after each selected project: 1) completes postproduction, 2) verifies that in-state jobs were created, and 3) provides all required documentation, including audited cost reports.
The next application period for California’s expanded tax credit program is scheduled January 11-24, 2016 and targets feature films and independent projects.
The TV shows slated to receive tax credits under the latest allocation are: the TV series 13 Reasons Why from Paramount Television, Animal Kingdom from Horizon Scripted Television, Code Black from Touchstone Television, Crazy Ex Girlfriend from CBS Television Studios, Little Darlings from Viacom International, Rosewood from Twentieth Century Fox Television and Snowfall from FX Productions; the pilots Fogelman/Singer Baseball Project and Untitled Fogelman NBC Pilot, both from Twentieth Century Fox Television; movie of the week Sharknado 4 from The Global Asylum, Inc.; and relocating TV series Mistresses from FTP Productions.
More information about California’s Film and Television Tax Credit Program 2.0, including application procedures, eligibility and program guidelines, is available here.
