Rosa Costanza

Wonderful news for the TV, Film, and Animation Industry in CA... The proposed $750M a year TV & FILM tax incentive has been approved by lawmakers, and a formal vote should be held on Friday. And it doesn't stop here. To reverse the declining industry in CA, The California Film Commission awarded $96 million in tax incentives to 48 films, 43 of which are independent projects, and many working w/budgets no greater than $10 million. https://lnkd.in/g7pc_Ha6

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California Film Credit Expansion in Flux as Lawmakers Delete References to $750 Million - article: https://lnkd.in/gvVitFYD - plus California’s Tax Credits May Soon Offer a Lifeline to Halt Animation’s Exodus - article: https://lnkd.in/g9dhnGea. - As currently written, the legislation would increase the amount of the tax credit from 20% of qualified expenses to 35% - That would increase to 40% for productions outside of the Los Angeles area, or in economically depressed areas of Los Angeles - The number of film & TV animation projects commissioned worldwide rose from 558 in 2019 to 860 in 2024, an increase of 54% - The bottom line: The desire for animation is rising, but California is not partaking in that increased business

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Hollywood Heavyweights Travel To Sacramento for a $750 Million Lifeline - new article: https://lnkd.in/gDNj7imJ - plus FilmLA Wins Five-Year Contract Renewal Despite Criticism From Industry Workers - new article: https://lnkd.in/gYGkC__3 - plus The city’s complicated & expensive permitting process has received a fair amount of criticism this year amid discussions about how to revive California’s film & television industry, which has dwindled at the hands of runaway production over the last decade - new article: https://lnkd.in/ghFXqWAp

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Albuquerque New Mexico City Council approves funding for new film studio & warehouse - new article & KOAT news clip video: https://lnkd.in/gXTt4eGr. - Albuquerque City Council has approved funding to expand Mesa Films & build a new studio on 60 acres next to Double Eagle Airport, creating 24 full-time jobs & more than 750 production jobs in the city - plus Growing an industry: New Mexico Film Office economic impact study shows strong growth and return on investment - 2024 article: https://lnkd.in/gTPjK2Ry - There are three New Mexico film partners — Netflix Studios, NBC Universal & 828 Productions — that have made at least a 10-year deal to have a production hub in New Mexico.

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It seems like California and LA might be getting their acts together to finally make homegrown production a more appealing prospect for Hollywood producers and filmmakers. LA Mayor Karen Bass announced an “executive order” (wonder where she got that idea) to cut through red tape and make filming permit in LA faster and smoother. This addresses a long-standing complaint by producers. https://lnkd.in/gb2cdFuh At the same time, our reporter Jeremy Fuster takes a deep look at the crisis of production flight in animation, a huge sector of the global box office, and another piece of business that has fled Burbank and northern California for cheaper climes. Now, he explains, the new tax incentive is going to try and bring that piece of the industry back as well. Jeremy writes: The state’s animation industry, one founded in Burbank by legends like Walt Disney and Bob Clampett and which continued through the 20th century with the rise of Pixar and DreamWorks, has ceded its cultural dominance to a global landscape. For members of The Animation Guild, IATSE’s union for animators, that has led to an increasingly untenable position stuck between the high cost of living in Los Angeles and a jobs market that has declined despite being part of a worldwide industry valued at $413 billion and estimated to more than double over the next decade, according to the guild. Lawmakers behind the proposed expansion of the California Film & TV Tax Credit program want to expand the types of films and TV shows that can qualify. That includes a section of entertainment that to this point has been closed off entirely from such tax breaks: animation. https://lnkd.in/gfMddNz4

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ALERT TO CALIFORNIA PRODUCERS: Major Film & TV Tax Credit Expansion & Key Dates   California has significantly expanded its Film & TV Tax Credit Program to boost local production and jobs.   Application Windows (Under New CA 4.0 Program): - Television Series (New, Relocating, Pilot, Limited, Recurring): July 7 – 9, 2025 - Independent & Non-Independent Feature Films: August 25 – 27, 2025   AB 132 (Funding) - Approved & Signed: Assembly Bill 132 was signed by Governor Newsom on Friday, June 27th, and takes effect July 1, 2025. - Funding: Annual cap increased from $330 million to $750 million for five years. This makes CA one of the most generous states for capped film incentives.   AB 1138 (Program Changes) - Expected Passage: This companion bill, expected to pass and take effect before July 4th, introduces significant improvements. While not signed as of today, July 2nd, reports indicate it's imminent.   Key Program Changes (Effective July 1, 2025, with AB 1138 passage):   - Enhanced Credit Rates: Base credit jumps from 20% to 35%. An additional 5% uplift (total 40%) for filming outside Los Angeles County.   - Expanded Eligibility (California Spend $1M+):   * Animated series/films   * Multi-camera sitcoms (animated, scripted, large-scale competition shows <30 min)   * Large-scale competition shows   * TV shows with episodes <30 minutes  Exclusions still apply for reality, documentary, game/talk shows, and above-the-line labor.   Workforce & Equity:  - 2% Bonus for Trainees: Additional credit for hiring 1-4 trainees from targeted programs serving underserved communities (in addition to union crew).  - Expanded Reporting: Productions must report ZIP codes and veteran status, in addition to race, ethnicity, and gender, for workforce inclusion. California Tax Credit Refundability (Major Change July 1, 2025):  - All qualified applicants can elect refundability.  - Electing refundability means receiving 90% of the credit paid over five years, regardless of tax liability.  - Non-refundable option still requires CA income/sales tax liability or independent producer transfer option. This significant investment is expected to support 40-50% more jobs, translating to roughly 4,400 to 5,500 new industry jobs, reclaiming California's position as a leading production hub. Entertainment Partners California Film Commission FilmLA California Production Coalition #StayinLA #StayinCA

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Positive LA Industry News for those who seek it - The first projects to receive funding from the newly designed, $750M program were approved in August. Per FilmLA, among them are 18 television series planned for the greater Los Angeles area. The caveat is they have 180 days to begin production after the incentive is awarded, meaning it could be a while before any of those projects are up and running. So within the next 120 days (4 months), there will be an upsurge of local work. Start your engines...

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California Opens Tax Credit Door Wider for Independent Films! 🎬 Big news for indie filmmakers! California's Film & TV Tax Credit Program (Program 4.0) just got a significant update specifically designed to make it easier for independent movies to qualify for the state's lucrative incentives. Here's the breakdown: Lowered Funding Requirement: The biggest hurdle for indies has been the rule requiring films to secure 75% of their financing from outside California to qualify as an "independent film." That threshold has been lowered to 50%. This dramatically increases access for projects primarily funded within the state. Raised Budget Cap: The maximum budget cap for independent films to qualify for the tax credit has been increased from $10 million to $15 million. This brings more mid-budget indie projects into the program's scope. Why it Matters: These changes directly address long-standing complaints from the indie sector that the previous rules were too restrictive and favored larger studios or projects with major outside investors. California is actively competing with other states and countries offering robust incentives. The Goal: Keep independent film production (and the jobs/economy it generates) rooted in California. The California Film Commission explicitly stated this change aims to support "smaller independent films that often shoot in California but struggled under the prior rules." Impact: This is a major win for the independent film community in California. Expect more indie projects shooting locally, benefiting from the state's infrastructure and crew base, while making their budgets go further thanks to the tax credit. Next Steps: The application period for the next round of tax credits (including projects benefiting from these new indie rules) opens July 29th, 2025. Source: The Hollywood Reporter (June 25, 2025) https://lnkd.in/grJzGnpF #montereycountyfilmcommission #FilmTaxCredits #IndieFilm #CaliforniaFilm #FilmProduction #MovieMaking #TaxIncentives #EntertainmentIndustry #CaliforniaEconomy

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