California’s $15 million film tax credit funds two new TV shows

The California Film Commission  has awarded $15 million in tax credits to two TV shows, “The Mysterious Benedict Society” on Disney Plus, which will relocate from Vancouver, and ABC’s “Promised Land,” which will relocate from Georgia.

The funds come from the increase to the state’s film and TV tax credit program authorized by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in July. “Promised Land,” which is set in California’s Sonoma Valley, has yet to debut on the network. It was picked up to series in August.

Newsom initially proposed adding $30 million to the program — solely earmarked to relocating TV shows. The Legislature used $150 million to cover the shortfall and spread the allocation over two years. “The new expansion of our tax credit program is working to bring more jobs, spending and opportunity to California,” Colleen Bell, the executive director of the California Film Commission, said in a statement. “Production here in California continues to rebound from the pandemic, and the decisive action from our policymakers in Sacramento is helping to fuel that success.”

The announcement comes as TV production has surged to near record levels in Los Angeles, with FilmLA announcing last week that TV production is now 22.1% above the pre-pandemic average. Soundstages are almost at full capacity, and many crews are so exhausted that working hours became the central issue of negotiations between IATSE and the AMPTP on a new contract. Relocating TV from out-of-state is one of the primary goals of California’s film credit program, which was increased to $330 million per year in 2015.