California Bets Big On ‘The Studio’ & More

The first round of California’s $750 million tax incentives program announced today is betting big on Hollywood, literally and figuratively.

Season two of Lionsgate’s Emmy-nominated The Studio is one of 22 television projects the state has approved under its just expanded Film and Television Tax Credit Program. A new Hulu drama from Dan Fogelman and a new Larry David series are also among shows unveiled today that are, all in, projected to bring $1.1 billion to the state’s economy.

This is the first round of tax credits since the state nearly doubled available funding for qualified film and television productions. The move followed devastating wildfires last year that capped decades of runaway production. Applications jumped nearly 400% with the sweetened incentives.

“California has long been the entertainment capital of the world — and the newly expanded film and TV tax credit program is keeping it that way. This program means paychecks for middle-class workers, opportunities for small businesses and investment in communities up and down the state. We’re not just protecting our legacy — we’re reminding the world why the Golden State remains the beating heart of film and television,” Newsom said.

His office said the shows are projected to generate $714 million in qualified expenditures and $413 million in qualified wages across the Golden State. They will account for more than 1,100 filming days statewide, a major boost to local economies up and down California.

“The Film and Television Tax Credit Program is meeting the challenge of creating jobs and keeping productions here at home,” said Colleen Bell, Executive Director of the California Film Commission. “These 22 television projects will employ thousands of Californians and generate hundreds of millions for our state’s economy. Most importantly, they will keep world-class talent and crews here, ensuring California drives the future of storytelling.”

The shows are a combination of five renewals, two productions relocating to California and fifteen new series, including one limited series and three pilots. Collectively, the projects are expected to employ 6,500 cast and crew members, along with 46,100 background performers (measured in days worked). While most filming will take place in Los Angeles, four projects will shoot at least partially outside the region.

Highlights from this latest round of awards include:

New pilots and returning series include a new Hulu drama series from This Is Us and Paradise creator Dan Fogelman from 20th Television; a new HBO series by Larry David; second seasons of Lionsgate’s (AppleTV distribution) Emmy-nominated The Studio and Warner Bros. Television’s (Apple TV+ distribution) Emmy-nominated Presumed Innocent; Sony Pictures Television’s S.W.A.T. EXILES; CBS Studios’ NCIS: Origins; Group Chat, a new 20th Television pilot for Hulu from Kenya Barris

Tom Segura’s Netflix series Bad Thoughts is relocating from Texas

“I am thrilled that we are going to be able to shoot ‘Group Chat’ in Los Angeles thanks to the California Film Commission tax credit. As an LA native, I feel lucky to have been able to shoot so many projects here throughout my career and love that we’ll be able to continue spotlighting our incredible city, its people and the culture. Not only does this credit allow us to work with the best crews and craftspeople around but, more importantly, it allows us to create jobs and support the LA film community at a time when it’s more important than ever,” said Group Chat creator, EP and showrunner Kenya Barris.

“This bold program, designed by the California Film Commission, is incredibly clever and allows us to keep our film and TV productions in our preferred shooting destination – California. The state’s diverse locations and unmatched infrastructure provide everything we need for any project and pave the way for the creation of hundreds of jobs on every shoot, which is something we’re incredibly proud of. We’re thankful to be amongst those selected to participate in the program and are excited to begin production on the next installments of our ‘True to the Game’ and ‘Angel’ franchises, right here in California this year,” said producer and EP Manny Halley

See the full list of productions here.

Dominic Patten contributed to this story