While entertainment production resumes cautiously amid COVID-19, two more TV series are relocating production to California thanks to its tax credit program. That’s the word from the California Film Commission.
The critically-acclaimed HBO drama In Treatment and the TBS anthology comedy Miracle Workers are among the TV projects (relocating and recurring) selected for the inaugural round of tax credits under California’s new Film and Television Tax Credit Program 3.0, which launched July 1st concurrent with the state’s new fiscal year. Program 3.0 succeeds the five-year Film and Television Tax Credit Program 2.0, which was launched in 2015.
In Treatment was filmed previously in New York, while Miracle Workers was filmed in the Czech Republic. Based on information provided with each tax credit application, the two projects are projected to spend a combined $40 million on below-the-line wages and other qualified expenditures during their first season in California. As with all California tax credit projects, their overall in-state spending will be significantly greater than “qualified” spending with the inclusion of above-the-line wages and other expenditures that do not qualify for incentives under the state’s very targeted tax credit program.
“Program 3.0 is off to a great start with the two relocating TV series announced today,” said California Film Commission executive director Colleen Bell. “As the industry adjusts to the circumstances presented by COVID-19, it’s encouraging to see projects reinvest here and bring new production jobs and spending to California.”
With the projects announced today, California has welcomed a total of 20 relocating TV series from other states and nations under Program 2.0, including American Horror Story which moved from Louisiana and now has five seasons in California, and Lucifer which left Vancouver to now tally four seasons in the Golden State. The list is led by New York (five series) and Canada/British Columbia (four series).
“We are very grateful for the relocation incentive and the opportunity to base more production in California,” said HBO Production EVP Janet Graham Borba. “The state’s ongoing efforts to promote film and TV production have a very significant impact.”
Due to the tax credit program’s ongoing success with long-term TV projects, the first TV application period for Program 3.0 (held June 22 – 24) was open only to relocating series and recurring series already accepted into the earlier Program 2.0. In addition to the two relocating series announced today, Program 3.0 currently has 25 recurring (legacy) TV series in various stages of production. To date, a total of 151 television projects–including new TV series, relocating TV series, pilots, MOWs and miniseries — have been selected for tax credits since Program 2.0 was launched in July 2015.
The current list of tax credit projects that are in production and eligible for tax credits is subject to change, as projects may withdraw and their reservation of tax credits is reassigned or rolled over into the pool of funds for the next TV allocation period.
The next tax credit application period for TV projects will take place September 28-30 (for relocating projects) and October 5-7 (for recurring projects). The first feature film application period for Program 3.0 was held July 13–15, with selected projects scheduled to be announced on August 17.
Relocating series In Treatment (HBO) and Miracle Workers (Turner North Center Productions, Inc.) are joined in the latest round of California tax credit recipients by 25 recurring/returning TV shows in the state: 13 Reasons Why (Paramount Television) American Crime Story, American Horror Story, Dropout, Snowfall and This is Us (all from Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp.), Animal Kingdom, Special, and You (all from Horizon Scripted Television), Dream and Good Girls (both from Universal Television), Euphoria, Perry Mason, Westworld and an Untitled Showtime Lakers Project (all from HBO), Good Trouble (Disney ABC Cable Group), Grease (Turner Entertainment Networks, Inc.), Lucifer (WB Studio Enterprises), Mayans MC (Fox21 Television Studios), The Orville (Twentieth Century Fox Television), Penny Dreadful: City of Angels (Showtime), The Rookie (ABC Studios), and Star Trek: Picard, S.W.A.T. and Why Women Kill (all from CBS Studios, Inc.)
“Heretic” and “Maria” Set As Red Carpet Premieres At AFI Fest
The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced that Heretic, the psychological thriller starring Hugh Grant, and Maria, based on the life of opera singer Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie, will round out the Red Carpet Premieres section at this year’s AFI Fest. The Heretic Gala Screening will take place on Thursday, October 24, and the Maria Gala Screening will be held on Saturday, October 26. The complete Red Carpet Premieres section includes the world premieres of Music By John Williams, Robert Zemeckis’ Here, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and Clint Eastwood’s Juror #2. All Red Carpet Premieres will take place at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre. The full lineup for AFI Fest 2024 will be unveiled on October 1.
“At the heart of AFI Fest is an unwavering dedication to celebrating the best in global cinema--together,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO. “We look forward to uniting artists and audiences once again to be inspired by the art form in a powerful sense of community.”
Heretic follows two young missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (portrayed by Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse. The film is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods and produced by Stacey Sher, Beck, Woods, Julia Glausi and Jeanette Volturno. The film will be released nationwide by A24 on November 8.
Directed by Pablo Larraín, Maria presents a tumultuous and beautiful depiction of one of the world’s most renowned artists and reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days in Paris, as Callas (Jolie)... Read More