Tax Credits Prompt Amazon's "Sneaky Pete" To Move Production From NY To California
Amy Lemisch, executive director of the California Film Office
  • HOLLYWOOD, Calif.
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California’s expanded Film & TV Tax Credit Program 2.0 continues to lure television series from other locales and create long-term, high-wage jobs across the state. The latest example, announced by the California Film Commission (CFC), is the Amazon Studios crime drama Sneaky Pete which is relocating production for its third season from New York to California where it will employ nearly  250 cast, 220 crew and 2,510 extras (including stand-ins measured in man-days). Approved conditionally for $9.2 million in tax credits, the series plans to spend more than $53 million in qualified expenditures (defined as the portion of total expenditures allocated for wages to below-the-line workers and payments to in-state vendors). 

Sneaky Pete is the 13th TV series to move to California under the expanded tax credit program, and the third from New York (joining Showtime’s The Affair, and The OA on Netflix). 

“Our success with these relocating projects shows how the tax credit is working to affirm California’s status as the preferred choice for TV production,” said Amy Lemisch, executive director of the California Film Commission. “From the earliest days of TV, shows set in other locales have been filmed in California. We’re excited to welcome another series from New York that will generate long-term employment and economic activity here at home.”    

Sneaky Pete was co-created by Bryan Cranston and stars Giovanni Ribisi. Its first two seasons were set in upstate New York, with much of the action also in and around New York City.  

Over the years many TV series set in New York have been filmed in California. A few recent examples include 2 Broke Girls (CBS), Brooklyn Nine-Nine (FOX), CSI:NY (CBS), Castle (ABC), Gossip Girl (The CW), Good Girls Revolt (Amazon), Mad Men (AMC), The Mindy Project (FOX/Hulu), The Newsroom (HBO) and Will & Grace (NBC). 

“One of the many advantages to filming in California is our unique ability to match the look of just about any other locale--from New York City to other planets,” Lemisch added. “No other production center has our diversity of locations, as well as weather, talent and infrastructure.”  

Due to Program 2.0’s ongoing success drawing long-term TV projects, the latest TV application period (held February 12-16) was open only to relocating series and recurring series already accepted into the tax credit program.  In addition to Sneaky Pete, the program currently has 30 recurring TV series in various stages of production. To date, a total of 67 television projects, including new TV series, relocating TV series, pilots, MOWs and miniseries have been accepted into Program 2.0 since it launched in July 2015. 

The next application period for TV projects (the first for fiscal year-four of Program 2.0) will be held May 21-25, 2018. The next round of feature film projects accepted into Program 2.0 is scheduled to be announced April 9, 2018.

Below is a list of the 31 TV series (in various stages of production) currently in the Program and eligible for tax credits. The list is subject to change, as series may withdraw and their reservation of tax credits roll over into the pool of funds for the next TV allocation period.

  • 13 Reasons Why (Paramount Television)
  • The Affair (Showtime)
  • American Horror Story (Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation)
  • American Princess (A+E Studios)
  • Animal Kingdom (Horizon Scripted Television, Inc.)
  • Ballers (HBO)
  • Code Black (ABC Studios)
  • Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (CBS Studios, Inc.)
  • Famous in Love (Horizon Scripted Television, Inc.)
  • Heathers (Viacom International)
  • Here and Now (Weirdo Productions, LLC)
  • I’m Dying Up Here (Showtime)
  • Law & Order True Crime--Menendez (Universal Television, LLC)
  • Legion (Minim Productions, LLC)
  • Lucifer (WB Studio Enterprises)
  • Mayans MC (Fox21 Television Studios)
  • The OA (Lunar Mining, LLC)
  • The Orville (Twentieth Century Fox Television)
  • Rebel (BET Productions II, Inc.)
  • The Rookie (ABC Studios)
  • S.W.A.T. (Sony Pictures Entertainment)
  • Sharp Objects  (HBO)
  • Shooter (Paramount Television)
  • Sneaky Pete (Amazon Studios, LLC)
  • Snowfall (Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation)
  • Strange Angel (CBS Studios, Inc.)
  • This Is Us (Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation)
  • Timeless (Sony Pictures Entertainment)
  • Untitled Peacock Project (Disney ABC Cable Group)
  • Veep (Second In Command Productions, LLC)
  • Westworld (HBO)

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