Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 132 yesterday (7/10), thus extending California’s $330 million-a-year Film and TV Tax Credit Program an additional five years through fiscal 2030-31, which will create an estimated 60,000 jobs and $10 billion of investment over that time.
“California’s iconic entertainment industry drives economic growth in communities all across our state,” said Governor Newsom. “Over the past years, our Film and Television Tax Credit Program has helped create thousands of good paying jobs, relocated productions to California, and brought billions in new investment to our state. Through the extension of the program, we’ll continue this growth, protect jobs, and push for progress on diversity so workers better represent communities throughout our state.”
Colleen Bell, executive director of the California Film Commission, stated, “For more than a century, our unmatched crews, talent, infrastructure and locations have made California the world’s entertainment capital. The extension of our tax credit program will strengthen our global competitiveness and deliver significant, long-term value to California’s economic future.”
Building upon a strong track record of success from previous iterations of the program, through which productions have generated more than $23 billion in economic output and supported the employment of more than 178,000 cast and crew, California’s new budget will create the state’s fourth-generation film/TV tax credit program–known as Program 4.0.
Program 4.0 will include new workforce diversity provisions and increased funding (via a required contribution from tax credit projects) for the Film Commission’s Career Pathways Training Program, which helps prepare Californians from diverse communities for careers in the production industry. To qualify for a full allocation of tax credits, participating projects will be required to file a diversity workplan and demonstrate a good faith effort to hire a workforce that is “broadly reflective” of California’s population.
Additionally, Program 4.0 will contain a first in the nation Safety on Production Pilot Program, which involves a firearms training requirement and the inclusion of a specialized advisor to monitor on-set safety.
Finally, for the first time since the initial program was launched in 2009, tax credits will be refundable beginning with the 2025-26 fiscal year.
Jean Smart, Ariana Grande, Michael Keaton among hosts for “SNL” season 50
Fresh off her Emmys win, Jean Smart will kick off the landmark 50th season of "Saturday Night Live."
NBC on Thursday announced the lineup of hosts for the season, which premieres Sept. 28. Joining Smart on the first show will be Jelly Roll as the musical act. He was also at the Emmys, singing during the ceremony's in memoriam segment.
It will be Smart's first time hosting "SNL."
Comedian Nate Bargatze will host on Oct. 5, with Coldplay as the musical guest.
Ariana Grande will host Oct. 12, with musical guest Stevie Nicks.
"Beetlejuice" star Michael Keaton will host on Oct. 19, the last show before Halloween, and Billie Eilish will be that night's musical guest.
The host on Nov. 2 will be "SNL" alum John Mulaney, with breakout sensation Chappell Roan as the music guest.
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