From Start to Finish – Keeping Film and TV Jobs In State

For decades California has been the undisputed global epicenter of film and television production. Over the past several years, the volume of film and television production shooting in California has declined precipitously as rival states and countries lured away work with aggressive tax incentives and rebates.  

Last year, however, I was proud to co-author legislation to expand and modernize the state’s Film and Television Tax Credit program. The expansion of the program is already producing results but those incentives only scratch the surface for post-production professionals whose work often happens long after cameras wrap. 

The shifts toward out-of-state content production have had especially acute effects on post-production workers – editors, visual effects artists, sound designers, and scoring professionals – whose jobs often only materialize if a project remains in-state. California’s share of post-production payroll employment dropped by approximately 11.2% between 2010 and 2024.

We need to do more to incentivize the creation and retention of these post-production jobs in California. While our existing program includes incentives for post-production on projects filmed in California, it does not cover post-production when principal photography takes place elsewhere or the project otherwise did not qualify for the tax credit.  

Simply put, we are losing new economic activity, tax dollars, small businesses and world-class talent because competing regions offer post-only incentives. That is why I have introduced Assembly Bill 2319.

Interestingly, studios often shoot in California for creative or logistical reasons but send the work that happens “after the cameras stop rolling” to locations with standalone post-production incentives. Why is that?

Because other jurisdictions already offer generous standalone post-production tax incentives, including New York, Louisiana, New Mexico, New Jersey, Canada, Australia, Spain, France, Qatar and the United Kingdom. California is trailing all of these jurisdictions. Consequently, many lucrative post-production projects have left California for these competing locations. The result? 

An erosion of the economic multiplier that once cemented the Golden State’s creative economy. California must recognize that without strategic policy to retain and grow its entertainment workforce, another pillar of opportunity – high-skilled middle-class jobs in post-production – is increasingly at risk. 

California has long understood the importance and value of keeping entertainment industry jobs here at home. Now it is time to extend that same vision and commitment to the post-production sector of our creative industry that has sustained so many Californians and given the world its stories. 

Our office will continue to fiercely advocate for the future of the entertainment industry in California. We believe that AB 2319 offers the chance to make our state more competitive and retain good quality jobs that benefit our communities. But we welcome your input and feedback!  

You can use our website (https://a44.asmdc.org/contact) to send me a direct message, including your comments on AB 2319, as well as any other piece of pending legislation.   

As always, please do not hesitate to contact our district office if you have questions or if we can be of assistance. Our phone number is (818) 558-3043 and email address is Assemblymember.Schultz@Assembly.ca.gov. It remains an honor and privilege to represent you!