Film & TV

Subscribe to Film & TV via RSS

The introduction of Senate Bill 630 and Assembly Bill 1138 aims to provide California with a competitive advantage in its quest to retain and bring back production jobs that are vital to the entertainment industry. The bills were introduced by Senator Ben Allen, Assembly Members, Rick Chavez Zbur, and Isaac Bryan, with a focus on job creation and promise to diversify the types of productions that qualify for California’s Film and Television Tax Credit program. SB 630 and AB 1138 will be referred to respective policy committees over the coming weeks. Governor Gavin Newsom has also unveiled plans to more than double California’s current tax credit cap to provide much-needed relief for the entertainment industry following COVID-19 shutdowns, the strikes, LA wildfires and mass exodus of film and television production from California.Continue Reading Keep California Rolling: New Bills Poised to Revitalize Production (in Hollywood)

Texas has long been a hub for film and television production, offering diverse landscapes, a rich cultural backdrop, and some real characters. Back in 2007 the state implemented the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program, which is administered by the Texas Film Commission under the Economic Development and Tourism Division of the Office of the Governor.[1] Allocations have continued to grow ever since.[2] Starting with $20 million in the first year,[3] it is now the largest in state history at $200 million with a 22.5% tax rebate.[4]Continue Reading Alright, Alright, A Write-Off: Matthew Mcconaughey’s Push for Texas Film Tax Incentives

In a state where the sun always shines, California’s film tax credits seem to be the script for success. On July 10, 2023, Governor Newsom signed legislation to extend and expand California’s $330 million-a-year Film and TV Tax Credit Program 3.0 for an additional five years, meaning the original expiration date of June 30, 2025 has been extended through June 30, 2030.[1] Following this recent expansion, the program, now dubbed “Program 4.0,” has already enticed upcoming productions scouting other locations to reconsider. Colleen Bell, the Director of the California Film Commission, says that just during the first half of 2024, the state has already attracted 12 new and one relocating television series to California.[2] As evidence of that, we see Universal Content Productions LLC received one of the largest credits worth $12 million for the first season of “Suits: L.A.”, which helped ignite the shift from production in Canada to production in California.[3] This spinoff alone is expected to spend $50.7 million and create about 2,600 jobs in California.[4]Continue Reading Lights, Camera, Tax Breaks: California’s Updated Film Incentives

Nollywood, as Nigeria’s movie industry is widely known, has grown in leaps and bounds since the acclaimed 1992 home video movie, “Living in Bondage”. In less than two decades, the average film production budget has increased by ten-fold to about US$250,000 to US$750,000 while straight to DVD release has given way to windowing across theatrical, TVOD, SVOD, and/or DVD.[1] Nigeria’s TV and video market revenue grew by 7.49% to reach US$732 million in 2018 and was projected to reach US$806 million by the end of 2020.[2] Widely known for comedy, drama, and romance (many times of average storyline and quality), Nollywood producers and directors have in recent times pushed the envelope with the few resources at their disposal. Genres have expanded into horror, period pieces, musicals, animations and “nolly-noir”. However, the industry is still struggling and filmmakers are unable to be bold and ambitious particularly due to budgetary constraints.

To state the obvious, Nollywood needs co-production treaties to move to the next level.Continue Reading Nollywood Needs Co-Production Treaties to Move to the Next Level