Paramount was among the leaders in the latest round of tax credits granted to productions by California’s film office amid a showdown with the state over its $111 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Paramount Television Studios and CBS Studios nabbed $37.3 million to film Viola Davis thriller Ascent and a sequel series to the 1995 cult classic film Clueless in California, trailing only Disney ($45 million) for a massive untitled detective series in this allotment of incentives the film commission said Monday.
Combined, nine shows that will spend over $498 million across 1,032 shoot days were awarded $145.5 million to film in the state. Seven of the productions are new, a much welcome boon to a production landscape seeing fewer series shoot in the region.
“California has been a pioneer in film and television production. With the expanded Film & Television Tax Credit program, we’re able to shine a spotlight on the talent and creativity the Golden State has to offer, while also generating new jobs and fair wages,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom in a statement. “Just as it did in its first year, the second year of the expanded tax credit plans to continue exceeding expectations, and generate billions in economic activity — solidifying California’s competitive edge in entertainment and expanding opportunities for today’s workforce.”
The announcement comes as Paramount squares off with California prosecutors over its bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. As part of that tussle, Tennessee has urged CEO David Ellison to leave the state for friendlier pastures. “Our success is rooted in fiscal discipline, low taxes, predictable governance, and a steadfast belief that government should be a partner in private-sector growth,” wrote Deputy Governor Stuart McWhorter in a July 2 letter. “Companies that choose Tennessee find more than a favorable business climate — they find a state committed to helping them succeed.”
It’d be a major blow to production in the state and Los Angeles, where filming levels are near historic lows, if the studio were to reallocate part of its $30 billion in spending to competing regions amid a tit-for-tat battle to host Hollywood. The studio has several productions shooting in the state, including Matlock, NCIS and Tracker.
In a statement, CBS Studios President David Stapf said Southern California has “long been home” to the Paramount-owned company. “We’re proud to continue investing in the local creative community and production talent who bring our stories to life,” he added. “We’re grateful to the California Film Commission for making it possible to produce returning seasons of Matlock, NCIS: Origins, and now Clueless in Los Angeles.”
Outside of Paramount and Disney, Universal Television was selected to receive the most in credits ($26.8 million) to film the Rockford Files ($21 million) and Newlyweds ($5.8 million), with Sony Pictures ($16.2 million) close behind for the second season of S.W.A.T. Exiles. Other productions receiving incentives includes untitled productions from Amazon ($11.6 million) and Netflix ($1.2 million).
“As a born and raised Los Angelina, I am so appreciative that my new show, Newlyweds, will be receiving the California tax credit,” said Newlyweds executive producer Jamie Lee Curtis in a statement. “I started my career as a contract player at Universal in 1977 and this tax incentive allows our production, back here at Universal, to keep hiring and employing hundreds of highly skilled LA-based, Union crew members and helps keep productions here.”
So far, 170 productions spending upward of $6.6 billion have been tapped to collect incentives in the newest iteration of the film and TV tax credit program, according to the film commission, which noted that the number of applications have increased 82 percent compared to the previous year. This has helped fuel an over 34 percent increase in TV shoot days in Los Angeles in the three month period April to June, reported FilmLA.
The latest round of projects receiving credits is below:
