California allocates $100m in filming tax credits

Around $8.2m has been secured for Robert Zemeckis’ Marwencol, the true story of a man who builds a model Second World War village as part of the process of recovery from a violent assault.

An untitled Paramount Pictures feature has secured nearly a quarter of the full tax credit allocation – some $22m – and an unnamed Universal project has secured $11m.

Ninety-three separate projects applied for tax credit support during this submission window.

“Thanks to the expanded tax credit programme we’re now on a path to win more and more battles in the fight against runaway production,” said Amy Lemisch, executive director of the California Film Commission.

“Welcoming another big-budget feature and creating jobs across the state are great news for California.”

Movie location filming days surged by almost 25% in the final three months of last year, but in stark contrast drama pilots fell by nearly 60%.

It’s still unusual for big-budget feature productions to shoot in California due to the relative limitations and constrictions of the tax credit system. There is now more flexibility and support for studio movies, although financial support remains restricted to the first $100m of a film’s California spending.

For more on filming in California see our production guide.