Today, June 27, 2018, Governor Jerry Brown signed into law legislation that extends the current California Film and Television Tax Credit Program 2.0 through 2025.  In 2014, the California IATSE Council (CIC), joined by the other Guilds and Unions, successfully fought for 2 years to get a bill passed to create this incentive program. We knew our members were hurting and we would not let up fighting until film and television production came back home to California.  At the time we told the California Legislature that if they passed the incentive bill, production would return.  And we were right. But we probably don’t need to tell you that.  More than 45,000 cast and crew have been re-employed or employed on the 150 film and television productions that got the incentive.  That’s $2.3 billion in wages paid to you and to other below-the-line men and women.  And we have also brought back $5.9 billion to the state economy.   

While the current program does not expire until 2020, we all know that producers make production decision a year or more in advance.  We did not want to wait until the last minute to go for a renewal.  We knew it was important to act now so that work would be here past 2020.  Starting last year, the CIC began its work to pass new legislation to extend the current program.  And we are thrilled to announce that we have succeeded.  Legislators thought our bills was so important, they attached it to the State’s 2018 budget. 

We owe thanks to the two members of the Legislature who carried our water: Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon and Senate Holly Mitchell. It was their bills, and their guidance that resulted in this success; to the Senate and Assembly Leadership who made the final decision to put us in the budget - Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon; and to Governor Jerry Brown who signed it into law.

The CIC was not alone in this fight and we recognize the efforts of our sisters and brothers in DGA, Teamsters, Laborers and SAG AFTRA who worked side by side with us.  

Most of all we owe thanks to you – especially the many members who turned out to have their photos taken or signed “thank you” cards to the elected representatives in Sacramento.

Our effort to pass this extension may be concluded but our work is just beginning.  And we know you’ll be there with us as we work to create a strong, vibrant, and diverse Film and Television workforce throughout our Golden State.

As we said throughout this campaign, Keep Filming in California!