Where Did the $750 Million Go? Hollywood Incentive Bill Passes CA Senate Without Newsom's Pledge
Tuesday's near unanimous vote was 34 to one, with the only dissent coming from Sen. Roger Niello (R-Sacramento). The bill, which now heads to the state Assembly for consideration, would vastly boost subsidies to shoot in the state to at least 35 percent while expanding the category of productions that qualify to include shorter TV shows, animated titles and certain types of unscripted projects.
More from The Hollywood Reporter
New Report Portrays California's Film and TV Production Environment as Uniquely Burdensome and Expensive
Steven Paul, Architect of Trump Ambassador Plan to Hollywood, Buys Production Facility
L.A. Mayor Vows to Cut Red Tape and Make It Easier to Shoot Movies and Shows In the City
Its passage is a crucial victory for workers across Hollywood who've seen significantly less work as productions increasingly opt to shoot in other areas that offer more tax credits. It's the first step in revamping California's program amid a tit-for-tat race to host the entertainment industry.
'We need to do whatever we can to make sure California remains the number one entertainment capitol of the world,' said Sen. Tony Strickland (R-Huntington Beach). 'In order to do that, we need to be in the ballpark. We don't need to top other states, but we need to be in the ballpark.'
If passed, Senate Bill 630 would bring the most significant changes to the program since its inception in 2009. The bill, SB 630, was spurred by a historic downturn in filming in the state. The 20 percent base credit offered by California is lower than most competitive film hubs, including New York, Georgia and the U.K.
There was broad bipartisan support for the bill, with several lawmakers stressing the impact that the downturn in production has had on their districts in recent years.
'The domino effect is vast,' said Sen. Carolina Menjivar (D-San Fernando Valley), whose district includes Burbank. 'This impacts dry cleaners and the people with small restaurants around these studios. They've noted a decreased amount of pedestrian traffic to their businesses because they're surrounded by studios and there's not a lot of work.'
Sen. Suzette Martinez Valladares(R-Santa Clarita) said that soundstages and postproduction houses in her district are suffering as productions opt to work with vendors in other states and countries. She pointed to the first season of Amazon's Fallout filming in New York despite the story taking place in a post-apocalyptic California (season two opted to shoot in California after receiving tax credits).
'We're losing significant ground,' she said. 'Other states have built entire industries luring production away from California.'
Under the bill, productions could get 35 percent of their spend back for costs incurred in the states. An additional five percent credit would also be available for shooting in certain areas outside Los Angeles.
And in a bid to keep up with other regions broadening the types of productions that can receive subsidies, TV shows consisting of two or more episodes of at least 20 minutes would qualify for the program, which currently only allows series with episodes of at least 40 minutes to qualify. Other productions that could get credits under the revisions to the bill include sitcoms, animated films, series or shorts and 'large-scale competition' shows, excluding reality, documentary programming and game or talk shows. They must have budgets of at least $1 million.
The bill, however, doesn't contemplate allowing any portion of above-the-line costs, like salaries for actors, directors and producers, to qualify for subsidies. California is currently the only major film hub to maintain such a scheme.
Sen. Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) said that the state wants to 'avoid a race to the bottom.' He added that the program is 'grounded in jobs creation and economic activity' unlike Georgia's.
The legislation is expected to meet more resistance on Thursday at the state Assembly, where lawmakers could express concerns over increasing subsidies to film and TV productions as the state proposes major cuts to health care and universities.
Best of The Hollywood Reporter
How the Warner Brothers Got Their Film Business Started
Meet the World Builders: Hollywood's Top Physical Production Executives of 2023
Men in Blazers, Hollywood's Favorite Soccer Podcast, Aims for a Global Empire
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Poll finds Cornyn, Paxton in dead heat in Texas' Senate GOP primary
A new poll of Texas' Senate GOP primary shows Sen. John Cornyn leading Attorney General Ken Paxton by 1 percentage point, breaking a spell of public polling that had found the incumbent trailing by wide margins. In a sample of nearly 500 registered Texans planning to vote in the Republican primary, Cornyn garnered 30% of the vote to Paxton's 29% — well within the poll's 4.4% margin of error. Much of the Republican electorate is up for grabs, with 37% saying they were undecided. If neither candidate wins 50% plus one vote in the March primary, the top two candidates would advance to a May runoff. The poll was conducted by Emerson College between Monday and Tuesday — the first public survey of the bitter primary since Cornyn allies began deploying millions in advertising. Paxton and his allies, meanwhile, have largely kept their powder dry, waiting to go up on air until closer to the primary. Groups affiliated with Senate Republicans have committed enormous resources to Cornyn, arguing that a Paxton candidacy would jeopardize the party's hold on the seat and cost more money to defend. In a slideshow obtained by Punchbowl News, Senate Leadership Fund, the super PAC linked to Senate GOP leadership, projected that Republicans would need to spend over $200 million on Paxton in a general election. But in a broader pool of 1,000 Texas voters, the Emerson poll found both Republicans beating Democrat Colin Allred — the highest-profile declared Democratic candidate — beyond the margin of error. Cornyn garnered 45% to Allred's 38% in a hypothetical matchup, while Paxton led 46% to 41%. [John Cornyn enters critical window to change trajectory of Texas Senate primary against Ken Paxton] The latest findings differ significantly from previous surveys of the primary. The SLF presentation found that Paxton led Cornyn by an average of 17% across 13 polls between January and June. Emerson, like many pollsters, underestimated Republicans in 2024, finding in October that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump led his Democratic counterpart, Kamala Harris, by 7 percentage points in Texas and that Allred was within 1 point of Sen. Ted Cruz. Ultimately, Trump won by about 13 percentage points and Cruz won by more than 8 points. Both Cornyn and Paxton are pursuing an endorsement from Trump, who has yet to weigh in on the contest and has endorsed both men in prior races. The Emerson poll suggests that the Trump endorsement could be the deciding factor for voters unsure of who they plan to support. 'Seven months ahead of the Republican Primary, the contest between the four-term incumbent and the Attorney General is a toss-up,' Emerson executive director Spencer Kimball said in a statement, noting the large share of voters who had yet to make up their minds. 'Among these undecided voters, President Trump's job approval stands at 73%, suggesting his endorsement could be pivotal in such a close race.' Beyond the Senate race, the poll found Trump's approval rating remains much higher in Texas than nationally, with 49% approving of the job he's done as president and 42% disapproving. Gov. Greg Abbott is less popular but still above water, with a net approval rating of 3 percentage points. Texans continued to rank the economy and immigration as their top issues, but their order has flipped since before the 2024 election, with the economy now taking the top spot at 30%. Amid Trump's crackdown at the border, illegal crossings — which had already begun to drop under President Joe Biden after spiking earlier in his term — have plummeted to the lowest level in decades. Looking ahead to 2028, Texas Republicans' preferred presidential candidate is Vice President JD Vance, the Emerson poll found. Vance stands far ahead of the field at 45%; Cruz, who ran for president in 2016, is second at 9%. On the Democratic side, no prospective candidate had a clear lead. Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg led the field with 22% support, followed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom at 20% and 2024 nominee Harris at 17%. Finally, the survey found that voters are paying close attention to state Republicans' effort to redraw Texas' congressional map to yield more GOP seats. Nearly 80% of voters said they are following redistricting very or somewhat closely. And they had mixed feelings about it: 36% support the redraw, 38% oppose it and 26% are unsure. But independents are against it by a margin of 19 percentage points. Texas House Democrats decamped to blue states en masse to freeze the Legislature's redistricting process, and Republicans have issued arrest warrants to attempt to compel them to return. Again, Texas voters were split — 41% agreed that the fleeing Democrats should be arrested, while 37% did not. More all-star speakers confirmed for The Texas Tribune Festival, Nov. 13–15! This year's lineup just got even more exciting with the addition of State Rep. Caroline Fairly, R-Amarillo; former United States Attorney General Eric Holder; Abby Phillip, anchor of 'CNN NewsNight'; Aaron Reitz, 2026 Republican candidate for Texas Attorney General; and State Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin. Get your tickets today! TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
The Hill
2 hours ago
- The Hill
Cornyn, Paxton locked in dead heat in Texas primary: Poll
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton are locked in a close battle in the state's bitterly contested Senate primary, according to an Emerson College Polling survey released Friday. The poll showed Cornyn essentially tied with Paxton. He led by 1 point, 30 percent to 29 percent, with 5 percent saying they prefer another candidate and 37 percent undecided. The margin is much closer than numerous other past polls that have shown Paxton with a lead over the longtime incumbent. 'Seven months ahead of the Republican Primary, the contest between the four-term incumbent and the Attorney General is a toss-up,' said Spencer Kimball, the executive director of Emerson College Polling, in a release. He noted that President Trump's job approval stands at 73 percent among those who said they're undecided, suggesting an endorsement from him in the race could prove influential. Cornyn said last month that Trump told him he's not ready to endorse in the race yet, but he's discussed it with the president multiple times. The race between the two candidates has gotten increasingly intense as the two have taken shots at each other. Paxton regularly denounces Cornyn as a 'RINO,' an acronym meaning Republican in name only, and insufficiently loyal to the MAGA agenda and Trump. He's attacked the senior senator for votes in favor of continuing to send aid to Ukraine and his work to pass a bipartisan gun control law after the 2022 Uvalde, Texas, elementary school shooting. Cornyn has emphasized his voting record overwhelmingly in favor of Trump's agenda. He's has gone after Paxton over legal and political issues that the attorney general has dealt with, including Paxton's indictment in 2015 that was eventually dismissed after Paxton reached a deal with prosecutors. Paxton was also impeached by the Texas state House based on allegations that he misused his office to benefit a real estate developer, but he was acquitted in the state Senate. More recently, the Texas redistricting battle has played a role in the race, with Cornyn requesting the FBI assist to bring back state Democratic lawmakers who left the state to prevent Republicans from approving a new congressional district map. Multiple polls have shown Paxton, who has sought to position himself as a closer ally of Trump, ahead of Cornyn. One from Texas Southern University in May showed Paxton leading Cornyn by 9 points, while another internal poll from the Senate Leadership Fund, which supports Cornyn, found the senator trailing Paxton by 16 points. But the Emerson poll's results will be welcome news to Cornyn, who has argued that as the race proceeds and voters learn more about the candidates, they would start leaning more in his favor. He has said if he can get Trump's endorsement, the race would be over. Cornyn allies have also argued that he's more electable than Paxton in a state that has generally voted Republican but where Democrats hope to pull off an upset. The Emerson poll found Cornyn leading former Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas), who is making his second Senate run, by 7 points, 45 percent to 38 percent. Paxton leads Allred by 5 points, 46 percent to 41 percent. Allred is currently the only major Democrat in the race, but state Rep. James Talarico (D) has said he's considering a bid. The poll was conducted from Aug. 11 to 12 among 1,000 registered voters, including 491 Republican primary voters. The margin of error for the entire sample was 3 points and for the Republican primary was 4.4 points.
Tom's Guide
2 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
I dissected the new 'Fallout' season 2 poster and found hidden Easter eggs you might have missed
Prime Video has just plunged fans headlong into the irradiated streets of the Mojave, dropping the official first poster for 'Fallout' season 2 via the show's official X account, and it's nothing short of a visual treat. The post hints that we might get a trailer or small teaser during Opening Night Live at Gamescom 2025, an event set for Tuesday, August 19, 2025. Against the dusky glow of a desolate horizon looms the iconic 'Welcome to New Vegas' sign, signaling a shift in setting for season 2. In silhouette, Lucy MacLean (Ella Purnell), the Ghoul (Walton Goggins), Maximus (Aaron Moten), and the loyal Dogmeat trek toward the neon refuge. The poster also reveals that season 2 will premiere in December 2025, a date first announced in May alongside the show's season 3 renewal. At first glance, some of the references in the wasteland might be easy to miss, but there are a few iconic nods worth getting excited about. 'Fallout' season 2 is set to expand the show's world in a big way, following the lead characters into the Mojave Desert and the neon-lit ruins of New Vegas. Fans of the 'Fallout: New Vegas' game will recognize iconic landmarks like the Lucky 38, Mr. House's towering casino, which appears in the background of the season's poster. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. I can also spot The Tops and maybe even the top of Gomorrah (you know, that distinctive curved structure). The Tops is a flashy, retro-style casino with a classic Las Vegas vibe, while Gomorrah is a seedier, more dangerous casino controlled by a mafia-like gang. Both fit perfectly with the chaotic, neon-lit atmosphere of the New Vegas Strip. To the left, you can see high-voltage power line towers (also called electrical transmission towers), a nice detail that highlights the remnants of pre-war infrastructure still standing in the wasteland. The rest of the New Vegas Strip is shrouded in fog, making it harder to make out details. But you can still expect to see other iconic landmarks like the Ultra-Luxe and Vault 21 Hotel. In fact, if you really zoom in on the background, you might even spot a few rough edges of the hotel's cog-like sign. Of course, more obvious references include the huge New Vegas sign, and the characters themselves joining forces when entering this dangerous environment. It's a simple but effective poster, to say the least. The new season is expected to explore how Vault-Tec's dark secrets continue to ripple through the wasteland, as Lucy hunts down her father, Hank (Kyle MacLachlan), while facing new threats, including deadly creatures like Deathclaws and dangerous raider factions. Macaulay Culkin has also joined 'Fallout' season 2 in a recurring role as a 'crazy genius-type character,' though specific details about his character remain under wraps. Clearly, there's a lot to be excited about, and as Goggins told Complex, 'real magic' is about to happen. 'Fallout' season 2 will land on Prime Video sometime in December 2025. In the meantime, stream the best shows like 'Fallout' while you wait. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
