California is officially back in the production game. The state’s new budget has doubled its annual film and TV incentive program to $750 million, and the first wave of beneficiaries has already been announced: 22 projects, from Apple TV+ comedies to Netflix originals, are now shifting, or staying put, in the Golden State.
Among the big movers: Jason Keller’s Apple TV+ comedy Stick, starring Owen Wilson as a washed-up golfer, will relocate from Vancouver to Los Angeles for Season 2. Thanks to California’s top-tier 40% tax credit, Keller is finally able to film where he lives and provide local crews with work. “This city has the most talented crews in the world,” Keller said. “I’m so happy to come back to where I live and give some local Los Angeles artists some jobs.”
The program arrives at a critical time. According to FilmLA, production in Los Angeles has declined by a third over the past decade, exacerbated by wildfires and the double whammy of 2023. Now, with Colleen Bell, executive director of the California Film Commission, reporting a 400% surge in applications compared to last year, Hollywood stages are buzzing again. “There’s a real sense that things are beginning to turn,” Bell said.
The First 22 Projects
- Stick (Apple TV+) — moves from Vancouver to California with a 40% credit.
- Bad Thoughts (Netflix) — starring Tom Segura, relocating from Texas.
- The Studio (Apple TV+) and Presumed Innocent (Apple TV+) — staying in Los Angeles with credits.
- NCIS: Origins (CBS Studios) — also remains in-state.
- 15 new shows, including projects from Dan Fogelman (This Is Us) and Larry David, are gearing up with credits in hand.
Together, the 22 projects will receive $255.9 million in tax breaks and are expected to pump $1.1 billion into California’s economy, including $413 million in wages and over 1,100 filming days. That means work for 6,500 cast and crew members and 46,000 extras.
California has struggled to compete with incentive-heavy states like Georgia and New Mexico, as well as international hubs like British Columbia. By boosting its program, the state is betting big on heritage, talent, and weather—while acknowledging the high costs of doing business in LA. As producer Guymon Casady (Stick) put it: “California is an expensive place to film, but this credit is a great motivator to bring production back.”
The timing couldn’t be better. With Season 2 of Stick needing outdoor golf course scenes in December, California’s climate beat out Canada’s snow. For other shows, the lure is clear: stable crews, iconic locations, and now, competitive financial incentives.
As Bell summed it up: “With the increase of the percentages, this means that decision makers are seriously considering California.”
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