TV drama filming in California rises nearly 25%

California boosted its filming incentive tax credit in the spring and allocated most of its increased film fund to TV productions. Despite this, just 20% of TV dramas that filmed in California qualified for tax credit support.

The figure was higher for drama pilots, with a third of shoots receiving filming incentive payments. Pilot production rose by 32%.

“We were predicting increases in the scripted television segment, and it appears those predictions are coming true,” said FilmL.A. President Paul Audley.

“Undeniable is the influence and importance of the California Film & Television Tax Credit, which in both its old and new iteration has returned a considerable amount of work to Los Angeles.”

California’s massively increased fund channels most of its money into attracting new TV productions and convincing established television shows to relocate from other parts of the US.

In terms of feature production, California faces intense competition from Louisiana, Georgia, New York and also New Mexico.

Disney is one of the major studios that shows no signs of relocating its biggest brands to California anytime soon. Marvel is filming largely in Atlanta for the next couple of years and the rebooted Star Wars franchise has chosen London as its production base.

For more on filming in California, see our production guide.