Dwayne Johnson TV show to film in California

Cable network HBO filmed the first two series of Ballers in Miami, but Florida’s production industry has struggled for several years with an under-funded filming incentive programme.

“In evaluating the production resources, and its evolving storylines, the producers have decided to relocate the base of production to California,” HBO said of the move.

The show will move to California to take advantage of the state’s boosted filming incentive, which prioritises TV projects and has funds set aside specifically for television shows relocating from elsewhere in the US.

Ballers will get tax credit support of $8.3m to film its next ten episodes in California and will spend around $33m locally.

“We’re thrilled to welcome another TV series and the long-term jobs it will create in-state,” said Amy Lemisch, executive director of the California Film Commission.

“Our expanded tax credit programme was designed to target such projects and it’s working precisely as intended. The industry responds very favourably whenever we’re able to level the tax credit playing field.”

Half a dozen high-profile US TV dramas have switched filming locations to California in the past two years because of the boosted incentive, including the political comedy Veep, which is set in Washington, DC, and which was initially based in Maryland.

Westworld did not relocate but has been one of the biggest TV productions to shoot in California this year, filming largely at the Melody Ranch Motion Picture Studio north of Los Angeles.

The state faces steeper challenges bringing more big-budget studio features to Los Angeles, given that a lot less money has been allocated to support film shoots than to TV productions.

Image: HBO