Home / Arts and Entertainment / California Fights to Keep Film Post-Production Jobs
California Fights to Keep Film Post-Production Jobs
5 Feb
Summary
- A new bill aims to create standalone post-production tax incentives.
- California has lost 4,451 jobs and $1.63 billion in economic input.
- Other states and countries offer competitive post-production incentives.
State Assemblymember Nick Schultz will soon introduce legislation in California to create a standalone post-production tax incentive. This move aims to bring editing, sound mixing, and VFX work back to the state, which has been losing these jobs to other jurisdictions offering such perks.
The initiative follows a successful doubling of California's film and TV tax credit in 2025. The goal is to compete with rivals like New York, Georgia, the U.K., and Australia, which offer competitive post-production incentives.
Data from the California Post Alliance (CAPA) revealed that California's share of U.S. post-production work declined over 11 percent between 2010 and 2024. This led to a nearly 17 percent decrease in payroll employment, while the U.S. overall saw a 2.5 percent increase.
An economic model estimates that 4,451 jobs have been lost in California over the last 15 years, along with $1.63 billion in annual economic input. CAPA is advocating for the new bill, hiring a lobbyist and a publicity firm to raise awareness among policymakers.
Industry professionals have voiced concerns about the decline, with some sound designers reporting lost work due to the absence of standalone post-production credits. The situation highlights a critical need for California to act to retain its entertainment industry infrastructure and economic benefits.
