Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass joined civic and entertainment leaders today to call on Governor Gavin Newsom to sign Assembly Bill 2319 into law, which would create California's first post-production tax credit and support thousands of entertainment jobs in Los Angeles.
The bill addresses a gap in the existing expanded State Film and TV Tax Credit, which does not cover the work of film editors, visual effects artists, composers, colorists and other skilled post-production workers.
"Post-production and the jobs it creates is at the core of the entertainment industry, but it doesn't qualify for our expanded Film and TV Tax Credit – that must change," said Mayor Bass. "Assembly Bill 2319 will support and bolster the work done by California's film editors, sound engineers, visual effects artists and other talented, skilled workers that bring to life the films and shows we love. I want to thank Assemblymember Schultz for championing this legislation, and I'm calling on Governor Newsom to sign this bill into law so we can keep this creative talent right here in California."
Mayor Bass was joined by Assemblymember Nick Schultz, who authored AB 2319, Councilmember Adrin Nazarian, and representatives from two of the bill's sponsoring organizations: Karen Baker Landers, Vice President of the California Post Alliance, and F. Hudson Miller, President of the Motion Picture Editors Guild.
"California pioneered the work of taking dreams to the big screen, and it's the collective work of the most experienced and talented workforce in the world that has kept the industry going and pushing the limits of imagination for over a century," said Assemblymember Schultz. "By signing AB 2319, Governor Newsom will literally save jobs here in Los Angeles and across the state. This is a real opportunity to grow our creative economy for years to come."
"Post-production services are a critical pillar of California's creative ecosystem – they support countless working families and local businesses," said Councilmember Nazarian, Chair of the Council's Ad Hoc Committee on Film, Entertainment and Creative Industry. "Post-production is where the real movie magic happens after the cameras stop rolling. I thank Assemblymember Nick Shultz for leading the fight for a competitive and standalone post-production incentive. We can't afford to let post-production migrate to other jurisdictions as principal photography has. I'm proud to join this coalition calling on Governor Newsom to sign this bill into law. California must protect the full production pipeline to Keep Hollywood Home."
Mayor Bass officially supported the legislation when it was introduced, noting that without a competitive incentive, California risks losing its post-production workforce to other states. AB 2319 aims to retain economic activity, sustain jobs, keep facilities active, and ensure California remains the global leader in entertainment production and innovation.
As Speaker of the State Assembly, Bass oversaw passage of the inaugural Film and TV Tax Credit Program, and as Mayor she championed its historic doubling to $750 million. She is now fighting for a no-cap state tax credit and the creation of the first federal film incentive.