October 27, 2024
On October 27, DGA Fifth Vice President Millicent Shelton and National Associate Executive Director/Western Executive Director Rebecca Rhine, joined California Governor Gavin Newsom to support his proposal to more than double the California Film and TV Tax Credit Program from $330 million to $750 million a year.
Speaking on behalf of industry workers, Shelton emphasized the importance of promoting production incentives that allow DGA members to work where they live, saying, “Many Directors are being forced to leave California and often the country for work. To repeatedly make the hard choice between work and home is psychologically painful and damaging to marriages, families, and communities. I know because I traveled the entire 16 years of my twins’ lives. Governor Newsom has taken bold and decisive action, stepping forward on behalf of the creators, crafts people, actors, and small business owners who depend upon this industry for their livelihood.”
This announcement is just the first step. Once Governor Newsom formally includes a funding increase for the incentive program in his proposed state budget for 2025-2026, which is expected to occur in early January, the measure will still need to pass the state legislature.
Following the Governor’s announcement, Rhine said, “The DGA is proud to take a leading role in lobbying the Governor and his staff on the importance of investing in a more competitive tax incentive program. We are committed to making sure our elected leaders understand this program is an important part of saving and creating jobs and that this industry is a crucial driver of the economy.”
For more information about the DGA’s work to push forward film and TV incentive programs, please reach out to DGA Director of Government Affairs Mike Stoever, at MStoever@dga.org.