March 20, 2025
Federal and state tax incentives for film and television production are essential to remaining competitive in an increasingly global production market. The DGA has been actively working at all levels across the country to expand these programs in a way that ensures the protection and creation of one thing: jobs.
With production in decline worldwide as studios and streamers pull back on spending on new projects, our efforts are focused on ensuring that the production that remains in America is not further lost to countries offering more favorable tax programs. Recently, we have been working in Sacramento and Albany, pushing for expanded tax credit programs in California and New York to keep two of the country’s important production hubs competitive in the global landscape, as well as in Washington, DC to develop policy proposals aimed at incentivizing the onshoring of film and television production in the United States.
In California:
DGA Associate National Executive Director/Western Executive Director Rebecca Rhine is leading the charge of the new Keep California Rolling campaign as President of the Entertainment Union Coalition (EUC), which includes the DGA, SAG-AFTRA, WGA West, California IATSE Council, Teamsters Local 399, American Federation of Musicians, and LiUNA Local 724.
This unified, labor-led initiative leverages the collective expertise of our unions and guilds to advocate for a more competitive structure that prioritizes the creation of entertainment industry jobs. The EUC’s focus is on ensuring that California remains a viable and attractive option for production. While the state has long been a key location for the entertainment industry, DGA research shows that in recent years, as studios and streamers have cut back on production, there is an increasing share of work that has moved abroad to locations where governments provide substantial financial incentives. The goal of Keep California Rolling is to advance the Governor’s funding proposal and update the state’s jobs-based tax incentive program to increase funding from $330 million to $750 million annually, in a way that attracts production and creates jobs that sustain our members, as well as driving tourism and supporting small businesses in our communities and the infrastructure of our state.
In New York:
DGA Associate National Executive Director/Eastern Executive Director Neil Dudich has been working alongside the DGA’s union partners to secure job-focused protections in the expansion of New York’s state production tax credit program.
New York has long been a major hub for television and film and remains an important home for many DGA members. Its tax incentive program plays a crucial role in attracting and retaining production, and the state’s deep well of talent has made it a favorite for film and TV. However, New York faces the same competitive pressures as the rest of the industry. As international locations refine their own incentive programs, New York must take an aggressive approach to protecting production. Through the DGA’s advocacy, Dudich is working to ensure that any expansion of New York’s program benefits the workforce, not just studio profits, by maintaining and growing jobs.
In Washington, DC:
DGA National Executive Director Russell Hollander and Director of Government Affairs Mike Stoever have been working alongside their IATSE counterparts to educate Congress on the importance of developing a suite of federal tax and trade policy proposals aimed at incentivizing the onshoring of film and television production in the United States.
During a trip to Washington, DC in early March of this year, they met with a bipartisan group of lawmakers to discuss and build support on behalf of both short and long-term legislative options. With an eye on the upcoming tax package currently being drafted in Congress, they advocated, among other things, for an extension of the existing tax deduction available for film and television production – known as Section 181. They also discussed the need for a federal film and television tax incentive to place the U.S. on more competitive ground with the international incentives that are luring away production. Above all else, these options share one common goal – bringing production jobs back to the country for our hardworking members.
And we are not stopping there...
Our focus remains clear: any expansion of these programs must be dedicated to creating, protecting, and preserving good-paying jobs. DGA members deserve careers that sustain families, provide healthcare, and ensure retirement with dignity.
Beyond the financial impact, we also recognize the significant personal sacrifices that come with working away from home. Prolonged travel means time away from family and loved ones, and the strain of working overseas can take a toll on mental health, stability, and overall quality of life. Strengthening tax incentive programs not only ensures economic viability but also prioritizes the well-being of our industry’s workforce.