SAN DIEGO — The Golden State is betting big with record tax credits for Hollywood blockbusters planning to film movies at locations across California including San Diego County.
Star Wars
Lucasfilm’s “The Mandalorian & Grogu”, along with four other big-budget projects and five independent movies, were added to the state’s Film and TV Tax Credit Program 4.0, the California Film Commission announced.
The newest Star Wars project The Mandalorian & Grogu,” directed by Jon Favreau, is the first of the franchise to film entirely in California and broke records for the largest qualified expenditures in the history of California’s Film and Television Tax Credit.
California's Film Commission expects the feature film to inject an estimated $166 million into the state economy. The 15 films will shoot their projects at locations across the state, generating nearly $408 million for California’s economy and up to 20,000 jobs.
“From Earth to Arvala-7 to Mandalore, there is no place to film like California. Our iconic entertainment industry has brought us classics across generations, and through this program we’re making sure the state continues producing, while generating billions of dollars for our communities, creating thousands of good-paying jobs, and training our future workforce,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said.
Hollywood in San Diego
The state’s tax credit program is expected to boost local economies by generating thousands of jobs, including in San Diego County.
One of the ten independent films announced is titled “California Convergence” by Jeff Deverett and is slated to film more than 30 days of production at locations across San Diego County.
"The City of San Diego applauds the recent California Film Commission announcement of several new filming projects being selected for the State’s robust Film and Television Tax Credit Program," said the city's Office of Special Events and Filming. "The local economic impact of these multimillion-dollar projects filming in San Diego can’t be understated and we will continue to welcome them."
'America's Finest Filming Location'
Over the past few years, San Diego County has become a prime filming destination for reality TV shows.
With the region's year-round sunny weather, beaches and diverse geography, a surge of production companies have scouted and successfully filmed TV shows and commercials at different locations across the county.
Some popular reality TV shows that have been filmed in San Diego County include TLC's ''90-Day Fiance" and related spin-offs, ABC's ''The Bachelorette", Lifetime's "Married at First Sight" and Netflix's "The Ultimatum: Queer Love."
With the announcement of the independent film "California Convergence" set for production in San Diego, future movies are expected to eye the county as a potential filming location.
“'America’s Finest City' is working hard to become 'America’s Finest Filming Location' with multiple large-scale TV and Movie projects recently scouting San Diego due to its amazing beaches, parks, metropolitan cityscapes, and friendly welcoming residents," the city said.
The California Film and TV Tax Credit Program was designed to retain and attract production jobs for films and TV shows of all budget sizes. The 4.0 version of the program was signed into law in 2023 and extended the program through FY 2030-31.
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