California Tried to Jumpstart the Film Economy. Production Keeps Falling.

California’s expanded film and television tax credit has increased the share of scripted productions receiving state support, but it has not stemmed the broader decline in filming. FilmLA reported that production fell 3.7% in the third quarter, with location shoots still well below the five-year average, raising doubts about whether the larger incentive can counter the cost pressures pushing work elsewhere.

The annual incentive rose from $330 million to $750 million in July 2025. In the latest quarter, 40.2% of scripted shows received credits, nearly double the share a year earlier; the proportion rose from 19% to 62% for TV comedy and from 21% to 49% for dramas. Comedy shoot days climbed to 192, while drama days fell from 732 to 494, and reality TV recorded 630 days, 66% below its five-year average.