Concoff Comments on Film, TV Tax Credits

Gary Concoff, chairman of the Entertainment Department, was quoted in a July 7, 2011 article in the Los Angeles Daily Journal about the California Senate's Governance and Finance Committee approval of a five-year extension to California's Film and Television Tax Credit Program.

Concoff told the Daily Journal he doesn't see California's program as a primary factor influencing a production team's choice to stay or go. Noting the convenience to directors, producers and talent of the infrastructure and, of course, the weather, Concoff said the tax credit is an extra perk.

"There are other reasons why people want to stay in California," Concoff said. "No one wants to travel to Timbuktu."

The story reported that despite the $500 million incentive program launched in 2009, California is still having trouble holding on to feature and television production. The tax credits reach less than 20% of productions due to a lottery process. Because of that and weak investment in production, industry lawyers say studios are likely to continue following larger tax incentives offered by other states.