Gov Brown Getting the Message on California's Film, TV Tax Credit Troubles

California Gov Jerry Brown has yet to declare where he stands on new legislation that would extend and expand the state's TV and film production incentives, but he sent an encouraging signal.

Kish Rajan, director of the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development, was the featured speaker at the ninth California Film Commission Locations Breakfast.

“The governor will make the final decision, but I know that he understands the toll taken in jobs and on our economy,” Rajan said in brief remarks to the roughly 300 assembled location managers, film officials, studio and network executives, union leaders and small business representatives gathered at the W Hotel in Hollywood.

“California is a brand and we have an image, and few sectors define that as much as our film and TV industry, so I will be recommending that we do everything we can to support it,” he said.

The new legislation, introduced by Assemblymen Raul Bocanegra (D-Pacoima) and Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles), would make the credits available to blockbuster movies with budgets of more than $75 million and one-hour network TV shows and pilots -- all of which are currently excluded -- in an effort to keep more productions in the state. It also would put the program on a five-year footing to run from 2016 to 2021 as opposed to its current two-year extensions settings.