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Please note that the latest submission period for new TV projects is currently closed as of June 6, 2024. We’ll be sure to update this article when the next submission period opens!
Seeking funding support for your new TV project? You’re in luck.
The California Film Commission’s next submission period for new television pilots and series opens this coming Monday, June 3… And Wrapbook is here to help you successfully fill out your application for it.
Here’s the info you need to know!
Applicants have just two days to submit their materials for this submission period. The Phase I submission window opens on Monday, June 3, 2024 and closes at 5PM PDT on Wednesday, June 5.
That means you have a very short amount of time to enter your application until the next submission period opens, which right now is slated for September 2024. However, the California Film Commission notes on its site that dates are subject to change, so don’t let this one pass you by!
This submission period is for only new television pilots and series. The California Film Commission has separate submission periods for recurring and relocating television projects, as well as film projects.
In case you missed the news, as part of its allocations for relocating TV series, the CFC newly approved the Prime Video hit Fallout for a $25 million film tax credit. All to say, it’s well worth the time and effort to throw your proverbial hat into the ring for the state’s impactful film tax incentives.
Before the submission period opens on June 3, we highly encourage all applicants to thoroughly read the California Film Commission’s program guidelines, which details the entire film tax credit application process.
That being said, it’s important to point out a few key submission factors.
To start the submission process, have on hand this mandatory information:
1. Applicant details
2. Qualified expenditure budget
Critical to your potential success in qualifying for a California film tax credit is demonstrating your project’s Jobs Ratio ranking.
If you weren’t already familiar with the term, Jobs Ratio ranking refers to the identification of projects most likely to boost jobs and economic activity in California. This is why applicants must submit both qualified wages and qualified non-wages.
It’s important to keep in mind that when determining the Jobs Ratio ranking, qualified expenditures exclude uplifts, bond amounts, and contingency amounts. However, the Jobs Ratio can increase should a production have:
Only those projects with the highest Jobs Ratio rankings will move on to Phase II, which takes place June 6–10, 2024. During this time, projects still in the running for the California film tax credits will be asked to provide any additional requested documentation ahead of the announcement of film tax credit allocations.
For a complete breakdown of how a project can potentially increase its Jobs Ratio ranking and the opportunity to receive a California film tax credit, please refer to the CFC’s program guidelines.
The California Film Commission will notify applicants of their approval status on Monday, July 8, 2024.
For a comprehensive look at the California film tax incentive landscape, check out our deep dive into film tax credits eligible productions can potentially receive, as well as how the California Film Commission supports in-state productions.
Additionally, Wrapbook’s own Ryan Broussard just recently guested on the podcast AirTalk with the CFC’s Executive Director Colleen Bell to discuss all that California has to offer productions through its lucrative film tax incentives.
If you’re curious about how California’s tax incentives stack up across the nation, you can also check out our Production Incentive Center. There you can view a state incentive map, compare state incentives, and even get answers to your incentive questions through our AI support tool.
Don’t sit on the opportunity to potentially increase your new TV project’s financial support. Take advantage of the CFC’s upcoming submission period to get your new TV production in the mix for the state’s film tax incentives.
And for all your state incentive questions and needs, head over to Wrapbook’s Production Incentive Center and check out its many tools. There you can discover the incentive options available to you across not only California but also the entire nation.
At Wrapbook, we pride ourselves on providing outstanding free resources to producers and their crews, but this post is for informational purposes only as of the date above. The content on our website is not intended to provide and should not be relied on for legal, accounting, or tax advice. You should consult with your own legal, accounting, or tax advisors to determine how this general information may apply to your specific circumstances.
Anna Keizer originally hails from the Chicagoland area. After receiving her B.A. in Film/Video from Columbia College Chicago, she moved to California and finished her M.A. in Film Studies from Chapman University. She has also graduated from UCLA’s Writing for Television Professional Program and is currently in post-production on the short She Had It Coming, which she wrote and is executive producing.
