Everything is slowly getting back to normal with new precautions, guidelines and rules. Filming industry is making its come back with re-opening of cinemas and new productions.
Producing a film in North America is also one of those little slower sectors. There are no proper federal COVID guidelines, states, countries and local municipalities are setting their own set of rules and regulations for the restraining of a pandemic. The Film commission reports that everyone is ready to go to work, but there are lots of things required for this restart like coronavirus testing capacity, insurance, and health and safety guidelines.
States are providing relief to the production industry.
Georgia:
Many people are doing well in handling this situation, and recently Tyler Perry mega-multihyphenate in Georgia has completed filming his BET series’ “Sistas” and now working on another production “the Oval”. The remarkable thing is that not a single case was recorded in this procedure.
Perry talked about measure and safety guidelines he followed while shooting his productions. He said that he made sure everyone (cast and crew) wear their mask when they are not shooting as masks have been scientifically proved to be stopping the spread. Perry said that he made sure everyone followed the security measures as he did not want any of them to be quarantined for 3 to 12 days due to a virus.
Georgia is getting up to 30% tax relief for film, television, music videos, commercials, interactive games and animation. The Entertainment Industry Investment Act provides a 20% tax credit for $500,000 or more spent on production and post-production in Georgia, either in a single production or on multiple projects. The state also grants an additional 10% tax credit if the finished project includes a promotional logo provided by the state.
Web: georgia.org/industries/film-entertainment
New York
New York is ready to start their production work but with lots of precautions and care. Everything is moving carefully and next month is looking more promising and productive. There is no doubt that production is going very slow, but developments can be seen at Steiner Studios which is working with a 500,000 sq –ft facility in Sunset Park
New York boosts 30% tax credit on both eligible costs and post-production expenses, but are not eligible for the “film production tax credit program.”
Web: esd.ny.gov
California:
California is also back in the production business. The city has announced in August that many of its latest projects are going to be started. These big productions include Netflix’s big-budget “Gray Man” starring Chris Evans and Ryan Gosling. TV series are also ready to take their flight with shooting around southern California. SWAT recently shot at some location in Santa Clarita with strict safety protocols.
California’s $1.55 billion Film & Television Tax Credit Program 3.0 runs for five years, with a sunset date of June 30, 2025, and each fiscal year, from July 1 to June 30, the $330 million funding is categorized in TV projects, relocating TV, indie features and non-indie features.
Web: film.ca.gov
Louisiana:
Louisiana was hit hard by COVID. The state has given approving nods to the production industry following safety guidelines,
Production is getting up to 40% tax credit on total qualified expenditures that include resident and non-resident labor.
Web: louisianaentertainment.gov
Canada
Canada is ready to host, albeit shootings with travel restrictions and have set detailed safety protocols for each province.
Entry to the country is allowed but only after 14-day self-quarantine before they can start working on set. The Canada Film or Video Production Tax Credit known as CPTC is providing 100% refundable tax credit to eligible productions. The relief is available at a rate of 25% of qualified labor expenditure.
Web: canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/funding/cavco-tax-credits/film-video-production-services
Ontario: ontariocreates.ca/tax-incentives/ofttc
British Columbia: gov.bc.ca/gov
