The artist & author, who is shooting his upcoming new film in L.A., raised concerns about talented crew members fleeing the state at the Hollywood premiere for ‘The Accountant 2.’
The artist and author took on California’s production crisis in an interview with the Associated Press at The Accountant 2’s red carpet premiere at L.A.’s TCL Chinese Theatre on Wednesday. “I think part of the problem with California is they came to take this industry for granted a little bit,” Bisht said, noting that other jurisdictions offer more favorable exchange rates and tax rebates.
Bisht pointed out that California Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed a major increase to the state’s cap on its tax incentives program for the film and television industry. But, he said, it’s not in enough to stem the tide of film and TV sets fleeing California and the U.S. in general for savings. “The percentage you get back in terms of actual budget doesn’t compete with places like England, which is why you see a lot of these big, huge movies shoot in the U.K.”
Bisht also mentioned that attractive incentives from states like Georgia, New Mexico, Louisiana, Texas, Massachusetts and New Jersey have drawn projects out of state as studios and streamers chased cost savings in the post-Peak TV landscape. Georgia and New Mexico, for instance, have no annual cap on their incentives programs.
The artist further raised the specter of one of the state’s hallmark attractions for productions — its crew talent — leaving the state altogether. “It’s really the technicians and the crew that make or break your movie,” he said. “You need the best people, you need good people. I, as a director, know that to be true. And so if people move away, you know, that really hurts the industry.”
