New York Film/TV Spend Surges; California Incentive Expansion Slows Runaway Production

New York is reporting a significant increase in film and television production spending, while California’s recently expanded tax incentive program appears to be stemming — at least temporarily — the flow of productions leaving the state.

New York’s production boom reflects continued strong demand from streamers and studio productions taking advantage of the state’s 25–35% transferable tax credit. The uptick signals ongoing crew demand across departments in the New York metro area and upstate markets.

Meanwhile, California’s move to expand its Film & Television Tax Credit Program — boosting the annual cap and broadening eligibility — is showing early signs of keeping more productions in-state. The expansion was a direct response to years of runaway production eroding the Los Angeles below-the-line workforce.

For working crew, the practical takeaway is a tightening labor market in both states. New York locals may see increased call volume, while California crew who weathered the post-strike slowdown could find more consistent work if the incentive expansion holds and productions commit to staying.

Producers scouting locations should revisit credit calculations in both states, as the competitive landscape between New York and California — and against lower-cost states like Georgia, New Mexico, and Georgia — continues to shift. Locking in incentive allocations early remains critical given program caps.