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Damien Chazelle’s ‘Babylon’ Among 13 Features Approved for California Tax Credit

Projects are expected to generate $376 million in qualified spending for in-state workers

Brian Welk | November 12, 2019 @ 6:00 AM
Damien Chazelle, La La Land

Damien Chazelle’s “Babylon,” Aaron Sorkin’s Lucille Ball biopic and films by Paul Thomas Anderson, David Geffen and Marc Platt are among the 13 projects selected for tax credits from the California Film Commission, the commission announced Tuesday.

The 13 films, five of them indies, will generate more than $376 million in qualified spending for wages to below-the-line workers in California and payments to in-state vendors. Earlier this April, the commission estimated that $408 million of expenditures would be accumulated.

“The projects announced today reaffirm that top decision makers prefer to shoot in California even when they can receive more lucrative tax credits elsewhere,” California Film Commission executive director Colleen Bell said in a statement. “The list includes projects by Damien Chazelle, Paul Thomas Anderson, David Geffen, Marc Platt and other industry leaders who understand that California continues to offer the best value.”

Also Read: California's New Film Commissioner Colleen Bell Looks Beyond Hollywood

Among the other projects eligible for the tax credit are Aaron Sorkin’s Lucille Ball biopic starring Cate Blanchett, a remake of “Little Shop of Horrors” from producers Marc Platt and David Geffen that was originally reported in 2016, a new, untitled film from director Paul Thomas Anderson and “24/7,” a comedy that is the directorial feature debut of Eva Longoria.

Six of the 13 projects will film outside the boundaries of LA’s 30-Mile studio zone, and the projects are expected to employ an estimated 1,960 crew, 698 cast members and over 26,000 man-days worth of background actors or stand-ins over a combined 587 days of filming in the state. 54 films in all applied for tax credits during the application period between Oct. 7-11.

All of the above is part of the state’s Film & TV Tax Credit Program 2.0, which is meant to generate $8.4 billion of in-state spending across four years of the program. 2.0 was launched in 2015, and the 3.0 program will debut next year.

Also Read: Robert Downey Jr's 'Sherlock Holmes 3' to Receive $20.8 Million California Tax Credit

Chazelle’s “Babylon” is reported as an Old Hollywood epic in which Deadline first reported this summer that both Emma Stone and Brad Pitt were circling to star. The project should generate an estimated $83.4 million in qualified spending.

“I’m thrilled to be able to film ‘Babylon’ here in California, with its rich landscapes and excellent crew members,” Chazelle said in a statement. “Thank you to the film commission for helping me bring this film to the big screen.”

Here’s the full list of eligible titles:

  • “24/7” – Universal City Studios LLC – Non-Indie
  • “Babylon” – Paramount Pictures Corporation – Non-Indie
  • “Dear Evan Hansen” – Universal City Studios LLC – Non-Indie
  • “Everything Everywhere All At Once” – Hotdog Hands LLC – Indie
  • “Girl Named Sue” – Crazyrose / FDLBco – Indie
  • “Janis” – Atlas Entertainment – Non-Indie
  • “Jesus Revolution” – Jesus Revolutions, LLC – Indie
  • “Little Shop of Horrors” – Warner Bros. Pictures – Non-Indie
  • “Rescue Rangers” – Newsub 101 Productions, Inc. – Non-Indie
  • “The Black Hole” – New Regency Productions, Inc. – Indie
  • “Untitled Lucy and Desi” – Amazon Studios, LLC – Non-Indie
  • “Untitled PTA 2020” – Ghoulardi Film Company – Indie
  • “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” – Newsub 110 Productions, Inc. – Non-Indie

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