With on-location film production in Los Angeles recently dropping to a five-year low, the California Film Commission might want to consider clearing a future Marvel production for a tax credit.
Speaking to reporters Monday at a Marvel Studios tour, the brand’s president Kevin Feige said: “We all work here [in California]. We’d love to make movies here. We made a handful of the early movies here, we hope to make some [here].” But he said the state’s film incentives are “a big part” of why Marvel’s shoots aren’t planted in the Golden State. “If you ask any business person, they would say that’s the biggest part of it,” he added.
Pinewood Atlanta Studios recently has been home to a number of Marvel productions including Black Panther, which is wrapping in the next day; previous shoots Ant-Man and Captain America: Civil War; and current productions Avengers: Infinity War and its sequel and the upcoming Ant-Man and The Wasp. Currently in pre-production, but with a director soon to be announced, is Captain Marvel starring Brie Larson, which is eyeing a February start date.
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A Marvel film production in California would bring a great deal of qualified spending to the state. Last year, Disney’s Ava DuVernay title A Wrinkle in Time represented the first legit tentpole to be awarded tax credits ($18.1M) under the expanded California Film & TV tax program, delivering an estimated $85M in qualified spending to the state with 400 cast and crew members employed and $44M in wages paid to below-the-line workers. Wrinkle shot mainly outside the L.A. 30-mile zone. Marvel’s FX series Legion currently receives one of the biggest state tax TV credits at $11M. But when it comes to state tax credits, it’s not a matter that Marvel haggles about; Disney corporate contends with that.
A number of Marvel movies have been shooting outside the United States including Black Panther. The property has a “globe-trotting conceit like James Bond, that’s why we looked at international locales,” said Feige. The pic follows T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), a superhero whose daily life entails presiding over the fictional utopian African nation Wakanda as its king. The film, which opens on February 16, recently completed second-unit work in Busan, South Korea. Infinity War‘s second unit is currently over in Scotland for a four-week shoot.
“As the stories call for it, we love the movies to have a global feel,” said Feige.
All news out of last night’s Marvel press conference was embargoed until this morning.
The Government unions – especially the Teachers union have opposed tax incentives since 1996 !
California is not training new young “California” technicians in the feature film sector. All the training is happening in Atlanta and a dozen other aggressive tax incentive hubs
Within 5 years California will not have the talent to make more than 1 big feature at a time . Television and feature work are completely different creatures
Okay then, why is Agents of SHIELD shot out here in LA and not in Vancouver, like most of the other comic book related shows?
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Coat
This is all about greed. The more cash Kevin Feige and his ilk can put in THEIR pocket, at the expense of state taxpayers, is all they care about. They’ll film their bullshit movies wherever the best bribe is offered.
All legal and good business sense to boot!
California is run by very stupid people. And the stupid people who keep on electing them.
Thanks, Jack. You’re right. California can’t get it right. We go work in other states because of that reason.
And that’s why everybody in the world wants to live here!
We’ve got two great Democratic women senators and a Democratic governor who cleaned up the mess left by the previous Republican governor. We “stupid people” love our state, our weather and our people (of all ethnicities and orientations.)
We’d even welcome a hater like you.
Quit acting like you care about the industry, Marvel. All you care about is grubbing every cent out of any State crazy enough to subsidize your every threat and demand (Georgia). Marvel will go offshore and stay there as and leave the Peach State in a burning hole of debt sooner than later. The only thing they love more than a right to work State is a country with Workers willing to work for poverty wages and unregulated working conditions.
California doesn’t want to be part of your race to the bottom for American Workers!
At least have some info to provide if you’re gonna rant on like a maniac.
Hint: There is no info you can provide to back up you conspiracy level claims.
Well, Billy – what about the fact that all unions are employed on Marvel films. There are no SCABS working on their films, or any other major studio picture. Georgia has more than enough qualified crew being that they have built and infrastructure to support the industry, and lots of people have left LA to work there. Hard working crew can afford to buy a house, and put their kids in decent schools. California is letting the biz die on the vine. Atlanta is where big movies and tv are made. California is where Ellen and sitcoms are shot. Maybe you should take more time learning the facts, and spend less time spreading lies about an industry you know very little about. Wanna change it? Call Sacramento and do something about it.
Marvel will leave Atlanta and go offshore on you too – they have absolutely no loyalty and you know it. So enjoy the wave while you have it, Brother.
California still leads the world in in overall productions. California is number 1 for tv not atlanta. Number 2 is new York. Get your facts straight before you open your mouth.
They’re a business first and foremost. You look for the best deal possible. Besides, they’re making movies not curing cancer! Film wherever!
Thank you for your komment, komrade.
The new (old) thing is to accuse everyone who believes in labor rights of being a commie. Pathetic