In the last episode of VarietyOn the “Strictly Business” podcast, Colleen Bell, head of the California State Film Commission, discusses her triumphs in her role as the Golden State’s film chief and the hurdles that remain in restoring a high volume of film and television lensing activity to Hollywood’s backyard.

Bell says the last few years have been a “pivotal time” for the entertainment industry in California. “People want to film their projects here. Public policies must evolve to adapt to the moment,” he says.

The state of California has never been more focused on the needs of Southern California’s creative community, the concentration of highly skilled film and television production that has been the core of the industry for more than 100 years. Bell is aware of the debate over whether the state’s recent efforts to improve its production tax incentive program are too little, too late amid the sharp decline in lens activity in Los Angeles County.

But there is no doubt that the state under his watch increased its annual incentive program to $750 million, from $330 million. It became law a year ago this month after a heavy dose of public policy diplomacy and coalition building by Bell and others in the Newsom administration in Sacramento.

One big change in the local political climate that has helped the industry is the fact that Sacramento lawmakers, coming from outside of Hollywood, now recognize the value of investing in production tax credits. Bell’s commission has produced research showing that every dollar awarded in a production tax credit stimulates $24.40 in economic activity for producers, spending that has a clear ripple effect on local communities.

By better understanding the value of film and television production, lawmakers have become more supportive of tax credits to support the entertainment industry.

“There is a much stronger understanding of the usefulness of tax credits and that they are an investment. And when we invest in the industry, the industry invests back in us,” says Bell, who was named the state’s film chief in May 2019.

“But we continue to try to expand the opportunities. We provide support for riding outside the Thirty Mile zone. And that has been helpful,” he says. “We’ve had strong bipartisan support to launch this new, updated, modernized program. And that came from a lot of conversations and an understanding that this is our legacy industry and tax credit programs like ours – these are employment programs. These keep talented people who work in the entertainment industry, working here in California, where they should be working. I think the conversation has changed dramatically. I’m really glad that we were able to change that narrative.”

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