SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the first 25 film and television productions to qualify for the film and television production incentive the Governor signed into law on February 20, 2009. The Governor fought for economic stimulus measures including this substantial new job and business retention incentive program earlier this year. Targeted specifically at the types of film and television productions most susceptible to runaway production, this incentive program demonstrates the Governor’s resolve to fight to keep jobs in California – jobs that until now have been lured elsewhere as a result of competing incentives offered by more than 40 other U.S. States.

“I fought hard for economic stimulus measures including the film and television production incentive, because we must do everything in our power to stimulate the economy and put Californians back to work,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “This is about the make-up artists, the caterers and the countless other small businesses that rely on film and television production to succeed and create jobs for Californians.”

In the last decade, California has lost a significant share of studio feature film projects, with the number of such films shot in California declining 50 percent since 2003, according to statistics tracked by the California Film Commission (CRC). According to the Los Angeles Economic Development Corp., each dollar spent on film production in California generates an economic output of $2.95 statewide.

“I can state without a doubt this new film incentive program is the reason we’re making our movie in California,” said Tom Duffield, Production Designer on CBS Films’ Faster. “Without the incentive, it would have been made in New Mexico. I’m now free to hire the best crews and use the best local vendors in the business. This couldn’t come at a better time.”

Charged with administering the program, the CFC began accepting applications on July 1, 2009. Due to the anticipated high demand, applications were assigned queue numbers based on a random selection process. The CFC is evaluating applications and to date has notified 25 productions that they qualify.

“This program launches at a time when the state urgently needs to increase jobs and stimulate our economy,” said California Film Commission Director Amy Lemisch. “We now have the resources to put more of our experienced crews back to work while keeping our production infrastructure healthy. I couldn’t be happier with the early success of our program. It’s performing exactly as it was intended: keeping movies and TV shows here in California that otherwise would have been lost to other regions.”

The 25 film and television productions that have received notifications to date include:

•1/2 Life – 1/2 Life LLC
•Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 – Tiny But Mighty Productions, Inc.
•Burlesque – Screen Gems Productions, Inc.
•Christmas in Beverly Hills – Fast Lane Productions, LLC
•Circle of Eight – Bronson Avenue II, LLC
•Cooper – Gramps Company, Inc.
•Dead Broke – Lucky Monkey Pictures
•Dinner for Schmucks – DW Studios Productions, LLC
•Elevator Girl – Garding Limited
•Faster – CBS Films Productions Inc.
•Fire In The Hole – Woodbridge Productions, Inc.
•Hero Factory (Animated) – Threshold Animation Studios, Inc.
•Important Things with Dimitri Martin – Central Productions, LLC
•Men of a Certain Age – Turner North Center Productions Inc.
•Naked Gun 4 – Paramount Famous Productions
•Perfect Family, The – Perfect Family, LLC
•Priest – Screen Gems Productions, Inc.
•Raise, The – Unclaimed Freight Productions, Inc.
•Second Wives Club – Paramount Famous Productions
•Slumdog Virgin – Steinbeck, LLC
•Social Network, The – Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.
•Spanish Harlem Project, The – Mano Productions, Inc.
•Takin’ It Back – Elixir Entertainment, Inc.
•Untitled Movie – Close To Home Productions, LLC
•You Again – Briarvale Productions, Inc.

Please visit www.film.ca.gov/incentives for details on application procedures, as well as guidance on qualified expenditures and program requirements.