California Begins Discussion on Unlimited Film Incentives: ‘That Is a Heavy Lift’

California lawmakers began a discussion Thursday about removing the cap on the state’s $750 million incentive for film and TV production, while acknowledging that such a move would face budget hurdles. At an Assembly committee hearing in North Hollywood, a handful of state lawmakers heard testimony from union leaders and industry advocates who argued that […] California lawmakers held a hearing Thursday to begin the conversation around an unlimited state film and TV incentive. California lawmakers began a discussion Thursday about removing the cap on the state’s $750 million incentive for film and TV production, while acknowledging that such a move would face budget hurdles.

At an Assembly committee hearing in North Hollywood, a handful of state lawmakers heard testimony from union leaders and industry advocates who argued that the program — which was doubled last year — is not enough to stop the outflow of production jobs. Betsy Beers, the creative partner of Shonda Rhimes, told the committee that she had hoped to shoot a new “Grey’s Anatomy” spinoff in Santa Clarita. But the show, which is set in West Texas, did not get a California tax credit. “We lost a lot of time, and a lot of money, and now we are filming