‘Babylon,’ ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ Among Films Awarded Tax Credits

The big-budget feature “Babylon” and a remake of “Little Shop of Horrors” were among 13 films to receive tax credits from the state, the California Film Commission announced Nov. 12. Hollywood-based Paramount Pictures Corp.’s “Babylon” topped the list, receiving $17.5 million in tax credits for an estimated $83 million in qualified spending. Burbank-based Warner Bros.’ remake of the 1986 cult classic “Little Shop of Horrors,” produced by David Geffen and Marc Platt, was second, receiving $12 million in tax credits for an estimated $60 million in qualified spending. Also receiving tax credits were a film version of the Broadway hit “Dear Evan Hansen” from Universal Studios in Universal City ($5.6 million in tax credits) and the Aaron Sorkin-directed “Being the Ricardos” from Amazon Studios ($3.7 million in tax credits). The films — eight from studios and five independent producers — comprise the latest round of films receiving tax credits under the state’s film and television tax credit program. Together, the features are projected to generate more than $376 million in spending that qualifies for the state’s film and television tax credit program, primarily wages for non-actor workers and payments to in-state vendors. According to the Film Commission, based on data provided with each tax credit application, the 13 projects will cumulatively employ an estimated 1,960 crew, 698 cast and 26,119 background actors/stand-ins over a combined 587 filming days in California. Seven of the 13 projects will film at locations inside the “30-mile studio zone” in Los Angeles County; the remaining six will film in other California counties.