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California doles out over $100M in taxpayer money to massive film studios

The Blaze
2 weeks 2 days ago


The state of California is handing out boatloads of cash to some of the biggest money-making studios in the world.

The money comes from the California Film Commission, which, in addition to providing tax credits for studios that rake in revenue, has a robust incentive program for productions that push diversity, equity, and inclusion.

'The state also pushes productions to acquire suppliers based on their diversity.'

Dollars to doughnuts

As part of its $750 million annual industry push, the commission's funding is not limited to independent films or smaller studios, but tens of millions are actually allocated to big-budget studios that have a history of massive revenues.

Chiefly in this instance, Variety has reported that a sequel to "The Simpsons Movie," currently titled "The Simpsons Movie 2," will receive $21.9 million in state funding as California has expanded into supplementing animation production.

The 20th Century Studios production is set for a release 20 years after the original hit movie, which took in $183 million domestically and $536 million worldwide against a $75 million budget.

While TV revenues are tight-lipped, it's estimated that each episode generates between $3 and $5 million. It should go without saying that the longest-running American scripted primetime series is not hurting for cash.

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Alms for the A-list

Other major production houses getting a boost from the state include Netflix, which will get $10.9 million for a reboot of "13 Going on 30," while an untitled Disney live-action movie will get over $18 million.

DreamWorks, which reportedly took in over $900 million in 2024, will also get a credit of nearly $25 million from California.

At the same time, Paramount will get just under $26 million; they took in a reported $28.75 billion in 2025.

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Chris Polk/FilmMagic/Getty Images

DEI on the prize

The film commission also sports a complex DEI program that offers tax credits in exchange for pushing its ideology on the production staff of any given project.

The state provides a checklist for productions to ensure they know to perform inclusive hiring, equity education, and "industry capacity building" to "increase an inclusive and qualified workforce."

The state also pushes productions to acquire suppliers based on their diversity.

California's "success roadmap" also shows that productions must issue "mandatory DEIA orientation," with the added letter in the acronym for "accessibility."

For live-action films, this must be done before principal photography begins, while animation has to show its DEI work within 120 days of production.

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Andrew Chapados

Maryland prosecutor EXPOSES what is causing the growing blue-state exodus

The Blaze
2 weeks 2 days ago


A longtime resident and county attorney says progressive policies have ruined Maryland and forced him to abandon the state after six decades.

Carroll County State's Attorney Haven Shoemaker (R) told WBFF-TV in an interview that aired earlier this week that after his term ends, he will be seeking greener grass in North Carolina.

'Maryland has now become a sanctuary state. Even after jacking up taxes to the tune of, what, $1.6 billion last year, we're still looking at a structural deficit next year.'

"[Democratic Gov.] Wes Moore and the Democrats in the General Assembly, you've won. I'm leaving," the Republican said.

Shoemaker listed a long string of policies that have worsened living conditions for Marylanders, including new tax hikes, lax criminal prosecution, and the designation of Maryland as a sanctuary state.

"Essentially, the way I see it, Maryland is a lost cause at this point," he added.

Shoemaker has a long history of participating in Maryland government but says he no longer wishes to continue living there.

"Maryland has gotten progressively more woke every single year," he continued. "Their fiscal policies are awful. They're taxing people to death. Car registration fees are through the roof. And, you know, this most recent session in Annapolis was really, you know, sealed my fate and has hastened my departure. Maryland has now become a sanctuary state. Even after jacking up taxes to the tune of, what, $1.6 billion last year, we're still looking at a structural deficit next year."

He cited the Youth Charging Reform Act, which wipes out automatically charging 16- and 17-year-olds as adults on drug, assault, and gun offenses.

"It's more criminal coddling legislation that we see emanating from Annapolis every single year," he added. "They were just telltale signs that Maryland's lost."

He went on to say that people are leaving "in droves, and it's sad."

RELATED: Glenn Beck says if you live in THIS state, get out NOW

The Maryland Chamber of Commerce said that the state ranks 45th nationally in domestic migration with more than 18,000 residents leaving in one year period from July 2023.

"High taxes, rising living costs, housing affordability challenges and regulatory complexity are pushing residents to states with lower costs, better growth prospects, and more business-friendly climates," read a statement from the chamber.

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Carlos Garcia

Kalshi Blocked Soldier Charged in Maduro Bets Case

NewsMax
2 weeks 2 days ago
A U.S. Army soldier charged with placing bets tied to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro on Polymarket was blocked from opening an account on Kalshi, a competitor, a person familiar with the matter said Friday.