Half Of All Projects In California’s Film Incentives Program Have Requested “Force Majeure” Extensions Due To WGA Strike

deadline.com:

EXCLUSIVE: Half of the 46 projects currently in the California film incentives program have submitted “force majeure” requests seeking waivers to extend their mandated start-date requirements due to the ongoing Writers Guild strike, according to the California Film Commission, which administers the tax credits program.

The number of approved film and TV projects seeking force majeure delays is expected to grow as the strike, now in its 25th day, grinds on. “Due to the WGA strike, this allocation period may be delayed until the strike is resolved,” the film commission notes on its website.

For recurring and relocating TV series, that allocation period begins next month. RELATED: Deadline’s Full Strike Coverage The state statute that authorized the tax credit program defines force majeure as “an event or series of events, which are not under the control of the qualified tax-payer, including death, disability, disfigurement or breach by the motion picture director or principal cast member, an act of God, including, but not limited to, fire, flood, earthquake, storm, hurricane or other natural disaster, labor disruption, terrorist activities or government sanction.” The 23 projects that have requested force majeure extensions includes ongoing TV series in various stages of production and pre-production.

The primary deadline they’re seeking to extend is the 180-day start-date requirement, which begins tolling on the date of the issuance of a Credit Allocation Letter.