Arnold Schwarzenegger has helped ensure that 50 movies and TV shows will shoot here in California.

Touting the state’s new production incentives, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger confirmed Monday that 36 film and TV productions are set to shoot in Hollywood’s home state during the current quarter as a direct result of the program.

The governor said Monday 50 projects have been approved for the program to date. The projects have a combined budget of at least $467 million.

“Productions that were slated to film outside the state have shifted gears and are now shooting in California because of our film and television incentive,” Schwarzenegger said in a statement. “This is not only great news for our production workers but for the thousands of small businesses that support film and television production in California and our state’s economy as a whole.”

Other incentive-backed projects slated to begin production this quarter include Screen Gems’ “Burlesque,” Sony’s “Social Network,” DreamWorks’ “Dinner for Schmucks” plus indies “Beginners,” “The Raise,” “Answers to Nothing” and “Max Rose,” starring Jerry Lewis.

The California Film Commission, which administers the program, said 50% of the approved projects are indie features, 22% are studio features, 8% are direct-to-DVD films, 14% are telepics and 6% are TV series. Fourteen projects have already begun lensing, and 22 more will begin shooting before the end of the year while the remainder will begin filming early next year.

This is really great news for the state of California, one of the only great things Schwarzenegger has done. The economy in California and needs this boost in the worst way. This doesn’t mean there won’t still be tons of productions running away to other states and countries, but at least it is keeping hollywood at the top of the food chain.

Source: Variety

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