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Hollywood has long been considered the film mecca of the U.S. as its mild climate and diverse landscapes are ideal for outdoor filming. Filmmaking is one of the state’s biggest, most profitable industries, for California employees. In the past five years, the state generated close to , with an estimated cost of $1.5 billion to taxpayers through California’s Film and Television Tax Credit 2.0 Program.

Although there are efforts to focus on filming in the Los Angeles area, includes an additional tax credit for nonindependent film projects that film  In 2006, San Francisco created its own film incentive program called the , which offers eligible productions a on fees paid to the city for scripted or nonscripted TV episodes, documentaries, or feature films.

Georgia may be known for being one of the biggest international airline hubs in the nation, but another industry is becoming a profitable industry for the Peach State. In 2020 alone, despite worldwide production shutdowns, Georgia still managed to . Georgia was the first state to develop a “best practices” outline during the COVID-19 pandemic for TV and film production, an effort created by the Georgia Film Office. Some popular productions filmed in Georgia include “Avengers: Endgame,” “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” and “Black Panther.”

A solid selection of cast and crew members, diverse location options for filming, and a recently expanded tax incentive program makes Illinois an ideal state for filmmakers. for eligible candidates, including both resident and nonresident compensation. Previously, the incentive only covered $100,000 for resident filmmakers. The new legislation goes into effect in July 2022.

This legislation could . The Illinois Film Production Tax Credit Act with a credit offer of 30% for eligible spending. Over the years, several productions have been filmed in Illinois including 2022’s “The Batman,” where parts of the Gotham City scenes were shot in Chicago.

When it comes to , the state offers advantageous film incentives, making it one of the most affordable places in the U.S. for filming. was created in 2009, and at the time, film incentives were approved for 20% of spending. In 2015, lawmakers increased the amount to 35% for Kentucky residents and 30% for out-of-state workers. Over the years, productions such as “Mom and Dad” starring Selma Blair and Nicholas Cage and “The Stand-In” with Drew Barrymore have been filmed in Kentucky.

Louisiana’s mild temperatures and high-value tax incentives have helped the state’s film industry to create new jobs and businesses. Louisiana also provides diverse filming locations in addition to massive soundstages and several post-production facilities. There’s even , which is advantageous to the workers as well as the local economy. From Shreveport to New Orleans, some productions that have been filmed in Louisiana include “Queen Sugar,” “NCIS: New Orleans,” and “Girls Trip.”

The , which provides a 25% tax credit on production costs, is scheduled to expire at the end of 2022. Productions that spend $50,000 or more in the state meet eligibility requirements for a 25% tax credit. And if filmmakers spend more than $50,000 on a production, they will receive an additional 25% payroll tax credit. Despite the proposed changes to the program, those in favor of the tax credit are pushing to make it permanent as many claim it brings jobs to the local economy. Over the years, Massachusetts has been a hidden gem for filmmakers. Movies filmed in the state include Greta Gerwig’s “Little Women” and “CODA,” which took home the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2022.

New Mexico has become a booming destination for filming, with millions of dollars pouring into the state’s economy with generous tax incentives.  when they shoot projects in New Mexico. The Land of Enchantment also scored a huge win when Netflix announced plans to . Although infrastructure plans are still being finalized, there’s been documented reports that it’s a goal to have the studio completed by 2023. Netflix’s upcoming action-thriller “Trigger Warning,” starring Jessica Alba, is one of the latest films shot in New Mexico. The “Breaking Bad” spin-off “Better Call Saul” saw its sixth season also filmed in the state.

New York has often been a booming place for filmmakers. The state sets aside specifically to entice filmmakers. Up until 2026, if a film production budget exceeds $500,000, it is eligible for a 10% tax credit on labor expenses in most counties. Production companies may also be eligible for a 30% tax credit for production costs in New York state, but they can receive if post-production took place outside of the city in upstate New York.

Large production companies are taking notice. In September 2021, streaming giant Netflix opened , which includes six soundstages in addition to editing suites. Other companies scheduled for construction of new facilities include Broadway Stages and Steiner Studios, which would lead to more employment opportunities and boost business for local restaurants that would benefit from additional diners in the areas.

Washington state may have one of the smallest film incentive programs in the country but lawmakers are hoping to change that.  would boost the Motion Picture Competitiveness Program funding from its . This bill would also allow businesses to support Washington’s creative economy and promote film, commercial, and TV projects. Several filmmakers worked in Washington state to round out their productions, including titles such as “10 Things I Hate About You” and “The Ring.”

West Virginia may not exactly evoke images of Hollywood glam, but it’s one of the states in the nation that’s becoming more appealing to filmmakers. This is partly due to the , which provides financial incentives to filmmakers working on productions in the state, such as bringing back . With this tax credit, filmmakers could spent on films, TV shows, and music videos in West Virginia that cost $50,000 or more to create. West Virginia previously had a tax credit that ended in 2018 after a government audit concluded the credit provided “minimal economic impact.” Supporters of the incentives, however, have expressed there are economic development benefits that can be brought to communities. Parts of the Oscar-winning classic “Silence of the Lambs” was filmed in West Virgina.