CA AB1780

Establishes new tax credits for motion picture production in California beginning January 1, 2016, providing a base credit of 20% of qualified expenditures for productions with at least $500,000 in aggregate qualified spending.

Allows additional 10% credit increase if each qualified motion picture includes California promotion (5-second logo in end credits and link to visitcalifornia.com for features/TV series/video games; website link only for music videos/commercials).

Permits additional 5% credit increase if original photography occurs outside major city zones (areas within 15 miles of cities with population over 300,000), or 2.5% increase if at least one production occurs within a major city zone.

Qualifies motion pictures including features, television series, music videos, commercials, and video games, but excludes reality TV, documentaries, news programs, daytime dramas, and other specified productions.

Allows qualified taxpayers to sell tax credits to unrelated parties subject to reporting requirements and restrictions, with unused credits carrying over for up to seven subsequent years.