Frequently Asked Questions

  • CAP is a national nonprofit alliance of production companies, studios, vendors, workers, and industry partners gathered around the goal of creating a federal film and television tax incentive in the United States. CAP exists to strengthen domestic production, protect American jobs, and ensure the U.S. remains competitive in the global film and television marketplace.

  • CAP was formed in 2025 by industry leaders with decades of experience in film and television production and advocacy. The founders have played key roles in prior advocacy efforts, including New York State’s Film Production Tax Credit Program, bringing firsthand experience navigating legislative processes and building bipartisan support.

    CAP advocates at the federal level for policies that support American production, educated lawmakers on the economic impact of film and television and serves as a unified voice for an industry that employs hundreds of thousands of workers nationwide.

  • CAP engages directly with federal lawmakers through meetings, briefings, and organized advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C., including dedicated advocacy days that bring industry voices together on Capitol Hill. These efforts ensure policymakers understand how production impacts jobs, small businesses, and economies throughout the country.

    CAP is supported by Venable LLP, a leading lobbying firm that helps CAP effectively navigate the legislative process and advance meaningful policy solutions.

  • A federal film and television tax incentive would make the United States more competitive in the global production landscape. While many states offer incentives, the lack of a national program puts the U.S. at a disadvantage compared to countries that combine national and regional incentives.

    A federal incentive would complement existing state programs, encourage more productions to stay domestic, and attract international projects back to the U.S., resulting in more jobs and increased economic activity.

  • Tax incentives are one of the primary factors studios consider when deciding where to film. States with strong incentive programs have successfully attracted productions, while others struggle to compete.

    A federal incentive creates an opportunity for states to work together rather than compete against one another. By strengthening the U.S. industry as a whole, all states with production infrastructure will benefit from an increase in domestic production.

  • Many productions move overseas due to lower overall costs and more aggressive incentives offered by other countries. Nations like the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia provide generous national tax credits, cash rebates, and long-term policies that significantly reduce production expenses.

    Without a comparable federal incentive, the U.S. often loses projects to international competitors despite having the talent, infrastructure, and creative industry to support them.

  • A federal incentive would primarily benefit below the line workers including crew, technicians, artisans, and craftspeople who rely on steady production work. It would also support thousands of small and local businesses such as equipment rental houses, caterers, hotels, transportation providers, and construction vendors.

    Film and television productions support hundreds of thousands of American jobs, many of which are unionized, middle class careers that cannot be outsourced without consequences to workers’ livelihoods and local economies.

  • The United States offers unmatched production infrastructure, world class talent, and more than a century of experience across every aspect of filmmaking. From sound stages and post production to highly skilled crews, the U.S. remains one of the most capable production destinations in the world.

    Filming domestically keeps jobs at home, strengthens local economies, and ensures American stories are told by American workers.

  • Individuals and businesses from production companies to studios to unions, workers, and allies who believe in keeping film and television production in the United States are welcome to join the cause! Memberships are available at https://usacap.org/join-us.