Calif. woos movie, TV -- with millions

SACRAMENTO, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- Even as California struggles with a budget crisis, it is giving hundreds of millions of dollars to movie and television productions, state officials said.

Movie star Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and lawmakers agreed behind closed doors in February to a deal that gives the money to film and TV companies in the form of tax credits and a change in how corporate taxes will be calculated beginning in 2011, The Sacramento Bee reported.

Industry representatives complain Schwarzenegger has not done much for movies or television.

The Bee analyzed Schwarzenegger's advocacy for Hollywood and discovered he has long promoted the industry in official events, but not delivered significant financial help.

Proponents of the financial incentives say the TV and movie productions are a lifeline for a crucial California industry struggling to compete against other states and countries.

The productions, supporters hasten to point out, help not just the marquee names, but lots of working-class employees on the sets.