At “Stay in L.A.” Rally, Working Hollywood Fights to Improve Incentives for Southern California’s Signature Industry

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Amidst a worsening job shortage in Hollywood, over one thousand people demonstrated on Sunday, advocating for increased incentives to persuade more movie and television productions to continue operating within Southern California.

During the “Stay in L.A.” gathering at a studio complex in Sun Valley, politicians recounted tales of constituents facing hardships, industry experts spoke about parenting challenges due to working across different regions, and a union leader discussed daily calls from distressed union workers as production work has dwindled in Southern California over the past few years.

Over twenty-five individuals, ranging from decision-makers to union leaders to everyday artists, depicted an uneven tax incentive system as a threat to the livelihoods of creative and crew workers from the working class and middle class. These individuals might not be the faces of the film or show, but their contributions are essential to their creation.

The objective: It’s crucial for California lawmakers to approve Governor Gavin Newsom’s budget plan, which aims to boost the state’s film and TV production incentives program ceiling from $330 million to a yearly $750 million. Alongside this proposal, there are also legislative discussions regarding increasing the film and TV tax credit to 35%, and broadening eligibility to include animation, large-scale competition shows, and shorter TV series.

Hollywood, California is where we are. To survive and thrive, our industry, tourism, and the entire community need to keep going. SAG-AFTRA’s secretary-treasurer, Joely Fisher, passionately stated this during an event at Sir Reel Studios. She urged: ‘Let’s make Hollywood great again!’

The “Stay in L.A.” campaign, which emerged following the Pacific Palisades and Altadena fires in January with a focus on promoting film and TV production as a recovery strategy, played a significant role in organizing yesterday’s event. Leaders of this movement have pushed not just for legislative support but also for promises from major studios and streaming services to maintain their productions within Los Angeles. As of now, no prominent company has publicly acknowledged this appeal.

The speakers highlighted that the world of entertainment isn’t solely about A-list celebrities but includes behind-the-scenes workers like grips, costume designers, and drivers. As DeJon Ellis Jr., business manager for IATSE Local representing grips, craft services, and warehouse workers, stated, “These are the individuals who have earned California its title as the global hub of entertainment.” Essentially, he noted, we’re not just producing entertainment, we’re generating jobs, supporting families, and influencing California’s very identity.

Moreover, key speakers emphasized that productions play a crucial role in supporting numerous small enterprises, such as History for Hire, a prop house located in North Hollywood. The president of this company, Pam Elyea, encouraged attendees to visit them since business was slow: “We’re feeling quite lonely,” she admitted. During her speech, Lindsay Dougherty, the head of the Hollywood Teamsters, likened Hollywood’s current state to her native Detroit before the auto industry faced a crisis.

In Sun Valley, there was a visible show of determination, interspersed with moments of exasperation, as the industry navigated through a post-Peak TV epoch. This period is characterized by studios trimming their expenses, and consequently, the volume of content coming from Hollywood has decreased.

Despite several temporary work stoppages during the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2023 strikes, production didn’t fully recover. As per FilmLA’s recent report, on-location filming in 2024 reached an all-time low since the data began beyond 2020, a year when productions were halted due to the pandemic. Additionally, soundstage occupancy dropped significantly in 2024, with only 63% utilization compared to the 93.5% average between 2016 and 2022.

The proposals put forth by California legislators could potentially offer solutions, but it’s important to note that these aren’t finalized yet. During a recent event, two speakers hinted that politicians from regions where the entertainment industry isn’t as prominent, such as Northern California, might be causing delays. Additionally, the Motion Picture Association, which represents studios and streaming platforms, and entertainment unions are currently in discussions to iron out the finer details of any potential legislation.

Dougherty stated in an interview with THR at the event, ‘Convincing Northern California’s elected officials is often a challenge since they don’t fully grasp the extent to which this industry affects California.’ However, he believes that with the two proposed bills, we will garner significant backing from both the Assembly and the Senate. Our task now is to ensure thorough communication to gather full support.’

Policy-makers who appeared slightly less hopeful about the success of the bills, and seemed somewhat unaware of the struggles faced by Hollywood, urged the crowd to actively contact their representatives. Imelda Padilla, a City Councilmember from Los Angeles, emphasized the need for more effort: “I must say, you all need to make an extra effort,” she stated, noting that only four out of fifteen council members attended the event. “Please pick up your phones, find the numbers, and call every single council member to ensure this issue is prioritized.

Jessica Caloza, one of the co-authors of the two tax incentive bills being discussed, stated, “I see enthusiasm here that we should take to Sacramento.” She emphasized, “There are many people in this state who question whether we need the film tax credit. We need your support to make our case.

The comment followed her, as she instigated a well-known rallying cry among those in the entertainment industry during union gatherings: “In our battles, we prevail.

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2025-04-07 06:54