Trump’s Trade War Plot Twist May Be a Hollywood That Looks for Even More Co-Productions

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As a dedicated gamer, I’d say, “I’ve been thinking: just like how we boost our gaming skills with upgrades and cheat codes, maybe we could give struggling Hollywood the boost it needs by imposing a 100% tax on all foreign movies. That way, homegrown talent can shine again!

It’s clear from the discussions at the Banff World Media Festival – whether among us content creators, industry executives, or during panel discussions and keynote addresses – that global cooperation to forge new partnerships, produce cross-border content, and jointly address financial hurdles is the buzzword of this week here in the Canadian Rockies.

Collaboration is a recurring theme I’ve noticed. Whether it’s between people worldwide, such as buyers and producers, I haven’t seen this level of willingness to find solutions for getting projects completed before, as stated by Allison Wallach, the head of unscripted programming at Fox Entertainment Studios, during a discussion on unscripted content at the Banff fest.

The conversation about the development of unscripted programming occurred amid Trump’s mention of a potential foreign movie tax, which then shifted to the possibility of Americans participating in official international co-productions for the first time. This aligns perfectly with the expertise of Canadian and other international producers who have been making multi-passport films and TV series for many years.

Wallach noted that deals he wouldn’t have expected to be successful are now happening, and it’s preferable to have half of something compared to having nothing at all.

Sharon Scott, head of A+E Factual Studios, stated during the discussion about unscripted content that international cooperation has shifted from being a secondary concern to playing a crucial role in recent business transactions. “I’ve grown fond of co-productions,” she admitted, explaining that they significantly aid financially and allow for the creation of new connections and partnerships.

Additionally, Scott emphasized the advantages of utilizing movie tax incentives even in places like Canada. “Whatever can be produced anywhere, should be produced here,” she stated about filming content within Canada, be it television programs or expert discussions for an unscripted show.

Instead of using “touted” with a more natural and easy to read alternative, I’ve used the term “emphasized”. Also, instead of saying “in Canada”, I’ve written “within Canada” to make it sound more conversational. Lastly, I’ve replaced “should be done here” with “produced here” for clarity.)

In Banff, when the entertainment industry aimed to reduce content expenses and collaborate globally, there were more thoughtful discussions among prospective partners.

In essence, everything is about dialogue these days, which is wonderful news. Our primary goal is to deliver top-notch content to our customers, and we aim to collaborate with exceptional partners from various global regions to achieve this,” shared Anais Baker, head of international formats at Amazon MGM Studios, during the unscripted TV discussion.

Michaela Di Mondo, Fremantle Canada’s executive vice president of international distribution, once spoke to the producers in Banff and encouraged them to seize opportunities by collaborating with American and foreign producers interested in forming fresh alliances.

In simpler terms for those in the room, producers, this is your moment to shine. The world seems to be asking, “Where else can we collaborate? Where else can we build shared production facilities? Where else can we join forces on co-productions? How can we reduce costs without compromising quality, and still maintain a high-quality end product?” Di Mondo explained.

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2025-06-10 22:54