Hundreds of film industry workers, including actors and producers, staged a protest in Los Angeles, demanding that California authorities increase tax incentives and create better conditions for filming movies and TV series, according to Adyrna, citing Reuters.
Protesters argue that the state must stop productions from moving to other states and bring film production back to Hollywood.
“It’s a mistake to think that Hollywood isn’t going anywhere. If we don’t stop the current trend, Los Angeles risks becoming the next Detroit,” said American director Sarah Adina Smith, referring to Detroit’s bankruptcy declaration in 2013.
She emphasized that Hollywood is not just about stars walking down the red carpet—it’s also home to thousands of middle-class workers who are now losing their jobs. These include set decorators, lighting technicians, and many others.
Songha Lee, a musician who has been composing film soundtracks for 25 years, said the number of projects she’s worked on in a year has dropped from 30 to 10.
“People used to come to Los Angeles from all over the world to find steady work. But if there’s no work here, no one will come. We’re already starting to lose talented people,” she explained.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has proposed increasing the tax credit fund for film and television production from $330 million to $750 million a year. Protesters said they support the initiative but insist that the amount should be increased even further. They also believe the government should simplify the permit process for filming and provide studios with additional incentives.
