Hollywood, the epicenter of the global film industry, faces an unprecedented decline in Los Angeles, drawing parallels to the downfall of Detroit's once-thriving automotive industry. The cultural and economic landscape of Los Angeles is intrinsically linked to the film industry, much like the Red Hot Chili Peppers are to the City of Angels, their music echoing the city's heartbeat. However, with escalating living costs and union-protected industry jobs driving expenses skyward, producers are seeking alternative locations that offer cheaper labor and lucrative tax incentives.
Over the past year, a 26% drop in U.S. film productions compared to pre-strike levels in 2022 highlights this troubling trend. While Los Angeles grapples with this downturn, other countries welcome an influx of filming activities. Australia and New Zealand experienced a 14% increase in production, with the UK seeing a nearly 1% rise and Canada a 2.8% increase. Notably, a biopic about the Red Hot Chili Peppers is being filmed in Atlanta, Georgia, not Los Angeles. This geographical shift away from LA is compounded by the devastating wildfires that have further exacerbated the existential crisis confronting the city's film industry.
The allure of cities like Atlanta, London, Toronto, and Sydney for filming crews is undeniable. Megastar Vin Diesel's intervention to ensure Universal Pictures completed filming the latest Fast and Furious installment in Los Angeles underscores the challenges local productions face. In a bid to combat this decline, director Sarah Adina Smith and fellow filmmakers have initiated a grassroots campaign titled "Stay in LA." Their objective: enhance tax incentives over the next three years to retain and attract productions.
"Stay in LA" has garnered significant support, with nearly 20,000 individuals, including actors Keanu Reeves, Zooey Deschanel, and Kevin Bacon, signing a petition advocating for increased local productions. The proposed subsidy aims to be the most generous in the United States, trailing only Georgia, which imposes no cap on production incentives per annum. The campaign aspires for studios to pledge a 10% increase in Los Angeles-based productions.
The California film program's economic contributions are substantial, generating over $26 billion in economic activity and supporting more than 197,000 cast and crew jobs across the state. Despite these figures, the industry's future remains uncertain. Jamie Morse, reflecting on the wildfires' destruction, noted:
"Where an entire stone table is, is in pieces, is like, absolutely decimated, melted," – Jamie Morse
"But pieces of paper survived… It's truly unbelievable." – Jamie Morse
"I'm choosing to believe that this is a sign," – Jamie Morse
Morse's sentiments reflect a broader hope that Los Angeles can rebuild and reclaim its stature as a film industry hub. Yet skepticism abounds. Matthew Ferraro contends:
"I think it's wishful thinking for people who are still in love with, like yesteryear's dream of Hollywood, but that's just not how it works anymore," – Matthew Ferraro
The challenges extend beyond financial woes and geographical shifts. The recent wildfires present a formidable hurdle for an industry already grappling with multiple adversities. As Mark Worthington points out:
"This is adding a horrible other thing to pile on top of all the other difficulties and our own work situation over the last couple years." – Mr Worthington
Worthington emphasizes that revitalizing local production could serve as effective fire relief:
"The best thing the studios could do for fire relief is to bring work back for the rank and file LA film workers," – Mark Worthington
The urgency of Smith's warning resonates deeply within the community:
"If we let Hollywood die, it could be for good." – Ms Smith