www.hollywoodreporter.com: There’s not enough work. And especially not enough work to afford to live in Los Angeles. More often than not, it seems, that’s what people hear when the topic turns to Hollywood’s film and TV production in the industry’s home base over the past couple of years.
11 comments:
I think this trend that less and less media is being filmed in Los Angeles is both a concerning trend, as well as not particularly surprising. I think especially after covid it was realized how certain parts of production, especially management and the planning side could be done virtually that the need for this one place to film most things just isn't as necessary as it used to be. Los Angeles is also just like an absurdly expensive city. like the cost of living in Los Angeles is just not something that most people can sustain and therefore it's really hard to find a lot of the entry-level people who would be willing to work for less money because those people just can't afford to do that work anymore. I also think the targeting of ICE by the Trump Administration has made things even more difficult, as a lot of construction work, janitorial services, and catering services that are staffed by immigrant workers are not currently able to function to the same capacity as they have in the past. I think for Los Angeles to be able to bring back their Monopoly in filming locations, they need to especially look at current cost of living and how that can be improved.
This is something that has really peaked my interest lately. The idea of the famous Hollywood's decline in its movie-making magic is something that I did not think would occur. The idea of the movie industry branching out and finding new locations to film other than Hollywood studio is something that I think could be big for the industry. I like the idea of actually filming within a city rather than in a studio, though there is cases in which a studio is a better option. The exploration of filming in other cities is increasing the entertainment and culture produced around the country. I hope that the issue of the tax on entertainment is removed. The idea of having this tax on the one things that makes and keeps people entertained is wild too me. The idea of the films not having enough work is because of how expensive things have gotten plus the additional tax that is being added. The films simply don’t have the money to employ as many people as they did before.
It’s interesting to see this shift away from the idea of Hollywood having a choke hold on entertainment, and starting to see it shift away from California and even the US. It does make some sense, LA is an incredibly expensive city to live in, and if a studio could save millions of dollars by moving production to a different place, I would move too. Though it is sad, there is already tons of infrastructure and systems built in LA that might just get scrapped because of the barriers that exist to use them. It does also beg the question of what the future of TV and Film will even look like, it seems like no one really goes to movie theaters anymore, and I know exactly zero people under the age of 80 who have cable. Streaming is clearly growing in power, and it seems like whatever giant companies like Netflix decide to do will make or break the future of filming in LA.
Hollywood leaving LA is a great thing. It really doesn't need to be there anymore. LA is becoming more and more expensive to live in and it's really not even that good of a city anymore. Chicago and New York have improved so much and LA no longer is really standing as a beacon of good city design any more. I've personally seen noticeable movements to start film industries outside of California. My home state Kentucky along with many others now have subsidies to bring the movie industry to them, and also tax breaks for any film that is filmed there. It not only would be beneficial to the towns of Kentucky. Providing new jobs and labor. But also just gets the movies into new spaces and filming locations as well. Tons of benefits to see Hollywood moving out. Of course Hollywood will always be Hollywood there's really no reason to move the studio spaces from where they are now, and I think they are still of incredible benefit to many of the universities there, but it could be nice to see Hollywood expand more.
Los Angeles is turning into New York. Chicago is turning into Los Angeles. Georgia is Turning into Chicago. Cities are changing every day. Everything is becoming more expensive, and everyone wants to be a major metropolis. It is too expensive to shoot in LA, or in NY, or even in Chicago. It is too expensive to live on an artist's salary, well, anywhere. The world is trying to shut out people in eccentric jobs from being able to exist in their niches. But the film industry still tells you it is Los Angeles, or it is nowhere. The amount of shoot days, however, in LA, is basically exactly what they were during COVID. When we weren't allowed to be outside. OR socialize. Or make movies? I'm lost. I'm glad to see a movement out of the United States for filming. Go Canada! But, how will this be afffected by the US Film and Media tarrifs that are making my movies and streaming services more expensive?
I think the fact we are going towards covid level movies being produced in LA is kinda bad but at the same time great. A few years ago, you were laughed at for not producing your movie in LA, people called it unprofessional and thought it not being filmed in LA equals a flop. This is proving that is not the truth, more shows being filmed outside of LA is, in my opinion, making it more accessible and acceptable internally to create lower budget productions or really diverting the budget you would’ve needed to use just for the film location to better CGI, better pay for crew and actors, or even just giving crew and actors food on set. It’s expensive to film a movie in LA, even the bananas in the store are more expensive, so I definitely see more pros then cons in this, its just moving away from the stereotype which makes everyone mad. What’s going to be really concerning is when we start seeing overall movies dropping, not just the film location dropping, mostly due to costs.
I see this as a good opportunity for the film and TV industry to grow. Los Angeles is not a cheap place to live. So for a lot of actors who aren’t able to play big roles or just get consistent work, it’s pretty hard for them to support themselves in such an expensive area. I like the idea behind major studios filming in countries for their target audience. Not only is it good for what they’re filming, it also can open opportunities for people who live in a different country to work in the industry. It’s also interesting to see the Los Angeles Mayor is trying to make it easier for filmmakers to film in Los Angeles. While it’s good that she is trying to give more job opportunities within Los Angeles, I think filmmakers should decide their shooting locations based on the needs of the production, rather than limiting themselves to places in Los Angeles.
I am not very surprised that LA is losing the market for film and TV. It has been a powerhouse of a location for a long time, gaining the reputation for being a hub of entertainment. However, nothing lasts forever, and constantly increasing prices and lack of consistent work will always take its toll on an industry. I have previously heard that large studios prefer to go abroad or move across the country in order to have more space, different regulations, or less tax requirements. While this will benefit the places they are moving, it is actively taking away from the LA ecosystem and is dividing the power elsewhere. I hope that the executives and people in LA have recognized the issue and are working to correct it somewhat. I don’t think everything needs to return to LA, as that would put the situation right back to what initially caused the large migration outwards, but if something returns based on changing rules then the ability to work in different locations will have benefitted. LA does not need to stay at the pinnacle of film/TV and hold all the cards. I hope that a solution can be fond that helps everyone and will make it so that incredible entertainment can still be made around the country and world.
I think this is indicative of a serious affordability crisis that has been ramping up in southern California for many years. The issue of Hollywood being less incentivizing for film or TV studios, in my opinion, goes far beyond an issue with the industry itself. The cost for just about anything in southern CA is inflated to shocking extents. I am very grateful for local leaders putting forth their effort to increase incentives and make it easier to film in LA, but I often fear the struggles are more a sign of the times. I think it’s very necessary that when conditions change, officeholders like Gavin Newsom keep fighting to help the industry, because many forget the importance of art. I ultimately hope the ongoing financial struggles in the United States are combatted, and an ensuing reset to Hollywood is possible. Without it, I would not be surprised if production kept finding new homes elsewhere.
I never thought I’d see the day that the LA titan of entertainment would go downhill or be taken down so this is quite shocking for me to read. It’s hard for me to know how to feel, as I am aware of circumstances on all sides of the issue. For me it is a bit of a personal relief since I’ve for a long time I’ve thought that I would have to look for jobs in LA and move there, which, while I wouldn’t have minded short-term, I know I would have been upset living there long-trm , especially with the expensiveness of living there with little to no good reason or worth for all that money. Seeing this shift, makes me think that I’ll still be able to work on projects that would typically be shot in LA, but now from a place that I would actually enjoy living and be far more comfortable. Maybe not money-wise, but emotionally. I don’t mind a shoebox apartment in NYC because it’s NYC and I adore that place, but a shoebox place in LA? Especially with the heat? I’d rather not.
I find it interesting how this shift is taking place, I remember being a kid and not understanding why there was one place ever where film took place- LA. Thankful to know that’s not the case and films take place in other locations. This decline in draw to LA is a shift I feel like could have been anticipated with the time, with the rise in popularity of subscription services and TV shows in other locations it makes complete sense. I’ve heard from so many people in my life, “I just don’t have the attention span/patience for a movie” and I find it disheartening, but in the current state of media consumed regularly it makes complete sense. The popularity of movies vs TV shows is absolutely insane right now, (I think social media’s to blame but that’s another conversation) movie theaters as a whole are completely dwindling. Everyone prefers their streaming platform at home to the theater, since you’re not paying for individual movies and it’s more socially acceptable to simultaneously be on your phone when you’re in the comfort of your own living room- not that this has to do with LA specifically. I think the branching out of the film industry is an absolute given since we’re in a place where audiences short term attention is already so commodified, the obsession with Hollywood CA is dying down and the film industry is exploring what else draws attention.
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