Rally in Sun Valley Aims to Keep Film and TV Productions in Los Angeles

Rally to Retain Productions

• 🎯 The 'Stay in L.A.' rally in Sun Valley is a grassroots effort focused on keeping film and TV businesses in Los Angeles.
• 💡 Participants are collaborating to find solutions and are asking state leaders for help to prevent the industry from leaving.

Industry Impact and Economic Concerns

• 📉 A visual effects artist notes the industry has taken a massive hit, with businesses moving elsewhere due to substitutes for real locations.
• 💸 This trend is destroying families, taking people's incomes, and forcing them to move overseas for work.
• 📊 Since COVID, the cost of living and producing entertainment in L.A. has significantly impacted the industry, with a Film LA study showing a 5% drop in production in Q3 2024, and 40% overall.

Economic Ripple Effects

• 🏘️ Production jobs extend beyond on-set crews to include businesses like prop houses, which in turn affect local economies.
• 🛍️ Dry cleaners, food restaurants, and other businesses feel the impact when these industry companies close, affecting households and teachers.

State Incentives and Competition

• 💰 California is expanding a program started in 2009 to incentivize film and television production, doubling credits from $330 million to $750 million.
• 📈 This expansion aims to help L.A. remain competitive against other states and countries like Atlanta, Texas, and Canada, where it is cheaper and taxes are lower.
• 🗣️ The effort is seen as crucial to staying in the conversation of competition, as businesses are moving elsewhere.