Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas, Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information, news and insight around the world Here's How It Will Impact HollywoodWhile more movies and TV shows are being produced abroad the US entertainment industry still exports three times as much as it imports.  Photographer: Chris Kleponis/CNP/Bloomberg So far, the plan announced on Truth Social is short on details. For example, it’s not clear if he plans to tax movies that are shot overseas and finished in the US. That covers a lot of current Hollywood output. It’s also not clear if he plans to tax TV shows made overseas for international audiences but available in the US (aka much of Netflix’s catalog). the writer Michael Wolff pronounced that the industry’s “gradual decline” has “arguably reached the all-at-once stage.” only to discover that she’s been crowned the queen of a castle made of sand in “The Studio,” Seth Rogen stars as Matt Remick a freshly promoted movie executive who soon realizes that his new job is to “ruin” the medium he loves in pursuit of profit much of the pleasure of “Hacks” lay in its examination of life on the D-list We saw Deborah through the eyes of Ava (Hannah Einbinder) a wunderkind comedy writer who gets cancelled after tweeting a bad joke and ends up in Las Vegas Ava helps Deborah shake the cobwebs off her act often shady money-making opportunities afforded to those no longer chasing prestige: QVC clothing lines after the two have successfully reinvented her persona and rebuilt her career Deborah lands the late-night show of her dreams and promises to make Ava head writer only to renege at the eleventh hour—prompting Ava to clinch the position via blackmail instead the two are the very picture of feminist solidarity Deborah is the first woman at eleven-thirty; Ava is the youngest head writer in the history of late-night TV their mutual resentments threaten to derail the entire enterprise (When Ava tries to convince Deborah to let her take control of the writers’ room “I’m trying to make your life easier,” Deborah responds “Then kill yourself.”) Neither can afford the dysfunction Their task isn’t just to create a hit show “It wasn’t a choice between you and someone else to host,” a network boss (Helen Hunt) informs them “It was a choice between you and no one.” To be deemed a success they’re expected to emulate the likes of James Corden’s “Carpool Karaoke,” which became the source not only of viral clips but a five-season spinoff series a show isn’t worth launching if it can’t spawn a franchise This bleak vision of Hollywood makes for a fascinating backdrop Deborah and Ava’s mandate reflects real-world anxieties about audience retention The portrait is deepened by the parallel plight of Deborah’s manager One subplot involves their struggles to manage another difficult client: a bite-prone Collie starring in a TV remake of “Lassie.” Loopy but astute Kayla quickly demonstrates her ability to navigate this diminished version of the industry by getting the half-hour series green-lighted at a time when “no one is buying” them (The line is also an oblique acknowledgement of a painful reality: streaming companies many of whose subscription bases are international prefer content that can “travel,” so comedies have become a hard sell around town.) The surest sign of the business’s increasing irrelevance is its dependence on the kind of social-media star power its gatekeepers still don’t fully understand who’s always willing to suspend her own judgment if it gets her the reaction that she craves brings on to the show a TikToker named Dance Mom (Julianne Nicholson but the version of the show that Deborah and Ava can take pride in slips further and further away Female ambition is “Hacks” ’s object of obsession and while the series’ portrayal of Hollywood feels timely it’s used mostly in service of developing the central theme Deborah explains to Ava that she isn’t the right person to lead her writers’ room: Ava’s taste is too political and “late-night is for housewives and mechanics.” The pair have worked hard to find Deborah’s voice but by straining it further in a bid for mass appeal Blind ambition can take you upward—or land you on a glass cliff In “The Studio,” the three real-life showrunners of “Hacks”—Downs and Lucia Aniello—make a cameo as the rare Hollywood creatives lucky or savvy enough to get quality shows made and to win awards for them and their appearance is bookended by cracks from Ramy Youssef about the otherwise dire state of the industry “I’m starting to feel like I have to go to the movies,” he says he’s forced to kill the legendary director’s passion project watch Scorsese’s “Goodfellas” to remind themselves why they got into the business in the first place There’s something undeniably cathartic about a figure as successful as Rogen speaking out about Hollywood’s creative cowardice too; Hollywood has drastically cut down on the kind of mid-budget theatrical comedies that made him a star two decades ago.) And like “Hacks,” “The Studio” has a great ear for insult comedy: the boorish Sal calls A24’s output the purview of “pansexual mixologists living in Bed-Stuy.” But the series is better at diagnosing the problem than at getting us to care about those responsible Matt and his direct reports quickly reveal themselves to be spineless On a date at a gala for pediatric oncologists Matt insists that the hyperviolent franchise he helped launch which involves a superhero who telepathically explodes heads is “art,” and that his job is just as important as the doctors’ he rubs in their face the fact that he makes more money than they do.) With people like him in charge it’s no wonder the multiplexes are full of such dreck though we catch glimpses of the kinds of films Matt ostensibly wants to shepherd into the world it’s the blandly schlocky Kool-Aid movie that we’re stuck with episode after episode Like most Rogen projects, “The Studio” is proudly potty-mouthed but ultimately toothless. One gets the feeling that the actor-producer is too ensconced in the system to truly go for broke. Where “The Franchise,” last year’s short-lived HBO satire of the Marvel Cinematic Universe “The Studio” is far gentler with the many real-life figures who pop up throughout the season Perhaps the most revealing guest appearance is that of the Netflix co-C.E.O and Sarandos is praised endlessly by his artists (including Jean Smart) in every acceptance speech; Matt is on the verge of a meltdown as he tries to persuade Zoë Kravitz to publicly acknowledge his existence When the two men run into each other in the bathroom an agonized Matt asks how he gets the talent to appreciate him why in the world would they possibly thank us?” ♦ A long-ago crime, suddenly remembered A limousine driver watches her passengers transform The day Muhammad Ali punched me What is it like to be keenly intelligent but deeply alienated from simple emotions? Temple Grandin knows The harsh realm of “gentle parenting.”  Retirement the Margaritaville way Fiction by F. Scott Fitzgerald: “Thank You for the Light.”  Sign up for our daily newsletter to receive the best stories from The New Yorker. There are many stories out right now about Donald Trump's call for a "100% Tariff on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands." Let's also note that Trump frequently changes his mind about things and most definitely about his tariff policies So it's entirely possible his Hollywood tariff post leads to nada Trump is correct in noting that film (and TV) production has been leaving Hollywood for years Sometimes it has gone to other places in the US: Disney has made more than a dozen Marvel movies in Georgia "Sinners," one of the year's biggest movies So what would Trump's plan do to correct that The White House itself hasn't been able to clarify anything "Although no final decisions on foreign film tariffs have been made the Administration is exploring all options to deliver on President Trump's directive to safeguard our country's national and economic security while Making Hollywood Great Again," it said in a statement Monday morning it does indeed pose all kinds of questions Like: Would the tariffs apply to American-owned/produced movies or to movies from studios all over the world Would it apply to American productions that are mostly filmed in the US but have some scenes shot in other countries What about movies where some postproduction work They don't arrive in this country via cargo ships or planes US Customs and Border Protection doesn't sign off on their import My sneaking suspicion is that Trump doesn't know It's just that he seems to think tariffs are the solution to just about any problem if Trump were truly concerned about encouraging more domestic film (and TV) production he might go about it the way just about everyone else does: with tax breaks and other financial incentives Bloomberg says: "more federal tax incentives for US film and TV production," which involves "expanding existing tax credits and bringing back ones that have expired." Google wants to use Hollywood to upgrade its cool factor The tech giant has quietly launched a new film and TV production initiative Google has a few goals with 100 Zeros. The company sees it as a way to get the creative community to adopt its newer tech products and services like its Immersive View feature that lets you see things in 3D spatial tools that blend the physical and virtual worlds Last year, 100 Zeros quietly dipped a toe in the water, putting some marketing dollars behind an indie horror film from Neon 100 Zeros' logo was prominently shown in the opening credits Google didn't seek any publicity for the move but it was indicative of the alignments it wants: A celebrated indie studio ("Parasite," "Anora") and a movie aimed at Gen Z and starring Hunter Schafer known for "Euphoria" and the "Hunger Games" franchise Google and Range announced a partnership this spring called "AI On Screen" to commission short films about AI with the goal of making two into feature films "Sweetwater": "When the son of a late celebrity visits his childhood home a piece of fan mail reveals a startling AI forcing him to reconcile his mother's legacy." "Through our continued partnership with Range we aim to collaborate with the Hollywood creative community in a thoughtful and productive way upkeeping our ongoing commitment to responsibly support creative expression and explore the possibilities of technology through storytelling," a Google spokesperson said in a statement One of the ways Google will judge the success of the initiative is how it impacts popular sentiment around the company's products and services Google dominates the global mobile phone market Apple has gained a strong following with Gen Z with its luxury image and blue text bubbles that can make Android users feel left out Its phones have become entrenched in pop culture appearing in buzzy titles like "Succession" and "Knives Out." Piper Sandler's spring survey found 88% of US teens owned an iPhone Consumer brands are increasingly using Hollywood-style entertainment to spread their messages as it's gotten harder to get people's attention with traditional ads The interest is welcome in cash-strapped Hollywood Google's efforts are similar to those of Waffle Iron Entertainment a studio Nike set up to make original entertainment that aligns with the company's goals while operating at arm's length 100 Zeros has a small dedicated staff: Penny Lin and development execs Casey Durant and Tony Nguyen the managing director of emerging content experiences "This initiative is different in that it's staffed by full-time people who come out of Hollywood and are housed at and supported by Range," Douglas said of 100 Zeros some corporations that had made commitments to the space — including Starbucks and Southwest Airlines — laid off marketers who worked in filmed entertainment as a part of larger corporate cuts a reminder of the tenuous nature of the work the platform's onetime stab at making original shows or even use YouTube as the first stop for these projects the goal is to sell projects to traditional studios and streamers like Netflix The White House appeared to walk back an announcement by President Donald Trump that he would slap 100% tariffs on foreign-produced films to boost Hollywood A White House statement on May 5 said that "no final decisions on foreign film tariffs have been made" after Trump's declaration made waves in the entertainment industry Trump posted on social media May 4 that he was "authorizing the Department of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100% Tariff on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands." The president said he was concerned incentives luring filmmakers overseas are sending the American movie industry to "a very fast death." Although Trump said his team was moving forward on the tariffs White House spokesman Kush Desai seemed to temper that in the May 5 statement that no final decision has been made while also saying " the administration is exploring all options to deliver on President Trump’s directive to safeguard our country’s national and economic security while Making Hollywood Great Again." The statement added more confusion to an announcement that already was drawing questions about how the tariffs would be implemented and what exactly they would apply to It was unclear if the tariffs would apply to movies on streaming services as well as those shown in theaters or if they would be calculated based on production costs or box office revenue Trump said on May 5 during an event in the Oval Office that his administration would first consult the movie industry Film news for you: Sign up for USA TODAY's Watch Party newsletter for more Hollywood insights "I want to make sure they're happy with it," he said Trump complained about moviemaking going overseas but said "I'm not looking to hurt the industry The announcement about the movie industry comes as Trump has levied a slew of tariffs on various countries and industries The tariffs have spooked investors and unsettled the economy More: How much money did Trump make in first 100 days? Crypto deals raise questions saying he wants to give car companies "a little bit of flexibility." He also paused big reciprocal tariffs on every foreign nation Trump raised concerns about national security and foreign propaganda in announcing the movie tariffs This is a concerted effort by other Nations and film and television industry has "a positive balance of trade in every major market in the world," with exports more than three times imports The industry has a trade surplus of $15.3 billion and supports 2.3 million jobs Movie and TV production has been leaving Hollywood for years heading to locations with tax incentives that make filming cheaper producers on movie and TV projects with budgets of more than $40 million went outside the United States Governments around the world have increased credits and cash rebates to attract productions and capture a greater share of the $248 billion that Ampere Analysis predicts will be spent globally in 2025 to produce content Trump complained that "Other Countries are offering all sorts of incentives to draw our filmmakers and studios away from the United States." On May 5, leaders in Australia and New Zealand responded to Trump's tariff announcement by saying they would advocate for their local industries Some Marvel superhero movies have been filmed in Australia while New Zealand was the backdrop for "The Lord of the Rings" films a spice shop from Oakland lands in Silver Lake Upscale Hollywood French restaurant Gigi’s announced it will close after nearly five years in an Instagram post shared on May 2 The restaurant’s last day open will be Saturday “We would like to thank everyone that made this place truly special,” the post reads “From our loyal customers to our amazing staff and everyone in between but farewell for now.” Eater LA has reached out for more information Oakland-based spice shop Oaktown Spice Shop just opened its first Southern California location in Silver Lake and applewood-smoked sea salt on the shop’s shelves Oaktown shares a parking lot with Silverlake Wine making it easy to grab a bottle and restock Japanese curry powder all in one trip KTLA5 reports that the In-N-Out location on Atlantic Boulevard in Alhambra will be closed for the next few months to help the flow of traffic through its parking lot and drive-thru. The In-N-Out will remain in its current location, but plans posted to the City of Alhambra’s website show the drive-thru lane will be reconfigured by Chad de GuzmanReporter “The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death,” President Donald Trump posted on his social platform Truth Social on Sunday night “Other Countries are offering all sorts of incentives to draw our filmmakers and studios away from the United States I am authorizing the Department of Commerce to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100% Tariff on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick responded on X: “We’re on it.” But experts tell TIME that it’s not clear how such a policy would work or who would be charged such a tariff government or the President’s job to understand how movies are made,” says entertainment consultant Kathryn Arnold “but if you understand how complex and interconnected the global film market is—both on a production and a distribution level—it’s devastating and doesn’t make any sense.” While the President identified a real problem—the U.S. film industry has indeed suffered as production increasingly moves overseas—experts agree that Trump’s seemingly favorite policy tool Trump’s global trade war thus far has involved slapping levies on foreign goods But foreign films are intellectual property and part of the global trade of services Read More: Why China Laughs at the Idea of Americans Taking Their Manufacturing Jobs “The operating theory that the Trump Administration seems to be embracing is that if they make foreign manufacturing more appealing for any part of American industry it will result in domestic manufacturing improving So if there are tariffs on anything foreign it’s supposed to inspire manufacturing domestically,” says Tom Nunan a continuing lecturer at the School of Theater Film and Television at University of California “It was predictable that it would turn to entertainment as well.” “If it’s cost-prohibitive to produce motion pictures and episodic television or to acquire motion pictures or episodic television from foreign territories at least from his Administration’s standpoint that foreign production would return to the United States adding however that “it’s not black or white like that.” Speaking to reporters outside the White House on Sunday night, Trump said: “other nations have been stealing the moviemaking capabilities from the United States.” Trump added that he has done “very strong research” over the past week and that “Hollywood is being destroyed” and “if they’re not willing to make a movie inside the United States then we should have a tariff on movies that come in.” While Hollywood has seen a decline in production in recent years, in part due to rising labor costs, Arnold tells TIME that one way Trump could actually try to reverse that trend is by offering incentives, such as tax credits which some foreign countries and cities already do as well as several U.S But that would only impact one aspect of filmmaking and some films shoot across multiple locations Arnold added that many films are also co-produced by multiple production companies across countries Offering an incentive for specific aspects of production would be much more straightforward than trying to determine whether a film is “American” or “foreign” in order to penalize the latter The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has said that although services are not subject to tariffs they can be subject to trade barriers like regulatory requirements But when it comes to film and entertainment imposing certain restrictions can lead to a dramatically less free media environment within the country.  movies allowed into its massive but tightly controlled market TIME may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website Offers may be subject to change without notice “I’m not looking to hurt the industry; I want to help the industry,” the president told reporters A day after rattling Hollywood with a Truth Social post promising a 100% tariff on films produced outside the United States President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House that he wished to meet with entertainment industry leaders about bringing jobs and productions back from overseas shooting hubs all while those leaders are staying silent about his plans “I’m not looking to hurt the industry; I want to help the industry,” Trump said though he offered no details on who would be invited to such talks or when they would take place Hollywood studios have chosen not to respond at all to Trump’s comments on the state of their business Washington’s top entertainment industry lobbying group declined TheWrap’s request for comment on the president’s proposed film tariffs This past January, an annual survey and study by analytics company ProdPro found that while the United States remains the top production hub in the world with $14.5 billion in committed film/TV production spending in 2024 Studios have sent major productions like Disney/Marvel Studios’ upcoming “Avengers: Doomsday” to other countries like the United Kingdom where generous tax incentive packages have made blockbuster filmmaking more feasible amidst rising costs ProdPro found that no American states were listed among their top five preferred production hubs opting instead for soundstages in the U.K. Trump declared that the “Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death” and cited the incentives that are changing the global film industry “This is a concerted effort by other Nations and to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100% Tariff on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands,” Trump wrote By Monday morning, the White House had somewhat walked back Trump’s declaration “Although no final decisions on foreign film tariffs have been made the Administration is exploring all options to deliver on President Trump’s directive to safeguard our country’s national and economic security while Making Hollywood Great Again,” spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement Agents and producers who spoke to TheWrap on Monday said they are skeptical that any plans on tariffs would actually move forward with one agent saying that he did not expect any studio or union to respond to Trump until there is a definition on what a “foreign production” is While some countries like the United Kingdom offer additional tax credits for productions that do both filming and post-production work in Britain many American blockbusters shot overseas still do key post-production work like film scoring sound mixing and film editing in the United States There is also the possibility that a Trump-mandated tariff on film productions would be illegal due to amendments made to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 first authored by Hollywood-based California Congressman Howard Berman in 1988 But studio executives on Sunday were surprised by the announcement, saying they had no advance notice of the tariffs plan and didn’t know the details of how it would be applied. For more than two decades, major studios have shifted movie production to cheaper countries, including Canada, U.K., Bulgaria, New Zealand, Australia and other countries that offer generous tax benefits to build their local economies, luring films away from Hollywood. Hollywood Inc. After strikes by actors and writers last year Los Angeles’ entertainment economy is struggling to stage a comeback as production activity employment and box office revenue are down The migration of high-paying jobs has become a critical issue for Los Angeles, which has seen a dramatic loss in film production and jobs in recent years The industry hasn’t fully recovered from shutdowns because of the COVID-19 pandemic labor strikes and a retrenchment by legacy entertainment companies many of which overspent to build streaming services to compete with Netflix January’s wildfires in the Pacific Palisades and Altadena dealt another blow “I am authorizing the Department of Commerce, and the United States Trade Representative, to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100% Tariff on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands,” Trump said late Sunday in a post on his Truth Social platform. “WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!” The proposal is the latest in a series of tariffs that Trump has imposed on trading partners worldwide, causing turmoil in global markets. Movie executives reached Sunday privately wondered how a tariff would be imposed on a film, which, like a car, has components made in different countries while post-production often occurs in the U.S. The Motion Picture Assn. wasn’t immediately available for comment. Trump lamented how the “Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death.” The president said countries that have offered “all sorts of incentives to draw our filmmakers and studios away from the United States.” “Hollywood, and many other areas within the U.S.A., are being devastated,” Trump wrote. “This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat.” In addition to the U.K., Hungary, Germany and the Czech Republic also offer lucrative incentives to filmmakers. Many in Hollywood are still waiting for Trump’s ‘special ambassadors’ to reveal their plans for boosting U.S feature films and commercials all declined in the Los Angeles area during the first three months of the year according to the nonprofit organization FilmLA On-location production declined 22.4% compared with the same period a year earlier The call for U.S. production comes after Trump tapped a trio of actors — Jon Voight, Sylvester Stallone and Mel Gibson — to be his “special ambassadors” to Hollywood. In January, Trump unveiled the initiative, calling Hollywood “a great but very troubled place.” The president at the time said he and his ambassadors would help Hollywood spring “back — bigger, better, and stronger than ever before!” But the envoys have kept a low profile since their appointment and many in Hollywood say they have not heard from them. All levels of Hollywood workers are now banding together to push for legislation that would change the state’s tax incentive program Bloomberg News reported that Voight and his manager were preparing to present Trump with some ideas aimed at bolstering U.S including offering some national incentives to help win back offshore business “It’s important that we compete with what’s going on around the world so there needs to be some sort of federal tax incentives,” Paul said in an interview with Bloomberg One producer, Randy Greenberg, wrote in a Sunday LinkedIn post that tariffs would hurt, not help Hollywood. “Putting a tariff on Movies shot outside the US will increase the cost of shooting and the studios will lobby the Exhibitors to raise ticket prices and then the audience will skip the theatre and then … well you see where this is going,” Greenberg wrote. California Entertainment & Arts Business Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump is opening a new salvo in his tariff war In a post Sunday night on his Truth Social platform Trump said he has authorized the Department of Commerce and the Office of the U.S Trade Representative to slap a 100 percent tariff “on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands.” WATCH: How tariffs on imported auto parts may affect car prices and repair costs “The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death,” he wrote complaining that other countries “are offering all sorts of incentives to draw” filmmakers and studios away from the U.S It wasn’t immediately clear how any such tariff on international productions could be implemented It’s common for both large and small films to include production in the U.S Big-budget movies like the upcoming “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning,” for instance Incentive programs for years have influenced where movies are shot increasingly driving film production out of California and to other states and countries with favorable tax incentives Yet Trump’s tariffs are designed to lead consumers toward American products American-produced movies overwhelming dominate the domestic marketplace China has ramped up its domestic movie production culminating in the animated blockbuster “Ne Zha 2” grossing more than $2 billion this year its sales came almost entirely from mainland China where successive governments have offered rebates and incentives in recent years to draw Hollywood films to the country the film industry has generated billions of dollars in tourism revenue driven by the “Lord of the Rings” and “Hobbit” films which featured the country’s pristine and scenic vistas the blockbuster “Minecraft” movie was filmed entirely in New Zealand productions in 2023 delivered $1.3 billion New Zealand dollars ($777 million) to the country in return for NZ$200 million in subsidies New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said he was awaiting more details of Trump’s measures before commenting on them but would continue to pitch to filmmakers abroad “We’ve got an absolutely world class industry,” he said “This is the best place to make movies didn’t immediately respond to messages Sunday evening The MPA’s data shows how much Hollywood exports have dominated cinemas the American movies produced $22.6 billion in exports and $15.3 billion in trade surplus in 2023 has made good on the “tariff man” label he gave himself years ago slapping new taxes on goods made in countries around the globe That includes a 145 percenttariff on Chinese goods and a 10 percent baseline tariff on goods from other countries WATCH: Jobs market defies expectations amid fears tariffs could soon spur economic downturn Trump has exerted extraordinary influence over the flow of commerce creating political risks and pulling the market in different directions set to be subject to new tariffs in the weeks ahead Trump has long voiced concern about movie production moving overseas he announced that he had tapped actors Mel Gibson Jon Voight and Sylvester Stallone to serve as “special ambassadors” to Hollywood to bring it “BACK — BIGGER film and television production has been hampered in recent years the Hollywood guild strikes of 2023 and the recent wildfires in the Los Angeles area was down 26 percent last year compared with 2021 The group’s annual survey of executives which asked about preferred filming locations Central Europe and Australia came out on top The problem is especially acute in California production last year was down 5.6 percent from 2023 according to FilmLA during the peak of the coronavirus pandemic proposed expanding California’s Film & Television Tax Credit program to $750 million annually Chicago and San Francisco have also used aggressive tax incentives to lure film and TV productions Those programs can take the form of cash grants “Other nations have been stealing the movie-making capabilities from the United States,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Sunday night after returning from a weekend in Florida “If they’re not willing to make a movie inside the United States we should have a tariff on movies that come in.” Associated Press writers Gary Field in Washington and Charlotte Graham-McLay in Wellington contributed to this report from Washington © 1996 - 2025 NewsHour Productions LLC PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization Subscribe to Here's the Deal with Lisa Desjardins Manhattan looks a lot like Vancouver in this scene?" If so congratulations — you're paying more attention than 99% of the audience.  you're noticing one of the cost-saving measures studios take to make their films profitable 💵💰Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter 💰💵 Shutting down 5th Avenue for a few days of filming isn't in the budget for most productions but a car chase scene on Burrard Street in downtown Vancouver gives the audience the same thrill at a fraction of the cost.  have offered Hollywood Studios tax incentives to move their productions out of Southern California and New York The Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit gives eligible productions a fully refundable 25% tax credit.  and Alberta that provide tax credits of up to 40% all to make it cheaper to film north of the border Between 2023 and 2024, B.C. alone provided $909 million in film and television credits, according to the Vancouver Sun.  B.C. gets a lot in return for this investment. The film industry generated $2 billion in GDP for the province in 2023 despite a five-month industry strike that resulted in numerous production delays and cancellations.  As studio dynamics and economics have changed over the last three decades the draw of saving some serious dough by shooting overseas has prompted Hollywood to move much of its productions out of town.  U.S. President Donald Trump drew parallels between his own fight against U.S companies offshoring their labor and the trends in Tinseltown.  President Trump vows to make movies in America again.  Image source: Getty Images Trump comes to Hollywood's rescue On Sunday night a time when many Americans combat the Sunday scaries by sitting down to relax with a film or television show Trump may have been doing the same when he sent out a surprising message on social media.  "The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death Other Countries are offering all sorts of incentives to draw our filmmakers and studios away from the United States are being devastated," the President posted "This is a concerted effort by other Nations and That last line of this statement is important because despite some executive branch confusion about the issue but those powers become broader if there is a national security threat.  to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100% Tariff on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands The Department of Commerce did not immediately return a request for comment from TheStreet but Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik responded to the President on Twitter.  Trump may be solving a Hollywood problem that doesn't existJust because Hollywood is losing productions doesn't mean those dollars are leaving the country.  a hit television show that ran for five seasons between 2008 and 2013 was famously supposed to be set in Riverside Other states in the country have been stealing California's business Texas, Georgia, and Louisiana have been some of the more aggressive states in attracting film and television production Weeks ago, the Texas Senate passed a bill that would more than double the money the state spends to bring Hollywood productions to the state Bipartisan support directed the state comptroller to deposit $500 million into the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Fund every two years until 2035.  The state House of Representatives is now considering that bill.  And California itself is also making moves to keep Hollywood in Southern California.  California Governor Gavin Newsom more than doubled the state's film tax credit program to $750 million from $330 million It seems that the industry is using free trade principles instead of presidential fiat to solve its own problems as industries in a capitalist society tend to do.  Want TheStreet’s best daily stock and investing news right in your inbox every weekday Sign up today for our free newsletter and you'll receive an exclusive report explaining hedge fund guru Doug Kass' winning investment style AGAIN!” was how Trump concluded — with all caps — a vague and grandstanding post announcing that his administration wishes to impose tariffs of 100% on films “coming into our Country that are made in foreign lands” He sold it as a matter of national security claiming it was a “concerted effort” by foreign nations to take advantage of America But the main issue Trump is pressing on with his proposed tariffs isn’t foreign films per se American film and television productions have increasingly branched out overseas because it’s cheaper to produce there than in Los Angeles — or the US more broadly — due to more attractive tax incentives and lower production costs abroad noting that “it’s cheaper to bring 100 American people to Ireland than to walk across the lot at Fox especially in important markets like China where audiences are increasingly favouring local films over Hollywood blockbusters notable for being the first film to make $1 billion in its own domestic box office shows that Hollywood films can face stiff competition for the eyes and ears of overseas audiences If other countries choose to retaliate with tariffs on American films and instead invest in their own national film industries aimed at domestic audiences it could reduce their reliance on offshored Hollywood productions This would further cut into Hollywood’s box office revenues which are still recovering from the aftershocks of Covid in which Hollywood has long played a central role Trump’s plan may end up accelerating its global decline Ralph Leonard is a British-Nigerian writer on international politics Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" Please click here to view our media pack for more information on advertising and partnership opportunities with UnHerd The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk has revealed this year’s Movies on the Beach lineup and among the Hollywood classics is the original Ghostbusters the event invites fans to kick back on the sand in front of the Colonnade while enjoying boardwalk treats like kettle corn with each film including a 15-minute intermission Along with Ghostbusters, the lineup features a stacked slate of favorites, including The Lost Boys (June 13), Men in Black (June 20), Jumanji (July 11), Clueless (July 18), The Wizard of Oz (July 25), Despicable Me 4 (August 1), and The Goonies (August 8). More details are available here This California screening continues a trend of unconventional Ghostbusters showings held in historical locations. In 2022, fans in the UK were treated to a Halloween-themed showing of the film inside the spooky caves of Peak Cavern, Castleton staged in the uniquely atmospheric setting formerly known as “Devil’s Arse.” That same year, the historic Dudley Zoo in the West Midlands, England, hosted a screening outside an 11th-century castle The East Midlands Ghostbusters were on hand with a towering inflatable Stay Puft Marshmallow Man and full-scale replicas of Slimer and a Terror Dog while proton streams were cast on castle walls.No word yet on whether any California-based fan franchises will appear at the Santa Cruz screening but if we hear of any additional happenings Disclaimer: This website receives compensation through the use of third-party affiliate links."Ghostbusters" and "Ghost-Design" are registered Trademarks of Columbia Pictures Ghost Corps (Sony Pictures) Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information in the Oval Office of the White House on May 5 2025 at 3:00 PM EDTBookmarkSaveTakeaways NEWPresident Donald Trump said he would meet with Hollywood executives after confounding the US film industry over his plan to impose a 100% tariff on movies made overseas “So we’re going to meet with the industry,” Trump said Monday afternoon “I want to make sure they’re happy with it Media Play News President Trump May 5 appeared to backpedal on his proposed 100% tariff on foreign-made movies saying he would be discussing the issue with Hollywood studios I want to help the industry,” Trump told reporters at the White House The president said he would talk with media CEOs to see if “they’re happy” with [the] proposal to impose tariffs of 100% percent on foreign-made films Trump appeared to suggest that he didn’t want the proposed tariff negatively impacting jobs within the entertainment industry “I want to make sure they’re happy with it because we’re all about jobs,” he said White House spokesman Kush Desai said no final decision on the tariffs had been made in a late Sunday post on his social media platform declared he would seek tariffs on foreign-made movies in an effort to stop undermining Hollywood He appeared to make the comment not fully understanding that major U.S media companies often produce movies across multiple facilities located across different countries movie industry has been undermined by foreign countries and by “incompetence” of California Gov “The governor is a grossly incompetent man he’s just allowed it to be taken away from,” Trump said “Hollywood doesn’t do very much of that business While content production across Los Angeles County is down more than 22% in the first three months of 2025 Newsom last year introduced legislation that would give $750 million in fiscal incentives to content creators — many of whom have struggled since pandemic and industry labor strikes in 2023 “We needed to be big and bold,” Newsom said at a media event last October “We’re in a position where we can afford this Subscribe HERE to the FREE Media Play News Daily Newsletter! YouTube has quietly begun offering catalog studio movies for free on its website The ad-supported streams appeared last month alongside new releases promoted to buy or… More than 400 Hollywood actors and creatives have signed an open letter to President Trump's White House Office of Science and Technology Policy asking the government to uphold existing copyright laws in the face of technology giants looking to use… European streaming video platform Rakuten TV Aug 1 announced the launch of its video streaming app for the PlayStation 5 gaming console affording gamers easier access to Hollywood movies The addition of the Rakuten TV app for… The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ board of governors  April 24 announced it would continue to welcome movie nominations from streaming services such as Netflix The organization in charge of the annual Academy Awards left eligibility requirements for… I think Trump’s approach to the tariffs is a bit confusing the proposed tariffs could actually hurt the industry more than help it It would be interesting to see how this plays out with discussions among media CEOs Please enter an answer in digits:3 + 3 = This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Click here to read the latest edition cover to cover “If the President announces a proposal with more details we will review it,” a spokesperson for the California governor tells TheWrap It sounds as though Gov. Gavin Newsom is just as confused as the rest of the world over the logistics behind President Donald Trump’s proposed 100% tariff on foreign films — but he isn’t about to let that interfere with his plans for Hollywood “Governor Newsom continues to champion California’s iconic film and television industry — recognizing it as a cornerstone of the state’s economy one that sustains hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs across every sector around the state,” his spokesperson told TheWrap “His plan to more than double the state’s film and television tax credit reflects a commitment to keeping production here at home supporting workers and maintaining California’s global leadership in entertainment.” we will review it,” his office’s Monday statement further noted The update came a day after President Trump said he authorized the Department of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative to “immediately begin the process of instituting a 100% tariff on any and all movies coming into our country that are produced in foreign lands.” “The movie industry in America is dying a very fast death. Other countries are offering all sorts of incentives to draw our filmmakers and studios away from the United States. Hollywood, and many other areas within the U.S.A., are being devastated,” he wrote on Truth Social on Sunday “This is a concerted effort by other nations and The White House then caveated that message slightly on Monday adding: “Although no final decisions on foreign film tariffs have been made the administration is exploring all options to deliver on President Trump’s directive to safeguard our country’s national and economic security while Making Hollywood Great Again.” Later on Monday, Trump then told reporters at the Oval Office I want to help the industry … we’re going to meet with the industry As for Newsom, he announced a proposal to expand California’s Film & Television Tax Credit Program to $750 million annually from $330 million back in October. The California Film Commission then revealed a record 51 films that were approved for the latest round of state tax credits in March A website dedicated to all things film-related This year’s 12th edition of the Scary Movies festival at Film at Lincoln Center premiered Ari Aster’s extended version of “Midsommar” this past Saturday I’ll have some thoughts on this in the coming hour and everyone in the industry will be talking about this bombshell announcement but when the President orders any kind of tarrif implementation Trade Representative and then the Commerce Department This is how the process to impose 100% tariffs on imports of movies that are produced in “foreign lands” would basically come to fruition It sounds like Trump has apparently started the process He’s calling productions that choose to shoot outside the U.S — many times because it’s cheaper to do so — a “national security threat.” Is it any coincidence that Trump’s comments comes right after it was reported that his special envoy to Hollywood, Jon Voight, was devising a plan to save the entertainment industry. Voight met with guild officials and studio executives in recent weeks and there was some expectation of a federal tax incentive The film industry has long pushed for a more robust federal tax incentive to boost domestic film production instead of depending solely on individual state incentives has suffered significantly from what’s often referred to as “runaway productions.” There have also been worries that Trump might attempt to limit international filming especially since major Hollywood productions have often been drawn to countries like the UK and Australia due to their attractive incentive programs I’m not entirely sure how this is going to be implemented as Trump’s tweet seems to lack an assortment of critical details his “100% tarrifs” policy would primarily take aim at Hollywood studios who decide to shoot movies outside the United States this seems extremely difficult to implement How could it even be enforced in any practical or effective way there are only two likely outcomes: either the studios comply Advertise Donate Privacy Policy Shannen Ace A new Mace Windu plush is available at the Toydarian Toymaker stall in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios The Toydarian Toymaker dolls and other toys are designed to look handcrafted Mace Windu famously wields a purple lightsaber the plush doesn’t include the weapon because he wanted to be able to easily find himself in the crowded Geonosis battle scene It was the first purple lightsaber seen on-screen in the “Star Wars” franchise For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram Tap to enable a layout that focuses on the article The 22-year-old film school graduate, who works as a receptionist at the Ross Stores buying office in downtown Los Angeles, said that for most of those applications, she never heard back — not even a rejection. When she did land follow-up interviews, she was almost always ghosted afterward. “I knew that I wouldn’t be a famous screenwriter or anything straight out of college,” said Hernandez, who graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts in 2024. But she thought she’d at least be qualified for an entry-level film industry job. “It shouldn’t be this hard,” she kept thinking. Movies Hollywood’s crew members reflect on a 2024 marked by production slowdowns mental health struggles and sacrifices as they brace for a fragile recovery Studios scrambling to cut costs amid the turbulence were quick to slash low-level positions that historically got rookies in the door. “You almost feel cursed,” said Ryan Gimeson, who graduated from Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts in 2023, in the early days of the writers’ strike. And while screenwriting has always been a competitive field, industry veterans attested that the conditions have rarely ever been harsher for young writers. “In the past 40 years of doing this, this is the most disruptive I’ve ever seen it,” said Tom Nunan, founder of Bull’s Eye Entertainment and a lecturer in the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. Television As reality TV takes a hit amid a slowdown in Hollywood production crew members lament the loss of jobs to “runaway production,” cutbacks and consolidation The landscape is especially dry in television writing, according to a jobs report released last month by the Writers Guild of America. TV writing roles dropped 42% in the 2023-2024 season that coincided with the strikes, the report said. About a third of those cuts were to lower-level appointments. It’s a far cry from the TV business Liz Alper broke into 15 years ago. Alper, an L.A.-based writer-producer and co-founder of the fair worker treatment movement #PayUpHollywood, came up in the early 2010s, when opportunities in scripted television were still plentiful. The CW, for instance, was putting out three original one-hour shows a night, or about 18 to 21 original pieces of programming a week, Alper said. That translated to anywhere between 100 and 200 staff writer slots. The TV station group aims to make the network more compatible with its local newscasts the rise of streaming has essentially done the opposite — poaching cable subscribers edging out episodic programming with bingeable on-demand series and cutting writing jobs in the process The job scarcity has driven those in entry-level positions to stay there longer than they used to. A 2021 #PayUpHollywood survey found that most support staffers were in their late twenties, several years older than they were on average a decade ago. Without those employees moving up and creating vacancies, recent graduates have nowhere to come in. “I think if you have a job, it feels like you’ve got one of the lifeboats on the Titanic, and you’re not willing to give up the seat,” Alper said. The entertainment job market has also suffered from the ongoing exodus of productions from California where costs are high and tax incentives are low Meanwhile, young creatives are questioning whether L.A. is the place to launch their careers. In 2024, soundstage occupancy levels decreased to 63%, down from 69% the year before. The number of on-stage shoot days for 2023 also declined, according to a new report. Peter Gerard. (Robert Hanashiro / For The Times) Peter Gerard, 24, moved to L.A. from Maryland two years ago to pursue TV writing. After graduating with a data science degree from the University of Maryland, he sensed it was his last chance to chase his dream. Within weeks of arriving in L.A. in April 2023, he landed a handful of job interviews and even felt hopeful about a few. “I came moments before disaster, and I had no idea,” he said. In the days before the Writers Guild of America called on members to strike, the creators of hit shows, including ‘Shrinking,’ ‘The Last of Us’ and more, gathered to discuss the state of the industry. During the slowdown, Gerard filled his time by working on independent films, attending writing classes and building his portfolio. He was fine without a full-time gig, he said, figuring L.A. would work its magic on him eventually. Such “cosmic choreography” touched writer-producer Jill Goldsmith nearly 30 years ago, she said, when she left her job as a public defender in Chicago to pursue TV writing. After seven trying months in L.A., her luck turned when she met “NYPD Blue” co-creator David Milch in line at a Santa Monica chocolate shop. Goldsmith sent him a script, the show bought it and she got her first credit in 1998. Goldsmith, a lecturer in the UCLA MFA program in the School of Theater, Film and Television, said she tells her students such opportunities only come when they meet fate halfway. But hearing veteran writers mourn their lost jobs and L.A.’s bygone glory led Gerard to question his own bid for success. “I felt sorry for them, but it also made me realize, like, ‘Wow, there’s a lot of people who want to do this, and a lot of them are much further along than me, with nothing to show for it,’” he said. Film and TV writers of varying experience levels are struggling to find work after the Hollywood strikes amid an ongoing industry contraction. Lore Olivera. (Robert Hanashiro / For The Times) As the youngest staff writer in her current writers’ room, Lore V. Olivera, 26, has gotten used to her senior counterparts waxing nostalgic about the “good old times.” “I think they’re definitely romanticizing a bit,” she said, “but there is some truth in there.” Olivera landed her first staff writer job in 2023, a year after graduating from Stanford University. The process was straightforward: her reps cold-emailed her samples to a showrunner, he liked them, she interviewed and got the job. But Olivera said such success stories are rare. “I was ridiculously lucky,” she said. Still, getting staffed is no finish line, she added, just a 20-week pause on the panic of finding the next gig. What does a TV writer do? How do you become one? How do you move up? How much money can you make? The L.A. Times is explaining the entertainment industry — here’s what you need to know about being a TV writer. Olivera is also the only staff writer in her current room, with all her colleagues holding higher titles like editor or producer. It’s a natural consequence, she said, of showrunners facing pressure to fill limited positions with heavy-hitters already proven capable of creating hits. Olivera said she knows not every 26-year-old was getting hired a few decades ago, but even her elder peers agreed the industry has lost a former air of possibility. “It’s definitely a slap in the face when you get here and you’re like, ‘Yeah, it’s going to be a few miserable years, and then I might not even make it,’” Olivera said. “Not even because I’m good or bad... but just because the industry is so dead and so afraid of taking chances.’” a wondrous mythology has emerged about Los Angeles in cultural circles who graduated from Chapman’s Dodge college in 2023 But the industry hasn’t given them anywhere to put it Instead, studios are pouring money into remakes, the 24-year old said, even as consumers have displayed their appetite for original material. “I hope that we move into an era of film where it’s new, fresh ideas and new perspectives and having an open mind to the voice of our generation,” Gillams said. Until then, the filmmaker said she’ll continue to create work for herself. During the strikes, Gillams and a production team with no budget made the short film “Sincero,” which won the audience award for short documentary at the 2023 Newport Beach Film Festival. As she continues the search for a distributor for the doc, she already has another project in the works. Director Joe Burke and longtime collaborator Oliver Cooper make microbudget indies. Their new one, ‘Burt,’ doesn’t have a distributor yet, just tons of heart. Weary from the “black hole” of job applications, Hernandez said she, too, is focused on bringing her own work to life. In an ideal world, that leads to a film festival or two, maybe even agency representation. But mostly, what drives her is pride in the work itself. “If I’m successful in my mind,” said Hernandez, “I’m content with that.”