The plan to bring production home
It’s giving main character energy, but for our film industry. A team of California Democrats and union leaders stepped up on Tuesday to push for a new federal tax incentive, aiming to get it passed before the end of the year. The goal? To stop U.S. film and TV production jobs from being lured away by 65 other countries that are lowkey outcompeting us right now.
Sen. Adam Schiff and eight House Democrats gathered in Glendale to talk business. "We are so close to getting this done," Schiff said. "Whatever we can do to get this done, that is job No. 1."
The fine print
The proposed bill would set up a 20%-30% transferable tax credit for U.S. labor costs. If you’re wondering if it’s a vibe, the potential for a 50%+ total credit (when combined with state incentives) is designed to make the U.S. competitive again. Plus, there’s a sweet 5% bonus for filming in designated disaster areas—including all of Los Angeles County through 2030—and extra perks for indie films and rural locations.
Why it matters
Real talk: the U.S. share of global film spending has dropped from 74% to 42% over the last 25 years. Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, executive director of SAG-AFTRA, didn't mince words, noting that other countries are "eating not only our lunch, but our breakfast and our dinner as well."
With only five weeks in the upcoming "lame-duck" session of Congress, the pressure is on. While the Motion Picture Association is saying, "say less" but "get it right," union leaders are insistent that their members can't wait. Mike Miller of IATSE noted that passing this now would create an immediate impact for 2027, which is a major W for hundreds of thousands of workers.
