The rally, held on a sound stage in the heart of the city’s historic production zone, brought together costume designers, set builders, musicians, small business owners, and other industry players. Their message was clear: California must act decisively to keep Hollywood productions at home—or risk losing its iconic industry to other states.
“Make Hollywood Hollywood again,” declared actor and SAG-AFTRA Secretary-Treasurer Joely Fisher, drawing applause from the crowd. Many attendees donned T-shirts quoting The Wizard of Oz: “There’s no place like home,” a nod to the desire to see more filming return to its birthplace.
Following the 2023 dual strikes by writers and actors, many had hoped for a production resurgence in Los Angeles. Instead, recovery has been sluggish, as productions continue to migrate to states with more generous tax incentives and streamlined permitting processes.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has proposed increasing the state’s film and television tax credit from $330 million to $750 million annually. While the proposal has been welcomed by industry advocates, they argue it’s only one part of the solution. Streamlining permitting, expanding infrastructure support, and creating long-term policy stability are also seen as critical to halting the exodus.
“California needs to stop taking Hollywood for granted,” said filmmaker Sarah Adina Smith, a leading voice in the “Stay in LA” campaign. “If we don’t stop the bleeding, then Los Angeles is at risk of becoming Detroit. This is a great, iconic American industry, a home-grown industry, and we’re losing it at an alarming rate.”
Speakers emphasized that Hollywood is sustained not just by A-list actors and directors, but by a vast middle class of workers—from lighting technicians to caterers—whose livelihoods are now in jeopardy. The slowdown in local production has also hit ancillary businesses hard, from dry cleaners to prop suppliers.
Veteran violinist Songa Lee, who has recorded music for film scores in Los Angeles for over 25 years, shared her perspective on the impact. “I used to work on about 30 union productions a year. Now it’s fewer than 10,” she said. “Musicians from around the world used to move to L.A. because there was always work. That’s changing. We’re losing talent.”
The rally served as both a plea and a warning. Without swift and strategic action, industry insiders fear that Los Angeles—once the undisputed epicenter of global entertainment—may find its legacy eclipsed by more aggressive competitors across the nation.