(NewsNation) — Film and television production has plummeted more than 50% in the entertainment capital of the world, leaving thousands of workers unemployed and major studio lots resembling ghost towns.
The decline comes from a combination of factors including COVID-19 lockdowns, California’s high taxes, devastating wildfires and increased competition from streaming platforms and other states offering lucrative tax incentives.
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Academy Award-winning actor and director Mel Gibson, currently filming “The Resurrection of the Christ” in Italy, tells NewsNation the industry exodus is a sign of deeper economic realities.
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Mel Gibson described recently visiting studio lots as “like an episode of ‘The Twilight Zone'” with deserted facilities where bustling film sets once operated.
“It was cheaper, more cost-effective, to fly the entire American crew, buy them air tickets, fly them to Bulgaria, house them, feed them for three days and do the shooting there for three days, rather than to just shoot for one day locally in Los Angeles, where they all lived,” Gibson told NewsNation.
Film workers, some with decades of experience, now face unemployment and housing instability. One veteran worker described losing not just employment but “everything, it’s family, it’s community” after nearly 30 years in the industry.
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Georgia and Texas have aggressively courted film productions with substantial incentives, with Texas alone providing $150 million annually to attract productions. While California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed new film and TV tax credits, industry insiders say the measures have yet to significantly slow the exodus.
Hollywood is also grappling with changing audience preferences and the rise of streaming platforms. Many productions have moved to locations offering lower costs and fewer regulatory hurdles.
Gibson, whose Malibu home was destroyed in recent wildfires, remains cautiously optimistic about California’s future despite choosing to finance and film his current project independently overseas.
“My heart is there. I think it’s a beautiful state. Unfortunately, it’s just been mismanaged in the worst possible way,” he said.
