Nearly 20,000 individuals, including renowned actors Keanu Reeves, Zooey Deschanel, and Kevin Bacon, have signed a "Stay in LA" petition. This campaign urges California's leaders to temporarily lift caps on production tax incentives for Los Angeles County. The initiative aims to make filming in LA more affordable and assist in rebuilding the city following devastating wildfires.
Director Sarah Adina Smith, along with several filmmakers, spearheaded the "Stay in LA" campaign. They are calling for the state to exercise its emergency powers to enhance tax incentives over the next three years. These incentives could make LA more competitive with international filming locations. The recent dip in the Canadian dollar, hitting 22-year lows, has made Canada increasingly appealing to Hollywood productions.
Last year, productions in the United States experienced a 26% decline compared to pre-strike levels in 2022. Conversely, Australia and New Zealand witnessed a 14% increase, the UK observed nearly a 1% rise, and Canada saw a 2.8% uptick in production activities. The wildfires have further exacerbated an existential crisis in LA, with many residents facing hardships in sustaining their livelihoods.
Jamie Morse's home was reduced to ashes in the recent wildfires. She now alternates between staying with friends and sleeping in her car. Reflecting on the devastation, Morse shared:
"Where an entire stone table is, is in pieces, is like, absolutely decimated, melted," – Jamie Morse
Despite the loss, Morse found it remarkable that some paper items survived the destruction.
"But pieces of paper survived… It's truly unbelievable." – Jamie Morse
"I'm choosing to believe that this is a sign," – Jamie Morse
The wildfires have left a lasting impact on many residents. Composer Matthew Ferraro lost both his home and music studio. He expressed skepticism about the current state of Hollywood:
"I think it's wishful thinking for people who are still in love with, like yesteryear's dream of Hollywood, but that's just not how it works anymore," – Matthew Ferraro
The "Stay in LA" campaign emphasizes that its focus extends beyond tax incentives. It also aims to ensure the long-term sustainability of LA's film industry. The campaign highlights that while studios and streaming services have donated over $70 million to fire relief efforts, more needs to be done to support local film workers.
"Whether they're performers or studio execs – people love this city," – Jamie Morse
Mark Worthington, another affected resident, believes that revitalizing local production is crucial for fire relief:
"The best thing the studios could do for fire relief is to bring work back for the rank and file LA film workers," – Mark Worthington
He also noted the compounded challenges faced by industry workers over recent years.
"This is adding a horrible other thing to pile on top of all the other difficulties and our own work situation over the last couple years." – Mr Worthington
Sarah Adina Smith warned of the potential long-term consequences if action is not taken:
"If we let Hollywood die, it could be for good." – Ms Smith
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