May 2025
Los Angeles and California officials are fighting to keep the spotlight from slipping away as movie and television producers chase cheaper incentives around the world.
Mayor Karen Bass has issued an executive directive aimed at keeping production jobs in Los Angeles by slashing permitting red tape, reducing costs and making iconic public sites like Griffith Observatory more accessible to crews.
Film and television production has long propped up Los Angeles’ real estate economy, from soundstages to postproduction offices. But with on-location filming down 22% in the first quarter of 2025 and occupancy at soundstages dipping to 63%, city and state leaders are scrambling to compete with cheaper rivals like Georgia, Canada and the United Kingdom.
