Photo by Laura Samms
Wave Staff Report
LOS ANGELES — Hundreds of entertainment workers, union leaders, small business owners and state and local elected officials rallied at SirReel Studios April 6 alongside more than 30 speakers in support of efforts to keep film and television production in California.
The rally, led by the grassroots, volunteer-driven Stay in LA coalition, called on legislators to fight runaway production and protect local jobs and the economy.
“Film and television production isn’t just part of Los Angeles history — it’s part of our economic backbone and cultural identity,” said L.A. City Councilman Adrin Nazarian. “Keeping production here means good-paying union jobs, thriving small businesses and a stronger sense of community.
“We’re not just supporting an industry — we’re preserving what makes L.A. the creative capital of the world.”
According to the California Production Coalition, the average location shoot adds $670,000 and 1,500 jobs a day. Each dollar spent on incentivizing production to stay in California creates $24.40 in new economic activity across all local businesses, $8.60 in wages and labor income, and $16.14 in increased gross domestic product.
The inherent economic stimuli, however, only works if production happens. A recent FilmLA report found that average occupancy rates at L.A.-area studios fell nearly 9% since 2023 and down more than 30% from a half decade ago.
The report noted 2024 was the second least productive year; only 2020, disrupted by the global COVID-19 pandemic, saw lower levels of filming in area communities.
“Our jobs, our communities, and our future are on the line,” said Pamala Buzick, co-founder of Stay in LA. “We have to fight to keep production here — because when the work leaves, so do the opportunities for thousands of families who call Los Angeles home.”
Over the last two decades, California has lost significant ground in the film and television industry as other states and countries lure productions with tax breaks and cheaper labor. The shift has weakened the state’s once-strong hold on the industry, complicated by COVID-19 and most recently the 2025 L.A. wildfires, which has further amplified the importance of maintaining a strong local economy and workforce.
To stem the time, Gov. Gavin Newsom recently proposed expanding the film and television tax credit to $750 million, as detailed in recently introduced legislation Assembly Bill 1138 and Senate Bill 630 which aim to address an increasingly dire economic situation for California’s signature industry.
A petition with more than 22,000 signatures is on the Stay in LA website, stayinla.org.
Stay in LA is a movement dedicated to keeping film and television production jobs in California. It is a collaborative effort between CA United and TUSC, two organizations committed to supporting entertainment industry workers and protecting California’s production economy.
