The Powers That Be: Daily Lights, Camera, Tariffs
May 8, 2025
Matt Belloni, a writer at Puck and host of The Town podcast, joins to unravel the implications of Trump's tariff announcement on foreign film and TV productions. He highlights Hollywood's panic as shoots move to Canada and Europe. The conversation dives into the declining market share of California productions and the possible solutions like tax credits to keep film work stateside. Matt also explores the evolving relations between Hollywood, tech giants, and the political landscape, stressing the urgent need for intervention.
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Hollywood's Production Shift Abroad
- The Hollywood industry is suffering as more productions choose Europe, Canada, and the UK due to better tax incentives and costs.
- Tariffs on foreign movies would be impractical and could hurt the industry, since productions are often multinational.
Why Hollywood Films Abroad
- Tax incentives in countries like the UK with up to 40% rebates lure big Hollywood blockbusters overseas.
- Europe and Canada offer cheaper labor and have infrastructure that rivals Los Angeles, making them competitive production hubs.
Rob Lowe on Filming Costs
- Rob Lowe noted it’s cheaper to fly 300 Americans to Ireland to shoot his Fox game show than to film it in Los Angeles.
- This highlights the surprisingly high costs of filming in LA compared to overseas locations.