The Tariff Circus Goes Hollywood?

US film and television production has suffered in recent years due to Covid-19, the strikes of 2023, and the recent wildfires in the Los Angeles area. In addition, incentive programs have allegedly lured producers away from California, to states such as Georgia and New Mexico, as well as other countries where production can be much less costly.

Laura Friedman has spent 20 years working in the movie industry. She states her interests began when she was young as she stayed up late to watch old Humphrey Bogart and James Cagney flicks. “It definitely gave me big dreams and I moved to Hollywood to follow those dreams,” she recalls.

However, as film producers increasingly outsource to cheaper locations, she fears that opportunities for others to get in the business will become less. Maybe she’s missing the fact that anyone with a phone, internet, and social media, can become a producer of something. We’re no longer limited to Hollywood and five television stations. Maybe she’s ignoring it’s all remakes, sequels, and prequels. Maybe if "Holly-WOULD"... try bringing back creativity instead of digging through the recycle bin...

To make matters worse, last month President Trump claimed that movie production has been stolen from Hollywood, and the US in general, and proposed slapping a 100% tariff on movies made outside the country. I’m sorry, but production hasn’t been stolen. It just moved on.

Like any good business person, when it becomes too expensive to operate in one area, the wise decision is to vote with one's feet and move on to some place cheaper. That’s what I did when I left one state to live in another. Smart people see the writing on the wall and head for greener pastures… or at least less brown pastures.

It was unclear how these tariffs would operate since movies and TV shows can be transmitted digitally without going through ports. Also remaining unclear, would the tariffs be slapped on US movies filmed in foreign locations? What about the legal basis?

Friedman is currently a member of the House of Representatives, and the only one who has worked in the film industry. She stated, “I am concerned about his suggestion of tariffs because primarily I’m very nervous that this will end up raising the prices for consumers on movie tickets and on streaming services.”

I don’t want to see tariffs on foreign film and television production, either. I watch a fair amount of foreign films/television via Mhz. I watch them for one reason. What they put out is far better than most of the recycled garbage put out by the American film and television industry. Do we really need Fast and Furious… 39 it seems! I simply wish Hollywood would come up with more original content. The need to “outdo” the last version also hurts. American film, and book writers, fill so much of their works with so many unrealistic action sequences, they completely forget to include a quality story line.