Concern grows over whether Hollywood’s film and TV industry can survive in California
Los Angeles — Phil Mangano had a successful career as a film and television editor in Los Angeles for many years. However, everything changed when Hollywood writers and actors went on strikes in 2023, bringing production to a standstill. The impact was significant, with California losing approximately 40,000 film and TV jobs in that year alone, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Despite hopes for a comeback after the strikes ended, job opportunities did not see a significant increase. Since its peak in 2021, television production in the greater Los Angeles area has plummeted by 58%, according to FilmLA. The number of shoot days for television dropped from 18,560 in 2021 to 7,716 in 2024. Additionally, on-location production in L.A. decreased by 22.4% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year.
Industry expert Matthew Belloni describes the current situation as a “triage situation,” emphasizing the need to revive the declining Hollywood productions and job market. Productions have shifted to other U.S. states and countries offering generous tax incentives, with some European countries providing up to 40% back on productions.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has proposed more than doubling the state’s annual film and TV tax credits from $330 million to $750 million in an effort to revive the industry. However, skeptics like Belloni question if this move is sufficient to offset the high cost of working in the state, given California’s history of inaction on the issue.
For Mangano and many others in Hollywood, the search for work continues. Some have resorted to applying for jobs outside the industry, like Mangano considering a position at Costco. With dwindling savings, tough decisions loom on the horizon, including the possibility of losing their homes.
