Hollywood studio chiefs rejected Donald Trump's proposed tariffs to combat runaway production, instead advocating for increased tax incentives in California. They argued that California's current film tax credit program, capped at $300M, is insufficient and operates as a lottery, deterring studios. They suggested expanding the program to include above-the-line costs and removing the cap, aligning it with more competitive states like Georgia. While acknowledging the benefits of some international productions, they fear tariffs would negatively impact the industry.

Prepared by Christopher Adams and reviewed by editorial team.