#StayInLA Campaign Aimed at Bolstering Hollywood Production Accelerates
Hollywood heavyweights have started a campaign "Stay in LA" to pressure California Governor Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, the California State Legislature and the city council to join forces in working on critical measures to incentivize entertainment production in the city.A Stay In LA petition created by "film/TV workers and concerned citizens of Los Angeles in the wake of the Eaton, Hughes, and Palisades Fires," has already garnered nearly 20,000 signatures. The creatives behind the push wrote: "We were already deeply worried about the livelihoods of Los Angeles area cast and crew, not to mention the countless small businesses suffering from production moving out of state and overseas. The fires have made a desperate situation worse. We are terrified that the city we love so much may lose its most vital resource: its people."Among the thousands who lost everything in the wind-fueled infernos that ripped through Los Angeles for weeks, killing 29 Angelenos, were more than a dozen celebrities. Paris Hilton. Mel Gibson. Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt, who shared a touching Instagram post about how the fire left a heart-shape in their son's bed."The one positive sign i saw as our house burned down was ours sons bed burned in the shape of a heart. A sign of how much love was in this house so thankful for all the years and memories there with our family," Pratt wrote. As countless Angelenos work to rebuild their lives, other actors - including Keanu Reeves, Kevin Bacon, Bette Midler, Olivia Wilde - along with directors, showrunners, and writers are asking Job losses centered on television and movie productions in Los Angeles were already staggering before the wildfires devoured thousands of homes and businesses and displacing 150,000 in and around the devastating burn zones. Stay in LA organizers want California politicians to uncap the tax incentive for productions that shoot in L.A. county for the next three years, as well as studios/streamers to pledge at least 10% more production in LA over the next three years. Newsom has already authored a proposal to increase California's film/tv tax incentive to $750 million annually, which needs the approval of the legislature. Last summer Bass implemented an Entertainment Industry Cabinet in an effort to keep production jobs in LA, but those measures have not stemmed the loss of L.A. based work, writers, actors, and below the line workers say.
Get Your Daily Dose! Sign up for The Daily Brief to receive Los Angeles Magazine's latest stories directly in your inbox. Subscribe below or by clicking here.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Los Angeles Curfew Shuts Down Movies, Concerts in Downtown Area
As Mayor Karen Bass implemented a curfew in the downtown area of Los Angeles, entertainment venues such as the Music Center and the Alamo Drafthouse theaters canceled evening programming Tuesday night and for at least the next day or two. Bass said that a one-square-mile area would come under the curfew starting at 8 p.m. Tuesday night and could continue for 'several nights.' The Alamo Drafthouse posted,' Heads up, we're closed for the evening because of the curfew. Tickets for this evening's remaining shows will be refunded automatically. (Note that it may take a couple of days to show up.).' More from Variety Reimagining 'Hamlet' as a Lynchian L.A. Story: Director Robert O'Hara on Doing Shakespeare With a Noir/'Mulholland Drive' Twist at the Mark Taper Patrick Ball on Playing 'Hamlet' at the Mark Taper by Night, While Shooting 'The Pitt' Season 2 by Day: 'They're Both Disgraced Princes... I'm in My Prince Era Here' Alamo Drafthouse Strike Ends With All Laid Off Staffers to Be Rehired Also on Tuesday, an FYC event featuring the music of 'Cobra Kai' at the Grammy museum was cancelled. Bass implemented the curfew after mostly peaceful daytime protests against recent ICE raids turned more destructive, with several stores looted. Although other events in the L.A. Live area were canceled, Regal's L.A. Live multiplex appeared to still be selling tickets for Wednesday night. L.A. Live is within the curfew area which extends to the 10 freeway on the south side, the 110 on the west and the 5 on the east. There are exceptions for those who live and work downtown, but Bass emphasized that those who did not belong in the area would be arrested. On Tuesday night, the LAPD arrested 25 people for curfew violations, according to the L.A. Times. In addition to entertainment venues, the closures will seriously impact the business of hundreds of downtown restaurants and clubs. Among the cancelations Tuesday and beyond are: Tuesday's performance of 'Hamlet' at the Mark Taper Theater was also canceled, the Center Theatre Group announced. Walt Disney Concert Hall's Seoul Chamber Music concert was canceled Tuesday. Friday's Fly High fest at the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live is of Variety 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week


New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
Trumps to Attend ‘Les Misérables' at Kennedy Center
President Trump and the first lady, Melania Trump, are scheduled to attend the opening night performance of 'Les Misérables' at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Wednesday night. In some sense it is the culmination of the Trump takeover of the national cultural center. The president appointed himself chairman of the Kennedy Center in February, purged the traditionally bipartisan board and restocked it with loyalists. In March, he took a tour and met with his new board. 'We're going to get some very good shows,' he said at the time. 'I guess we have 'Les Miz' coming.' Mr. Trump's tightening grip has upset a number of artists, and some members of the cast were expected to boycott the performance. 'Les Misérables' has long been one of Mr. Trump's favorite shows, and the opening on Wednesday was expected to be a big night out on the town for the president's friends and top allies, complete with a red carpet. The flashy outing, to a musical with its climactic moments celebrating an anti-government uprising, coincides with one of the most volatile weeks of Mr. Trump's second term. Mr. Trump's administration has sent soldiers from the California National Guard and the Marines into Los Angeles in response to days of protests over immigration raids. Those deployments — over the objections of state and local officials there — has set off an extraordinary standoff between Mr. Trump and California's governor, Gavin Newsom. In a televised address on Tuesday night, Mr. Newsom accused Mr. Trump of mounting an attack on democracy: 'The moment we've feared has arrived.'


Los Angeles Times
6 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
LA Times Studios Launches Podcast ‘Rebuilding Los Angeles'
Today, LA Times Studios launched 'Rebuilding Los Angeles,' a video podcast that explores the city's recovery following the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires. Hosted by Spectrum News 1 anchor Kate Cagle, the weekly series will highlight the resilience of Angelenos and explore what can be learned as the city charts a path forward. The first episode is available now on all podcast platforms. Each Wednesday, Cagle will examine an aspect of the city's recovery efforts. She'll interview residents of Pacific Palisades and Altadena about their personal stories of loss; and speak with Los Angeles Times journalists, community leaders, residents and experts about how the city reached this point and explore promising solutions for building a safer, stronger L.A. The first episode features: Altadena resident and lawyer Kelsey Szamet, who is supporting her community as she and her neighbors navigate the challenges of rebuilding and returning home; and an interview with Times Staff Writer Liam Dillon about the current housing situation in Los Angeles and the difficult choices facing many residents to sell or rebuild. Upcoming episodes include The Times' Jenny Jarvie on the 1961 Bel-Air fire and lessons that can be applied today; and Times environment reporters Hayley Smith and Ian James discussing how climate change fueled the most destructive fires in L.A. history. 'Rebuilding L.A.' joins a growing slate of podcasts from LA Times Studios, including 'L.A. Crimes,' 'Boiling Point' and 'Crimes of The Times.' Additional podcast series are in development with launch dates to be announced. The first episode of 'Rebuilding L.A.' is available now to download or stream.