At a September 15 press conference hosted by the newly formalized U.S. Film & TV Production Coalition, IATSE joined a broad alliance of labor organizations, studios, guilds, industry advocates, and bipartisan members of Congress to unveil a new study on the economic benefits of a federal film and television production incentive.
Matthew D. Loeb, International President of IATSE, participated alongside MPA Chairman and CEO Charles Rivkin, Representatives Brian Jack and Laura Friedman, Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien, former DGA leader Thomas Schlamme, SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin, and Special Ambassador to Hollywood Jon Voight in calling for federal action to strengthen domestic film and television production.
The study found that a federal incentive operating alongside existing state programs could generate approximately $125 billion in additional U.S. production spending between 2027 and 2035, contribute nearly $250 billion in economic activity, and support roughly 143,500 additional full-time equivalent jobs annually.
For IATSE, participation in the event underscored the union’s ongoing advocacy for policies that keep production work in the United States, protect middle-class entertainment industry jobs, and help American workers compete against increasingly aggressive international production incentive programs.
CLICK HERE FOR THE COALITION’S FULL PRESS RELEASE
IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb’s Full Remarks:
“Good morning, I’m proud to speak today on behalf of the over 170,000 behind-the-scenes entertainment workers of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE). In film and television production, the list of our job requirements and skills is nearly endless. We build the sets, design the clothing, frame the image, record the dialogue, edit the scenes, animate the characters, and so much more to help bring a story to life.
In just a few years, IATSE members have lost tens of thousands of jobs across the United States. That’s thousands of families, small businesses, and communities across the country feeling the economic hardship of a shrinking industry.
The reality is that movies and television shows created primarily for American audiences are increasingly being produced overseas, not because other countries have better crews, better facilities, or better technology. They’re winning this work because they have national policies that recognize the economic value of film and television production and they offer robust incentives that the United States simply does not match.
The U.S. has an incredibly skilled film and television workforce, but we’re now competing against more than 120 production incentives worldwide. What we need is a level playing field. While many states have stepped up with their own production tax credit programs, state incentives alone are not enough to stop productions from leaving the country. Without a comprehensive federal response, the United States risks continued losses of jobs, investment, and economic activity tied to one of our signature American industries.
The good news is that it’s not too late. Production is mobile, and the work can come back. The study being released today supports what IATSE has long asserted – that a globally competitive, labor-based federal production incentive would help return film and television jobs to America, creating an additional 143,000 full-time equivalent jobs annually and keeping middle class jobs here at home.
We’re encouraged by the emerging bipartisan consensus that this policy is necessary in this moment — with the support of champions like Representatives Laura Friedman, Brian Jack, Nathaniel Moran, Linda Sanchez and Senators Adam Schiff, Tim Scott and others who understand what’s at stake. We also welcome President Donald Trump’s recent public endorsement of a federal film and television production incentive. Their efforts, and that of Special Hollywood Ambassador Jon Voight and our U.S. Film and Television Production Coalition, are building real momentum. We look forward to continuing our work with Congress, the Administration, and industry partners until we have a policy that levels the playing field for our members, strengthens American competitiveness, and ensures film and television jobs stay right here in the United States.”
