BURBANK, CA — During a spotlight hearing convened by Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Congresswoman Laura Friedman (D-Calif.) at Burbank City Hall Friday, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) International President Matthew D. Loeb emphasized the growing need for a federal film/tv production incentive to level the playing field and protect American creative jobs.
“The American film and television industry faces an urgent threat from international competition. Foreign governments have successfully lured film and television productions, and the multitude of jobs they create, away from the United States with aggressive tax incentives and subsidies. Films intended for initial release in the U.S. are increasingly being shot overseas — and American workers are paying the price,” Loeb added. “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.”
Additionally, the hearing examined recent media mergers including Paramount Skydance’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, with President Loeb expressing skepticism of the deal’s impact on workers. “When major companies merge, workers often pay the price first. Without action to strengthen domestic production, we risk losing more jobs overseas. Federal policymakers must act to level the playing field and ensure the United States remains competitive in the global production market.”
Sen. Schiff and Rep. Friedman both expressed support for a federal incentive and pledged to work with lawmakers in Washington to pass one.
The spotlight hearing also featured testimony from the following witnesses:
- Noah Wyle, Golden Globe and Emmy-winning actor; star, executive producer, writer, and director of The Pitt
- Jim Acosta, journalist, author, and host of The Jim Acosta Show; former CNN anchor and Chief White House Correspondent
- Jax Deluca, Executive Director, Future Film Coalition; Research Fellow, Harvard Kennedy School Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy
