LA loses Hollywood’s crown as productions flock to cheaper hubs

California’s film and TV tax credits increasingly fail to attract projects, as productions relocate to cheaper hubs like Canada, Georgia, the U.K., and Ireland due to higher costs and bureaucratic permitting in L.A. The trend, accelerated by the pandemic and writers’/actors’ strikes, has shaved thousands of local jobs and left many studios and post-production firms shuttered, even as expanded incentives introduced in 2024–25 show some signs of revival. A few series (e.g., The Pitt, Fallout returning to L.A. with California credits) hint at a partial rebound, but the industry’s center of gravity continues to move away from Los Angeles and California toward broader global options.