Hollywood Unions Back Trump’s Federal Film Credit Plan

Key points

• Sean Astin, president of SAG-AFTRA, praised Trump's 'vocal and determined leadership' for backing a federal film incentive.
• The plan seeks to create a nationwide tax credit to compete with subsidies in Canada, Australia, and other nations.
• Hollywood unions, including IATSE and Teamsters Local 399, have rallied behind the proposal to bring jobs back to the US.
• Trump stated on social media that work to craft a bipartisan bill is already underway.
• The federal government has never previously offered a nationwide tax incentive for film production.

Background

This follows earlier coverage where Astin and other unions argued that production has moved overseas due to cheap labor and large incentives. California has boosted its own tax credits to stay competitive, but industry groups have long pushed for federal action to keep film work on American soil.

How outlets are covering it

The Independent highlights Astin's praise for Trump's leadership, while the New York Times notes the bipartisan nature of the proposed bill and the historical lack of federal incentives. Bloomberg focuses on the legislative push by the Jon Voight Group and the eye of Hollywood studios on federal incentives.

Why it matters

A federal film tax credit could significantly impact the US film industry by making domestic production more competitive against overseas incentives, potentially reviving jobs in California and other states.

What to watch

The next step is the crafting of a bipartisan bill to establish the federal film tax credit, as stated by Trump on social media.