Is Film and TV Production in Los Angeles Starting to Turn the Corner?
Los Angeles film and TV production is showing early signs of recovery after a steep decline, driven by California's expanded tax‑credit program. FilmLA reported a 10% increase in shoot days in Q1 2026, with feature filming surging 52% year‑over‑year while TV production fell 28% quarter‑over‑quarter. Tax‑incentivized titles now represent 22% of feature and 17% of TV shoot days, yet overall activity remains about 30% below the five‑year average. Industry leaders see the trend as a tentative but positive shift for local jobs and investment.
Quixote Cuts Most of Its L.A. Soundstage Business, Leaves Georgia and New Mexico Entirely
Hudson Pacific is winding down most of Quixote's Los Angeles soundstage operations and exiting its Georgia and New Mexico vehicle‑fleet and production‑supply businesses. The move includes laying off 70 staff in Atlanta and Los Angeles and aims to generate $21‑$27 million in annual cost...
Taylor Swift Is Filing for Trademarks to Combat AI Misuse. Will It Work?
Taylor Swift has filed three new trademark applications to protect her voice and image against unauthorized AI reproductions. The filings include audio clips of her saying “Hey, it’s Taylor” and a photograph of her holding a pink guitar, intended to...
Paramount Asks FCC to Sign Off on Middle East Investment in Warner Bros. Megadeal
Paramount has filed a petition with the FCC to clear a $24 billion equity infusion from three Middle‑East sovereign wealth funds that will help finance its $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. The foreign investors will own roughly 38.5% of non‑voting equity,...
Directors Guild Renews Russell Hollander’s Contract Through 2029
The Directors Guild of America (DGA) has renewed chief negotiator Russell Hollander’s contract through 2029, ensuring his leadership for the next collective bargaining cycle. Hollander, who has steered the guild since 2017 and guided previous 2020 and 2023 agreements, will...
Charter Loses 51,000 Pay TV Subscribers in First Quarter
Charter Communications posted Q1 2026 results showing a narrowed pay‑TV loss of 51,000 subscribers, leaving 12.5 million video customers, a modest improvement from the 167,000 loss a year earlier. The company also shed 120,000 internet customers while adding 368,000 mobile lines,...
African Storytelling Is a Growth Market Hollywood Is Missing, Says Next Narrative Africa Fund Study
The Next Narrative Africa Fund (NNAF) released a study with Parrot Analytics showing that global demand for African and diaspora film and TV outpaces supply, especially for non‑English titles. Non‑English African stories represent 28% of audience demand but only 16%...
The Hit Video Games Sneaking in Climate Storylines
Mainstream video games are increasingly weaving climate themes into their narratives, often without overt messaging. Titles such as Red Dead Redemption 2, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and Pokémon Go have earned the Playing for the Planet seal, while...
Is Netflix Making a Big Real Estate Move In L.A.?
Netflix is in talks with Goldman Sachs to acquire the historic Radford Studio Center, signaling a possible shift from its current lease of the Sunset Studios complex. The streaming giant currently pays $27 million in annual rent to Hudson Pacific Properties...
L.A. to Cut Film Permit Fees, but Only for Small Projects
Los Angeles launched a six‑month pilot to slash film‑permit fees for very small productions, cutting application costs from $931 to $350 and waiving fire‑department spot‑check fees. The program targets shoots with fewer than 30 cast and crew members, lasting no...
Tim Cook Turned Apple Into a Hollywood Power Player. Does the New CEO Feel the Same Way?
Tim Cook transformed Apple from a hardware‑centric firm into a major player in Hollywood by launching Apple TV+ and an in‑house studio, driving services revenue from $46.3 billion in 2019 to $109 billion last year. The platform attracted marquee talent such as...
A Chat With L.A.’s New Film Czar on ‘Baywatch’ — and How the City Is Trying to Cut Red Tape
Los Angeles has installed a new film liaison, Steve Kang, to streamline permitting and reduce bureaucratic friction for productions. Kang’s authority, granted by Mayor Karen Bass, enabled rapid approvals for the Baywatch reboot, including a 20% discount on a city...
Netflix Quarterly Profit Tops $5 Billion Thanks to Warner Bros. Breakup Fee
Netflix reported a first‑quarter 2026 net income of $5.283 billion, far exceeding analysts’ forecasts, largely thanks to a $2.8 billion termination fee from Paramount after the Warner Bros. deal fell through. Revenue climbed 16% to $12.25 billion, driven by strong subscriber growth in Japan...
QVC and HSN Owner Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
QVC Group, the parent of QVC and HSN, announced a Chapter 11 filing and aims to emerge within roughly 90 days. The company says it has ample liquidity to pay all unsecured creditors in full and does not plan any layoffs...
USC Has Just Launched an AI “Institute” For Actors
The University of Southern California’s School of Dramatic Arts has opened the Institute for Actor‑Driven Innovation, a program designed to teach acting students how to leverage artificial intelligence rather than fear it. Partnering with Adobe, the institute will provide labs,...