California Governor Candidates Court Hollywood with Competing Industry Rescue Plans
Steve Hilton and Xavier Becerra, competing in California's gubernatorial race, have proposed dramatically different plans to address Hollywood's decline, with Hilton proposing a 60 percent entertainment tax credit and Becerra focusing on data transparency requirements for studios. The entertainment industry has lost 51,000 jobs in three years and faces threats from production relocations and AI. The competing proposals highlight a fundamental tension: Hollywood must choose between a candidate offering substantial tax benefits with conservative policies or one aligned with liberal values but skeptical of tax incentives.
As California's gubernatorial race intensifies, both leading candidates have unveiled plans to address Hollywood's significant decline. Republican Steve Hilton proposed increasing the state's entertainment tax credit to 60 percent—substantially above the current 45 percent ceiling—positioning himself as a strong ally to the industry. Democrat Xavier Becerra, who initially lacked a Hollywood strategy, countered with a "California Content Performance Disclosure requirement" mandating that studios and streamers share standardized performance data with workers to support collective bargaining. The entertainment industry has experienced severe contraction, losing 51,000 jobs over three years, with soundstage occupancy at 62 percent and further decline possible. Both major Los Angeles mayoral candidates, Karen Bass and Nithya Raman, have also released industry rescue plans. The situation presents a strategic dilemma for Hollywood: Hilton offers substantial financial incentives but comes with conservative policy positions on environmental protections and housing that conflict with many industry liberals' values, while Becerra aligns ideologically but remains skeptical of lavish tax benefits.
What's missing
The article does not provide specific details on what Becerra's eventual Hollywood plan entails beyond the data disclosure requirement, nor does it explain the rationale behind his skepticism toward tax credits. Additionally, the article references Mayor Bass's 'new executive direct[ive]' but the text appears truncated, leaving that proposal incomplete.
What different sources said
- The Hollywood ReporterCenter
Can One of These Guys Save Hollywood?
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