Hollywood’s Voting Guide for the Midterm Election

The entertainment community in Hollywood is eagerly anticipating the outcomes of a mid-term election that could significantly impact the industry. The city of Los Angeles, in particular, is at a critical juncture due to a combination of factors including industry struggles, job cuts, and escalating media consolidation. This situation has led to a decline in production days on location in the city.

Two mayoral races are currently shaping up as the most competitive ones in this election. The race between incumbent Mayor Karen Bass and her challenger, District 4 Councilmember Nithya Raman, has become a tight contest, with 19% of Los Angeles residents still undecided. Both candidates have pledged to support Hollywood and the entertainment industry, but their approaches differ.

Mayor Karen Bass, a longtime advocate for the entertainment industry, has repeatedly mentioned her commitment to Hollywood during her campaign. She points to her previous role as Speaker of the California State Assembly, where she fought for the first tax credit program for the industry. If re-elected, Bass plans to maintain her film czar position, expand industry support, and continue to streamline permitting processes for film and TV productions. However, her tenure has seen a decline in productions and a loss of film jobs.

On the other hand, Nithya Raman, the challenger, has been very vocal about her personal connection to the entertainment industry, mentioning that her husband is a TV writer-producer. She has criticized the current leadership for slow and unpredictable permitting processes, contradictory departmental actions, and high fees for smaller productions.

Raman has pledged to staff the L.A. Film Office with individuals who have industry experience, engage studios and production companies to encourage local production, and lower or eliminate fees for smaller projects. She has also been endorsed by the Writers Guild of America (WGA).