Hollywood Reacts to Election Results
The recent election outcomes have led to a significant wave of disappointment throughout the entertainment industry, with Hollywood producers beginning to ponder the implications of a new Trump administration. As many creatives express their anger and anxiety following Trump’s re-election, there is a growing concern about how his policies may shape the future of the industry, particularly regarding trade agreements and international tariffs that he has proposed to impose.
These potential changes are anticipated to present new hurdles for U.S. producers, potentially affecting the export of American films and television shows to international markets. Furthermore, countries that face these trade tariffs might limit access to American entertainment content, complicating the global distribution landscape.
For instance, Trump’s commitment to increase tariffs on Chinese-made goods to as high as 60 percent could provoke retaliatory actions from Beijing, further complicating trade relations.
The Hollywood Reporter has highlighted the sentiments of various Hollywood producers in the wake of this week’s election results. One anonymous source, described as an “indie industry veteran,” shared their reaction: “When I saw the results come in, and Trump had won, I just wanted to put my head down on my desk and weep. However, in terms of the business, we’ll need to see how much will actually change.”
Regarding the impact on international productions that are considering filming in the United States, Australian producer Jim Robison of Lunar Pictures stated: “Coming to America feels akin to navigating Europe, where we have to deal with a myriad of different states to understand the rebates and support available. It’s frankly quite confusing in the U.S.” He further added, “The best we can realistically hope for is that he simply leaves the entertainment industry alone.”
The Motion Picture Association (MPA), the primary lobbying group for major studios, has released a statement expressing its eagerness to collaborate on “a broad spectrum of critical issues affecting the film, TV, and streaming sectors, which collectively support more than 2.7 million American jobs, sustain over 240,000 businesses across cities and small towns nationwide, and deliver in excess of $242 billion in wages to our workforce each year.”
