Karen Bass is cutting film fees in L.A. as her reelection campaign heats up

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has rolled out a new incentive for Hollywood: temporary cuts to city fees for film and TV productions. The move, announced Tuesday, is aimed at making L.A. a more attractive place to shoot as the entertainment industry increasingly looks elsewhere for lower costs and better subsidies. With the June 2 primary election just six weeks away, the timing has raised eyebrows - but also hope - among industry workers and city leaders alike.

For years, L.A. has watched as productions migrate to places like Atlanta, Albuquerque, and even overseas, drawn by generous tax credits and streamlined permitting. While California does offer a statewide tax credit program, local city fees in Los Angeles have remained a sticking point. Bass's new plan temporarily reduces those fees, potentially saving productions thousands on location shoots, studio use, and street closures. The cuts are not permanent, but they signal a shift in tone from an administration that's been accused of sidelining Hollywood's concerns.

The film and TV industry remains a major employer in the region, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs from camera operators to caterers. But since the pandemic and the writers' and actors' strikes of 2023, production levels have stayed below pre-2020 highs. Union leaders and studio executives have both said that local policy decisions can make or break a shoot's feasibility. Bass's office argues the fee reductions are a practical response to real economic pressure, not just political optics.

Still, some critics aren't convinced. An opinion piece in the New York Post dismissed Bass's broader 2026-27 budget proposal as uninspired, suggesting the film fee cuts are a last-minute attempt to placate a powerful voting bloc. The city faces urgent issues - homelessness, wildfire preparedness, and the upcoming 2028 Olympics - and some say the budget doesn't go far enough on any of them. The Post piece called the film incentive an "ironic surprise" in an otherwise status-quo plan.

Supporters, however, see the move as smart pragmatism. They argue that keeping entertainment jobs in L.A. strengthens the entire city's economy, from small businesses near filming sites to long-term tax revenue. The film industry has deep roots in the city's identity, and losing more ground could have lasting ripple effects. Bass has not held back in framing the cuts as part of her broader economic recovery agenda.

With the primary approaching, every policy decision is under scrutiny. Bass is running on her record - including public safety improvements and housing initiatives - but her critics say she hasn't moved fast enough. The film fee cuts may not solve L.A.'s biggest problems, but they could help shift the narrative, especially among creative workers who've felt overlooked.

Whether this translates into votes remains to be seen. What's clear is that Hollywood isn't just making movies in L.A. - it's also watching closely who's running the city.