People were worried that Los Angeles could become like Detroit. Detroit was a city that relied on one industry, and it became much smaller when that industry left. This worry was discussed at a meeting about the film and TV business. They talked about the big decrease in making films and TV shows in Hollywood and California. They also talked about trying to get the state to offer more tax help for the film and TV industry.

On Monday evening, the event focused on a later part of making movies and TV shows. This part, which includes adding music and finishing the work, is also facing difficulties now.

Noelle Stehman, who is part of the "Stay in LA" group, spoke at the event. She said that if we don't do something, the film and TV industry in California will become like the car industry in Detroit was.

It is becoming very important to get more support for a plan to give tax breaks to film companies. Some politicians think this is just giving money to big companies, but Senator Allen does not agree.

He told the big group that the companies don't care where they make their shows. They are still making shows, and the people who own the companies are rich and will always be fine.

This is not just giving away tax money, Zbur said. This program helps people keep their jobs and their homes. If we don't do this, it will cost much more than these tax breaks.

He said, "I ask my friends who work with me: Why do you think other countries have these good tax plans? Because they make money, and because people like these jobs. Why are we just watching other people take the jobs we have made here?"

Many people from the film and music world came to the event. Important people like the head of the Recording Academy, the head of the California Film Commission, and someone from FilmLA were there. They talked about how some film and music jobs are leaving Los Angeles. This is causing problems for businesses and the people who work in these jobs.

This happened just a few hours after FilmLA shared its newest information about filming. This information showed that the number of days spent filming in the first three months of 2025 was 22% lower than in the same time the year before.

Alex LoVerde, the head of ProdPro, said, "These jobs are still here, but they have gone to other places." He said the US has made 26% less since 2022. For example, Australia has made 14% more.

People who work in movies and music are having problems. For example, Bobbi Banks, who works with sound, said she only worked for three months in the last year and a half. She had a student with her from another state. She asked the people listening what she should tell students who want to move to Los Angeles to find work. Another artist, Efram Potelle, who makes special effects, said it was hard to talk to his family about money.

Talking about music for films and TV was even sadder. Two music producers, Peter Rotter and Jasper Randall, said that in Los Angeles, music studios were used much less to record music for films and TV. In 2022, studios were used 127 days, but this year only 11 days so far. They also said that making music costs much less in other countries like Austria and Slovakia.

The sound editor Karen Baker Landers wanted a special rule for the part of making films that happens after filming. She said other places have these rules, and this helps them get more film work.

The Oscar winner said that movies used to finish their work in California, even if they filmed in other places. But this is not happening now. Jobs like special effects, sound, and music are leaving California because other places give money to companies that work there. This has made many people in California lose their jobs, not just in the movie business, but also in other businesses that help them.

Leaders in the state know the situation is very bad. The governor wants to make the state's program to help movies and TV shows much bigger. Other politicians want to add more help too. If their plans become law, the state could pay back 35% of the costs for making movies and TV. Also, short TV shows, cartoons, and some reality shows could get this help.

The group that planned the event on Monday thinks these ideas could help solve the problem, but they are not the whole solution. They say they need more than just tax help to make L.A.'s entertainment businesses strong again for a long time.

This event was part of a bigger plan to bring more movie and TV work back to L.A.

For example, on April 6, many people went to a meeting called "Stay in L.A." in Burbank. They wanted to keep the work in L.A. After this, a politician named Laura Friedman and groups for workers wrote a letter. They asked movie companies and online TV services to make more movies and shows in Hollywood.

But the industry also needs to find answers from people who work in it. In a meeting, a senator said that groups of workers and creative people should talk to each other. He said that 'difficult talks need to happen between workers and bosses.' The head of a music workers' group agreed and said her group was ready to join in.

Landers said, "I think people around the world are watching what California does with these offers. They know if we do well, California can do well again."