Alright movie fans you know rob lowe right? He's been a Hollywood staple forever. Recently he has been talking about something that is seriously bugging him: why Hollywood seems to be packing up and leaving california . And let's just say he is not holding back.
Rob Lowe Says California Film Industry Handling is 'Criminal' - Blames Leadership for Production Exodus
Rob Lowe went on his podcast "Literally!" and basically went off on California. He thinks the way the state is handling film and TV production is a total mess "criminal" even. He was chatting with his old Parks & Recreation buddy Adam Scott and things got heated about why so much filming is leaving Los Angeles.
Lowe hosts the game show "The Floor". Guess where they film it? Ireland. Yes Ireland. He told Adam Scott straight up "It’s cheaper to bring 100 American people to Ireland than to walk across the lot at Fox past the sound stages and do it there." Crazy right?
Adam Scott was shocked too. He pointed out that "nothing shoots in Los Angeles" anymore. They even wondered if Parks & Recreation a show famously set in Indiana would even film in LA if it was made today. Lowe's answer? "One-hundred percent we would be. We’d be in Budapest." Budapest! Things are serious when Budapest is considered cheaper than LA.
California's Film Production Problem: Tax Credits Costs and Competition Heating Up
Lowe is not alone in feeling this way. FilmLA a group that tracks filming permits says 2024 was a really bad year for production in Los Angeles. It was the second least productive year ever only beating out the pandemic year of 2020. Production is down over 30% compared to the usual. What's going on?
Lots of reasons but money is a big one. Lowe claims California is seriously lacking in tax credits for film productions. He said other places are offering incentives up to "40% — 40%". He wasn't just talking about other states but even countries like Ireland and Hungary. It's not just taxes either. He mentioned "union stuff" and just the overall economics making it way cheaper to film outside of California.
He went as far as to say "it’s criminal what California and LA have let happen — it’s criminal. Everybody should be fired." Strong words from Rob Lowe.
Is California Actually Doing Nothing? Tax Incentives and Efforts to Bring Productions Back
Now it is not like California is totally ignoring this problem. California does have a tax incentive program. They offer around $330 million in tax credits each year. Just recently they approved about $114 million in tax breaks for 51 different projects. That's actually a record for California's film incentive program.
Why 'The Floor' Films in Ireland: The Dollar and Cents of International Production
Rob Lowe's game show "The Floor" filming in Ireland really highlights the situation. "The Floor" is a trivia competition with American contestants and a big $250000 prize in US dollars not Euros. But filming it in Ireland makes financial sense.
Lowe joked about it being cheaper to fly 100 Americans to Ireland put them up in hotels and film there than to just use sound stages in Los Angeles. That is a staggering difference. Ireland like places like Budapest and even states like Georgia and Louisiana offer really attractive tax breaks and incentives to filmmakers. They want the film business and they are willing to pay for it.
Los Angeles on the other hand is getting more and more expensive. Even though there is tons of infrastructure sound stages crew and everything else Hollywood is known for the costs are driving productions away. And as Lowe pointed out all those sound stages in LA are sitting "completely empty". It is a tough situation for California.
Beyond Tax Credits: Hollywood's IP Obsession and the Future of Original Storytelling
It's not just about tax credits though. There is a bigger trend in Hollywood right now. Studios are increasingly focused on "intellectual property" or IP. Think superhero movies remakes sequels anything familiar that is seen as a safe bet. Original stories are becoming less common.
This focus on IP is also driven by money and what studios see as less risky. Franchises and established characters bring in audiences. But some argue that this reliance on IP is hurting creativity and original storytelling. A recent report noted that while IP content dominates viewership only a small percentage of new releases are based on existing IP and that number is actually decreasing.
The real point is Hollywood needs to find a balance. IP can be successful but original ideas are where new franchises and iconic characters come from in the first place. And maybe supporting original storytelling is part of making Hollywood and California film production thrive again.
Rob Lowe's Hollywood Squares Gig and More: Staying Busy in Hollywood (and Ireland!)
Despite his frustrations with the California film industry Rob Lowe is still keeping busy in Hollywood. He is hosting "Literally!" podcast. He is filming "The Floor" game show in Ireland. And he is also part of the reboot of the classic game show "Hollywood Squares" on CBS.
In fact Rob Lowe is hosting a primetime version of "Hollywood Squares" called "Pop Culture Jeopardy!". He is definitely staying active even if he is concerned about the bigger picture of Hollywood production.
Key Takeaways: Rob Lowe California and the Hollywood Exodus
- Rob Lowe Blasts California: He says California's handling of film production is "criminal" due to high costs and lack of tax incentives.
- Cheaper to Film Overseas: Lowe's game show "The Floor" films in Ireland because it is cheaper than filming in Los Angeles.
- Tax Credits are Key: Other states and countries offer much more attractive tax incentives drawing productions away from California.
- California Trying to Respond: California does have tax credits but they may not be enough to compete. Governor Newsom proposed expanding the program.
- Empty Sound Stages: Despite being Hollywood's home Los Angeles sound stages are increasingly empty.
- IP vs Originality: Hollywood's focus on IP and franchises may be overshadowing original storytelling and contributing to financial pressures.
- Lowe Still Working: Despite his concerns Lowe remains active in Hollywood hosting podcasts game shows and more.