Hollywood Stars Push for U. S. Film Tax Help

Jon Voight, a well‑known actor, met with President Trump in February to ask for a federal tax credit that would make making movies and TV shows in America cheaper. The meeting happened at the White House, a place where politicians discuss big ideas for the country’s future. Voight is not alone; he works with other film leaders like the Motion Picture Association and the Directors Guild of America. Their plan is to give a 20 percent credit on labor costs for any U. S. production. If a film is made by an independent company, or in a disaster area, it could earn an extra 5 percent. These credits would stack with state offers, giving producers a better deal than in places like Britain or Canada. The goal is simple: keep Hollywood jobs and stories inside the United States.Other countries give filmmakers money or cheaper workers, so many choose to film abroad. In the first quarter of this year, U. S. filming fell 10 percent compared with last year. Meanwhile, Britain and Canada together took almost a third of all global productions. Trump has shown interest in protecting Hollywood. In 2025 he suggested a 100 percent tariff on foreign movies to bring work back home. Industry people like Voight want the president to support tax incentives instead of tariffs. California has already doubled its film money, giving $750 million in 2025. The result is a noticeable rise in shooting days in Los Angeles—about 11 percent more than last year. These changes show that financial help can bring projects back to U. S. studios and crews.