Por Renan Filho · 2026-10-27**Lead**
Rob Riggle, the actor and comedian known for roles in *The Hangover* and *Step Brothers*, stated in a recent interview that Hollywood production work is rapidly vanishing from Los Angeles, calling steady employment there “the exception now.” His remarks reflect a broader shift in the entertainment industry, where runaway production has accelerated over the past decade, driven by tax incentives, lower costs, and changing business models.
**Context**
Riggle, 54, made the comments during a conversation about his career and the state of the industry. He noted that many of his peers no longer rely on LA-based gigs and that the city’s status as the undisputed center of American filmmaking is eroding. “It used to be that if you wanted to work in movies or TV, you had to be in LA. Now it’s the exception if a job is actually shooting here,” he said. His experience aligns with production data from industry trackers: in 2023, on-location filming in Los Angeles County fell by nearly 30% compared to pre-pandemic levels, while states like Georgia, New Mexico, and New York saw increases. The rise of streaming platforms has also decentralized content creation, with Netflix, Amazon, and Apple shooting series in Canada, the UK, and even Eastern Europe to stretch budgets.
California’s film tax credit program, originally intended to retain production, has been criticized for being too limited and competitive. Meanwhile, Georgia’s generous 30% transferable tax credit has made Atlanta the unofficial “Hollywood of the South,” hosting blockbusters like *Black Panther* and *Avengers: Endgame*. New Mexico has also become a hub for high-budget series like *Better Call Saul* and *Stranger Things*. The exodus is not limited to big-budget projects; independent films and smaller TV shows are increasingly shooting in states with lower costs of living and fewer union restrictions. The result is a hollowing out of the middle class of Hollywood workers – grips, electricians, costume designers – who can no longer find consistent work in Los Angeles.
Riggle’s perspective is particularly notable because he is based in Los Angeles and has worked steadily for decades. He acknowledged that the shift has personal consequences: “I love LA, but you have to follow the work. More and more, that means leaving town.” The phenomenon is part of a larger realignment in the entertainment economy. Post-pandemic, many productions remain hesitant to return to crowded urban sets, and studio executives have embraced the cost savings of shooting in less expensive locales. The Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023 only exacerbated uncertainty, prompting some productions to relocate to jurisdictions with more predictable labor environments.
**Analysis**
The implications of this trend extend beyond individual careers. Los Angeles has long been the cultural and economic engine of the global film industry, but its dominance is no longer guaranteed. The loss of production means a reduction in local tax revenue, hospitality spending, and support businesses – from catering companies to equipment rental houses. A 2024 report by the Milken Institute estimated that the film and television industry directly supports over 200,000 jobs in the Los Angeles area, but many of those positions are threatened as production migrates. If the trend continues, LA could become a headquarters city for studios but not a production hub, a model similar to what has happened in the music industry with Nashville.
Moreover, the shift affects the creative product itself. Stories are increasingly written and filmed in places that serve as both location and character, but the loss of a centralized film culture could fragment the collaborative ecosystem that made Hollywood famous. Riggle’s comment underscores a sentiment shared by many insiders: the golden age of Hollywood as a physical place may be ending. However, some analysts argue that the industry is simply maturing, and that distributed production can spur creative diversity and economic development in other regions.
From a policy perspective, California lawmakers have attempted to respond. In 2024, the state expanded its film tax credit program by $1.5 billion over five years, but critics say it is still too little, too late when stacked against the aggressive incentives offered by competitors like Georgia (which has no cap on credits) and Ontario, Canada. The battle for production is now a global one, with the United Kingdom, Australia, and even Malta offering lucrative rebates. For workers like Riggle, the calculus is simple: remain loyal to Los Angeles and risk unemployment, or chase the work wherever it goes.
**Fontes**
- Rob Riggle’s comments reported by The Hollywood Reporter (October 2026). - FilmLA production data for Los Angeles County (2023-2025). - Milken Institute report on the economic impact of the entertainment industry in Southern California (2024). - California Film Commission tax credit program details. - Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office incentives overview.