As America’s production industry struggles through one of its steepest downturns in decades, the Coalition for American Production (CAP) is heading to Washington, D.C., this November to rally for a federal film and television tax incentive—a long-sought measure that advocates say could reignite domestic production, protect U.S. jobs, and reclaim a multibillion-dollar industry that’s been quietly offshored.

The newly formed coalition, comprised of stage owners, producers, vendors, and creative professionals from across the country, will host a three-day lobbying event in Washington from November 5–8, meeting with lawmakers to make the case for a national incentive framework. The trip comes amid declining U.S. production volume, shuttered soundstages, and escalating international competition.

“You hear Trump talk about onshoring American manufacturing jobs—well, the film and TV production business is no different,” says Rudy Callegari, one of CAP’s founder. “We already have the factories: soundstages sitting empty across the country. We already have the skilled labor: tens of thousands of trained crew members waiting for work. We don’t need to rebuild this industry—we just need to activate it.”

America’s Production Decline

According to FilmLA, on-location filming in Los Angeles has dropped nearly 50% year-over-year, with television production down more than 40% and feature activity hovering near pandemic-era lows. Nationwide, production volume remains roughly 40% below pre-strike levels, according to data from ProdPro, signaling a sustained contraction rather than a temporary slowdown.

“LA has seen a big decline in Film and TV production starts” says Markley Lumpkins, who manages the Historic Lot at Formosa Studios in West Hollywood. “It’s heartbreaking to walk through these spaces knowing how many livelihoods they used to support. Crew members, grips, gaffers—these are middle-class jobs disappearing by the week.”

The Motion Picture Association estimates that film and television support 2.5 million American jobs and contribute more than $230 billion annually to the national economy. But as foreign jurisdictions—from the U.K. and Canada to Australia and Italy—offer national incentives ranging from 30–50%, the U.S. remains fragmented across 30-plus state programs with limited reach and inconsistent funding.

What CAP Wants

CAP’s proposed legislation would establish a federal baseline tax credit for qualified U.S. productions, designed to complement—not replace—state programs. By creating a predictable, unified framework, CAP argues the plan would restore investor confidence, stabilize job creation, and allow U.S. soundstages and vendors to compete with foreign markets.

The proposal also includes workforce training bonuses, domestic labor minimums, and annual ROI reporting to ensure accountability—addressing critics who’ve long dismissed film incentives as “corporate welfare.”

“Every time a production leaves the U.S., we lose not just spending, but the entire creative ecosystem that grows around it,” says Callegari. “This isn’t about handouts—it’s about keeping an American industry competitive on a global stage.”

The Human Stakes

Vendors, rental houses, and stage operators across the country are feeling the impact firsthand. In Atlanta, stage occupancy has fallen below 60% for the first time in five years. In Albuquerque and Chicago, long-term production leases have been terminated mid-contract. Nationwide, union leaders estimate that more than 100,000 crew members remain underemployed or idle.

“This is not a Hollywood problem—it’s a national one,” Lumpkins adds. “From Texas to Pennsylvania, there are crews with decades of experience sitting at home, and stages collecting dust. A federal incentive would mean turning the lights back on—literally.”

Anticipating the Counterarguments

Critics of film incentives have long argued that the returns don’t justify the costs, citing uneven ROI across state programs. CAP says its model addresses those concerns head-on, with provisions for federal oversight, job-creation thresholds, and investment caps tied to verified economic impact.

The Call to Action

For CAP, the message is clear: America’s production infrastructure already exists—it just needs to be reactivated.

The CAP D.C. Advocacy Trip takes place November 5–8, 2025.

To register or join the Coalition for American Production, visit: https://usacap.org