Academy Award-winning actor Jon Voight and his manager Steven Paul are set to present proposals to President Donald Trump aimed at
revitalizing the American film and television industry. The
initiative, expected to be unveiled this week according to Bloomberg, seeks to implement federal measures to enhance domestic media production.
The comprehensive plan extends beyond conventional state-level tax credits, encompassing potential incentives for infrastructure development, workforce training programs, and modifications to existing tax regulations. Paul emphasized the necessity of
establishing federal tax incentives to maintain competitiveness with international markets, stating that such measures are crucial for the industry’s survival.
The proposal comes at a time when U.S. film and television production has experienced a significant decline, particularly in California. Various countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Hungary, and Spain, have successfully attracted productions away from American soil through attractive tax incentive programs.
Paul highlighted the challenging conditions facing the domestic entertainment industry, noting the widespread impact on local professionals. “We’re feeling the cries of people in town,” he remarked, underlining the urgency of the situation.
In California, legislators are currently advancing a bill that would increase state film incentives from their current level to $750 million per year. Earlier this year, President Trump appointed Voight as a special ambassador to Hollywood, alongside fellow actors Mel Gibson and Sylvester Stallone, positioning them to address industry challenges.
The development of these proposals has involved extensive consultation with key stakeholders, according to Scott Karol, president of SP Media Group. The team has gathered input from studio executives, union representatives, and state officials to create comprehensive solutions.
One key element under consideration involves the enhancement and extension of Section 181 of the U.S. tax code. This provision currently permits $15 million in accelerated deductions for
productions but is scheduled to expire by year’s end. The proposal may seek to expand and preserve these benefits.
Another significant aspect of the plan focuses on encouraging long-term capital investments in production facilities, similar to Netflix’s recent decade-long commitment in New Jersey. Paul, who collaborated with Voight on “Man With No Past,” has already
demonstrated confidence in the potential success of these initiatives by planning to relocate three upcoming film projects to California and invest in a Los Angeles-based studio facility.
The initiative represents a strategic effort to address the ongoing exodus of production activities from the United States while creating a more competitive environment for domestic film and television projects. By establishing federal-level incentives, the proposal aims to reduce the current competition between individual states for production business and create a more unified approach to attracting projects that might otherwise be filmed overseas.
This comprehensive strategy reflects growing concerns about the sustainability of the U.S. entertainment industry in the face of increasing global competition. With other countries offering substantial financial incentives to attract major productions, the proposed measures seek to level the playing field and ensure the continued vitality of American film and television production.
The timing of the proposal coincides with broader discussions about the future of entertainment industry economics and the role of government support in maintaining American competitiveness in the global market for film and television production.