Is Hollywood Ever Coming Back to Hollywood?
by Mike Fortin | April 2, 2025
Once upon a time, Hollywood wasn’t just an industry—it was the place. The beating heart of film and television. But lately, that heartbeat’s gotten fainter, and the headlines just keep getting more discouraging.
Studios are scaling back. Budgets are shrinking. And California—once the undisputed capital of global entertainment—is looking more and more like a nostalgic postcard than the future of filmmaking.
Yes, Governor Newsom has touted new incentives and tax breaks to lure back productions, but let’s be honest… does anyone really care? Because at the end of the day, dollars matter—but freedom matters more. And when it comes to shooting in LA, the restrictions, permits, fees, and red tape make it harder and harder to justify.
Other states and even other countries are rolling out the red carpet—literally. They’re not just throwing money at the industry; they’re welcoming it with open arms. They recognize what Hollywood forgot: this industry generates serious cash, serious jobs, and serious visibility.
Meanwhile, California seems to be stuck in the past, assuming the industry will always come crawling back. But times have changed. Productions are nimbler. Tech has evolved. Drones, virtual production, remote post—Hollywood doesn’t need to stay in Hollywood anymore to make magic.
At CineDrones, we’ve seen the shift firsthand. We used to be booked nonstop in the hills of Malibu or the streets of DTLA. Now? We’re getting calls from Utah, Georgia, New Mexico, even overseas. Not because they’re cheaper (though they often are)—but because they’re easier. They want the business. They value the creativity. They don’t treat filmmakers like a nuisance.
So the question isn’t can Hollywood come back to Hollywood—it’s, does it even want to?
And maybe more importantly: do we?
