Two Years After Hollywood Strikes

Two Years After the Hollywood Strikes, Film Production Faces a New Geography

By Mike Fortin, CineDrones News Service

LOS ANGELES (AP) — On May 1, 2023, picket lines formed outside the gates of major Los Angeles studios. The Writers Guild of America launched its first strike in over 15 years, demanding fair pay, protections from artificial intelligence, and better residuals from streaming platforms.

By July 14, 2023, SAG-AFTRA members joined them in a rare dual strike, halting almost all unionized film and television production in the United States. The historic labor action stretched on for months, creating ripple effects that continue to shake the industry two years later.

When WGA members reached a deal on Sept. 27, 2023, and SAG-AFTRA ratified its agreement on Nov. 9, 2023, many hoped for a rapid rebound. Instead, Hollywood found itself facing an even bigger challenge: a permanent reshaping of where and how productions are made.


Timeline of Disruption and Decline

  • May 1, 2023 — WGA strike begins.
  • July 14, 2023 — SAG-AFTRA strike starts; nearly all scripted production halts.
  • Sept. 27, 2023 — WGA ends strike.
  • Nov. 9, 2023 — SAG-AFTRA ends strike; filming resumes.
  • 2024 — Studio cost-cutting slashes production budgets. Many planned projects are shelved.
  • 2025 — Out-of-state film hubs see unprecedented growth as crew migration accelerates.

The Rise of Out-of-State Film Hubs

In the wake of the strikes, production incentives outside California became more attractive than ever. Georgia — already a dominant player thanks to Marvel blockbusters and Netflix hits — continues to offer a generous 20% base credit with an additional 10% for including the state’s logo in credits.

New Mexico has strengthened its already popular 25–35% refundable tax credit, attracting shows like Stranger ThingsBetter Call Saul, and a wave of new indie features. Oklahoma has carved out a niche with up to 38% rebates, particularly appealing for period pieces and Westerns.

Even states not historically linked to film — Texas, Utah, Nevada — are making aggressive moves. Utah’s diverse landscapes, Nevada’s proximity to Los Angeles, and Texas’ massive sound stages are bringing in a steady stream of productions.

Why this matters for Hollywood professionals: Lower living costs, reliable work, and aggressive state outreach programs have made relocation not just appealing, but in many cases, necessary.


California’s Struggle to Compete

California still offers one of the nation’s most prestigious film tax credit programs — but it’s capped, competitive, and doesn’t come close to matching the open-ended incentives in other states.

According to FilmLA, on-location filming days in Los Angeles are still down nearly 30% compared to pre-strike levels. Entire departments — grips, set decorators, drone pilots, VFX crews — have moved out of state, many permanently.

For aerial cinematography companies like CineDrones, the shift has been dramatic. Drone crews once booked solid with studio work in Los Angeles now find themselves filming in Atlanta, Albuquerque, and Las Vegas more often than Hollywood proper.


How the Strikes Reshaped the Industry

  1. Crew Migration – Thousands of below-the-line workers have relocated to incentive-heavy states.
  2. Non-Union Growth – Independent and streaming productions are bypassing Hollywood’s traditional labor structure.
  3. Increased AI Integration – Writers, editors, and even background actors are being partially replaced by AI tools.
  4. Economic Fallout – Prop houses, rental facilities, and post-production studios in California have closed or downsized.
  5. Drone Filming Demand Shift – High-end aerial shots are now in demand in rural and out-of-state locations where production has relocated.

Other States Are Welcoming Hollywood Evacuees

State film offices have become proactive recruiters. Georgia Film Office has hosted networking events specifically for California expats. New Mexico’s Film Office has launched relocation assistance programs. Oklahoma has actively courted aerial cinematography companies, knowing drone filming has become essential to modern production.

“They’re not just offering tax breaks,” said one veteran director of photography who moved from Burbank to Albuquerque. “They’re offering stability, community, and the promise of steady work.”


Looking Ahead

Two years after the first picket signs went up, Los Angeles faces an uphill battle to win back its displaced workforce. As technology, incentives, and production models evolve, the industry may never return to its pre-strike geography.

For companies like CineDrones, adaptability is key. The demand for cinematic aerial shots, drone-based establishing footage, and high-production-value aerial cinematography isn’t disappearing — it’s just moving. And right now, that movement is toward the states rolling out the welcome mat for Hollywood’s evacuees.


About the Author:
Mike Fortin is the founder of CineDrones, a Hollywood-based aerial cinematography company with credits on major television series and feature films. With over a decade of drone and camera operation experience, Fortin has worked across the U.S. and internationally, capturing cinematic visuals for some of the industry’s biggest productions.