Post-production workers—editors, musicians, and sound designers—are joining the ranks of those hit hardest by Hollywood’s shifting economic reality. As work continues to flow out of California, insiders now acknowledge that the once-secure entertainment jobs are becoming increasingly scarce and replaceable in the global digital marketplace.
Stephanie O’Keefe, president of American Federation of Musicians Local 47, explained how digital tools have gutted the need for American union labor. In decades past, scoring a film required flying composers and orchestras to one location. Now, technology allows directors to hire non-union musicians from overseas for a fraction of the cost.
The growing use of remote work and foreign labor is coupled with a more favorable business climate in states like Georgia, Louisiana, and Ohio. These states offer targeted tax incentives to film productions, outpacing California’s inconsistent policies. Sound designer Karen Baker Landers is leading a grassroots “Stay in LA” campaign, hoping to pressure lawmakers to bolster California’s competitiveness.
Scott George, head of the Motion Picture Editors Guild, confirmed that multiple unions are lobbying for changes to California’s tax code. However, many in the industry are beginning to accept that the golden era of secure, high-paying union jobs may never return.
The underlying truth mirrors broader economic shifts. Much like journalism and publishing, the entertainment industry has been upended by the internet and global competition. The barriers that once protected elite positions—union requirements, local access, and industry connections—have largely evaporated.
In this open digital marketplace, talent alone does not guarantee higher wages. Producers now select from a global talent pool, and many American workers are finding themselves undercut by equally skilled professionals working abroad for less. The industry’s pleas for targeted incentives fall flat for many observers who see this as selective Reaganomics—demanding tax breaks for Hollywood while opposing business-friendly reforms for everyone else.
Critics point to California’s leadership as another reason jobs continue to flee. Policies from Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass have created an anti-business environment. High taxes, rampant crime, street disorder, and regulatory overreach are making California an unattractive place to film.
The message from economic realists is clear: adapt or lose your job. Those who expect the old rules to protect their positions indefinitely may find themselves left behind. Hollywood’s post-production workers are facing the same hard truth confronting much of the modern labor force—entitlement won’t keep the lights on.
