Everything We Know About Where Movies are Made

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Hey honeys and hustlers,

In the collective imagination, "Hollywood" remains synonymous with filmmaking and celebrity culture. However, the physical reality tells a different story. Over the past few decades, film and television production have steadily moved away from the traditional California epicenter. Films with theatrical releases (thank goodness those are still around) are now increasingly made in different places across the United States and other countries. Once the undisputed home of American filmmaking, Los Angeles has seen a dramatic decline in production volume. According to data from FilmLA, the region's film office, feature film production in Los Angeles has decreased by over 50% since the early 2000s. Even before the pandemic and recent industry strikes further disrupted production patterns, this trend was well established. Hollywood has left Los Angeles – let’s talk about why and what it means for indie filmmakers (including crew and on-camera talent) hoping to make it big.

P.S. Catch me on Substack live twice this week! Tuesday evening at 8PM EST with Michelle and Corey and Wednesday evening at 6:30PM EST with Marz Marcello.

There is probably no region that has benefited more from Hollywood's migration than the South, particularly Atlanta. Georgia’s film industry generated over $4.4 billion in direct spending in fiscal year 2022 alone. Major studios like Tyler Perry Studios and Trilith Studios (formerly Pinewood Atlanta) have established massive production facilities in the city.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe, one of the most financially successful film franchises in history, has largely made Atlanta its production home, with films like "Black Panther," "Avengers: Endgame," and other Disney+ series you’d probably recognize.

New Orleans and the state of Louisiana pioneered aggressive tax incentives that helped kick off the runaway production trend. Films and TV series like “Sinners,” “Rebel Ridge,” and “NCIS New Orleans” were all filmed here.

New Jersey seems to be taking a page out of Louisiana’s book and reaping the benefits. Netflix has broken ground on a massive $903 million, 12-soundstage mega studio in New Jersey. This development, backed by generous tax incentives, is projected to inject $4.6 billion into the local economy.

New Jersey's proximity to New York City (itself a major production center), combined with significantly lower costs and substantial tax breaks, makes it an increasingly attractive option for studios looking to film on the East Coast.

The single most influential factor in production relocation from Hollywood has been competitive tax incentives. States like Georgia offer up to 30% transferable tax credits, significantly reducing production costs compared to California. These incentives can save productions millions of dollars, making them nearly impossible to ignore in budget-conscious decision-making.

When Netflix commits to spending over $900 million on a New Jersey facility, it's not just about building infrastructure—it's about positioning itself to maximize tax advantages while maintaining access to creative talent. Production in regions with lower costs of living delivers multiple economic advantages. Housing costs for cast and crew, facility rentals, catering, and virtually every aspect of production can be significantly reduced outside of California's expensive cities.

Many of the states attracting film production have weaker union protections and right-to-work laws. While major productions typically still work with union talent, the overall labor climate can result in cost savings and greater flexibility (read = your favorite YouTuber turned filmmaker or freelancer turned filmmaker probably doesn’t know the first thing about working with union talent or providing health insurance for others).

The decentralization of filmmaking raises important questions about cultural influence and identity in American cinema. When films are made across a more diverse geographic landscape, this influences the stories being told. We’re seeing more regional perspectives and diverse storytelling. The South. The Midwest. Internationally.

Indie filmmaking is not exempt from this seeming abandonment of Hollywood dreams. Indie filmmakers are creating their own ecosystems and festivals, further challenging the centralized model of traditional Hollywood.

AMC's reported plan to slash prices by 50% on Wednesdays starting this month highlights the struggles theaters face in attracting audiences between weekends.

This pricing strategy reflects broader challenges in the theatrical model, which may further influence where and how films are produced. Lower budget films (especially docuseries) have found themselves increasingly produced for streaming platforms rather than theatrical release, potentially accelerating production migration to lower-cost regions. But with theatres in the US at only 11% capacity, this presents a gap for indie filmmakers to help fill. In the Colin and Samir episode with Max Reisinger of Creator Camp, I believe he said that if a production company or studio helped fill just 1% of movie theatre capacity each year, that’s an $85M opportunity. 🤯

"Hollywood" increasingly represents an idea or an approach to filmmaking rather than a geographic center. The creative and business ecosystem once concentrated in a few square miles of Los Angeles now spans continents. It hasn’t disappeared—it's expanded. The dream factory now operates from Atlanta to New Jersey, from New Orleans to Detroit, creating a more distributed but no less influential entertainment industry. And honestly, I don’t think audiences will care as long as the movies are good.