Hollywood star sounds alarm over disappearing jobs as productions flee California
Actor and comedian Jeff Garlin says he has had almost no acting work since *Curb Your Enthusiasm* ended nearly three years ago, reflecting wider concerns about production leaving California and the United States. His comments come as the industry faces job losses and questions over whether new tax incentives can bring work back.
California says expanded state incentives have awarded production support to 35 films, including 28 independent projects, and could generate more than $1 billion in direct spending. The state estimates they will support work for over 5,400 cast and crew members and 24,800 background actors; meanwhile, federal lawmakers are pursuing a film and television tax credit. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says the industry has lost 49,000 jobs since 2022, while actor Bryan Callen says high costs and changing viewing habits have made acting alone an unreliable living.
- Jeff Garlin says he has barely worked as an actor in nearly three years.
- US film and television has lost 49,000 jobs since 2022.
- New state and proposed federal incentives aim to attract productions.
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California has long been a centre of film and television production, supporting work for actors and for crews in areas such as lighting, set building and transport. Productions can choose where to film, and some have moved to places offering lower costs or tax breaks.
Jeff Garlin is an actor and comedian known for the television series Curb Your Enthusiasm. His experience comes amid wider concern about fewer jobs in the screen industry. California and federal lawmakers are using tax incentives to try to attract more productions, while industry workers point to costs and changing viewing habits as factors affecting employment.
The issue matters to communities and businesses that rely on production work, as well as to people trying to build careers in film and television. Incentives may encourage projects to film in a particular place, but their effect on the number and stability of jobs is a continuing question.
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The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of tax incentives argue that production brings valuable work to cast, crew and local businesses, and that California’s awards could generate substantial spending and employment. With the industry having lost tens of thousands of jobs, targeted credits may help keep productions at home and sustain the skills and infrastructure on which the sector depends.
The case against
Critics can argue that incentives may redirect public money to productions that would have happened anyway, while doing little to address high costs, changing viewing habits or the wider decline in demand for work. They may favour letting production locations compete on their underlying costs and using public funds for broader priorities, especially when the promised jobs and spending are estimates rather than guarantees.
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