President Trump’s initial proposal to impose a 100% tariff on foreign-produced films was met with bafflement and horror in Hollywood. But for lawmakers who represent film industry workers, it looked like an opportunity. “I would like to refocus the conversation around a national film tax credit,” said Rep. Laura Friedman, a Democrat from Burbank. “We know this works.”
Source: Could Trump’s Movie Tariff Add Momentum for Federal Filming Incentive?
The executives argued on the call that many films are still shot in the U.S, including in such production hotspots as Georgia, New Jersey, and New York that offer generous production incentives, according to three people with knowledge of the discussion. They hope that they can convince the president that the problem of runaway production mostly impacts the state of California, which does not offer the same level of subsidies as other states.
Source: Hollywood Studios Strategize on How to Handle Trump Tariff Threats at MPA Special Meeting
On Monday (May 12), the House of Lords voted 272 to 125 in favor of an amendment to the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill that would require AI companies to disclose which copyrighted materials they used in training their systems. The amendment, which was introduced by crossbench peer Baroness Beeban Kidron, passed despite government opposition. It marks the second time the Lords have supported increased transparency measures in the Bill.
Source: UK government faces second House of Lords defeat over AI copyright rules
Despite all the glamour that makes Cannes such a singular experience, there’s palpable anxiety as the festival gets ready to kick off its 78th edition. Many executives fear that Trump’s tariffs will jeopardize their businesses. There’s widespread confusion about how the tariffs on foreign-made films would be administered. If they do go into effect, they threaten to unravel a network of foreign subsidies that studios and indies rely on to finance their movies.
Source: How Trump’s Tariffs Could Derail the Cannes Film Festival
Top Hollywood studio execs are scheduled to hold a call with Motion Pictures Association chair-CEO Charles Rivkin on Friday to discuss President Donald Trump’s surprise proposal to impose tariffs on movies shot outside of the United States. So far, the MPA — which is the main trade organization representing movie studios and their parent companies — has yet to officially respond to Trump’s comments regarding tariffs.
Source: Hollywood Studio Heads to Address Trump’s Tariff Proposal With MPA Chief Charles Rivkin (Exclusive)
SAG-AFTRA’s national executive director and chief negotiator has weighed in on President Donald Trump’s idea to apply tariffs to films produced outside the U.S. — and signaled an open mind about it. Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the staff leader of the 160,000-strong performers union, said in a statement on Monday that “SAG-AFTRA supports efforts to increase movie, television and streaming production in the United States.”
Source: SAG-AFTRA’s Chief Negotiator Is Open to White House Efforts to Boost Movie Production in U.S.
With Hollywood reeling from the potential cataclysmic effects of Donald Trump‘s calls for 100 percent tariffs on non-U.S. produced movies, California Gov. Gavin Newsom sprung into action on Monday evening, proposing a team up with the White House on a $7.5 billion federal film tax credit scheme to provide relief to the entertainment industry.
A new report from Ernst & Young suggests that artificial intelligence could bring measurable financial benefits to the media and entertainment industry, predicting a 10% increase in revenue and a 15% decrease in operational costs for companies that adopt the technology strategically. With content demands growing across streaming, digital platforms, and global markets, the findings come at a moment when studios are seeking ways to scale output without scaling overhead.
Source: AI Adoption Projected to Boost Media Industry Revenue by 10% — AI In Hollywood
Google should sell two of its ad businesses to address antitrust issues, the U.S. Justice Department said in a court filing after a federal judge ruled last month that the tech giant had created a monopoly in advertising, a move that could upend one of the company’s core businesses. Citing a court opinion issued April 17, a court filing dated May 5 said Google unlawfully acquired and maintained monopoly power in the ad-exchange market, which has harmed competition.
Warner Music Group has launched a new app called WMG Pulse, described as a “powerful new platform that puts clear, meaningful insights into the hands of artists and songwriters”. The app lets WMG artists, songwriters, their managers, and teams access real-time information about streaming performance, fan engagement, and earnings across various platforms.