LOS ANGELES, CA — On Friday, February 28, the Select Committee on Jobs and Innovation in The San Fernando Valley, chaired by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D – Woodland Hills), hosted a hearing on the state of the entertainment industry in Los Angeles. During this hearing, experts from the California Film Commission, industry, business, and labor organizations provided testimony and answered questions concerning the current status and future of the entertainment industry in the Los Angeles region.
A recent study commissioned by the Otis College of Arts and Design found that California’s creative industries support 2.68 million jobs and generate $650 billion in economic activity. In Los Angeles County, creative industries account for 16.3% of the total job base.
“Today’s hearing was a valuable opportunity for state lawmakers to learn more about how we can best support the entertainment industry and create new opportunities in our region,” said Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D – Woodland Hills). “We look forward to taking the ideas from this valuable discussion and applying them to our work in Sacramento.”
During the hearing, representatives from the California Film Commission, Film LA, MPAA, Valley Industry and Commerce Association (VICA), International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), and members of the public shared their views about how policymakers can work to promote the industry and keep jobs in Southern California. The hearing also included discussions about current challenges and opportunities facing the industry, past legislative efforts including tax incentives, the need for diversity, and the alarming shortage of soundstage space.
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Jesse Gabriel serves in the Assembly Leadership as Assistant Majority Whip. He represents the 45th Assembly District, which includes much of the west San Fernando Valley. Assemblymember Gabriel currently serves on the Committees on Appropriations, Banking and Finance, Higher Education, Housing and Community Development, and Privacy and Consumer Protection.