Would L.A be better without the "entertainment" business here? (Los Angeles: purchase, where to live)

[RaymondChandlerLives]

The entertainment industry pumped $47 billion into the regional economy last year. It also gives the city a ton of worldwide exposure, a big reason why the city welcomed 40 million visitors last year (tourism, if anyone is wondering, is our third largest industry).

L.A. and Hollywood exploded onto the public consciousness almost simultaneously--the two are inextricably linked.

The answer is a resounding no.

[R3i6nm8n]

I work in the industry and will totally agree with most of the posters here. Douchebaggery and scenesters are a definite problem. A small percentage of people make all of us look bad. Believe it or not, most of us are hardworking people who work long hours and lead quiet, productive lives outside of work. Unfortunately 10 percent of "industry" people as well as transplants trying to be "it" people ruin it for the rest of us. LA with the movie industry would be catastrophic. The city lost a lot of it's aerospace industry and without a movie industry and high taxes there's no industry out there that can reasonably replace it. Plus I think most of the world already associates this city with movies that it likely would never happen. it does help that it's almost always 75 degrees and sunny here.

[BarcelonaFan]

Originally Posted by R3i6nm8n

I work in the industry and will totally agree with most of the posters here. Douchebaggery and scenesters are a definite problem. A small percentage of people make all of us look bad. Believe it or not, most of us are hardworking people who work long hours and lead quiet, productive lives outside of work. Unfortunately 10 percent of "industry" people as well as transplants trying to be "it" people ruin it for the rest of us. LA with the movie industry would be catastrophic. The city lost a lot of it's aerospace industry and without a movie industry and high taxes there's no industry out there that can reasonably replace it. Plus I think most of the world already associates this city with movies that it likely would never happen. it does help that it's almost always 75 degrees and sunny here.

Excellent post.

[Pedro2000]

I don't think people understand economics or have a certain hostility toward the entertainment industry and the select few who are the wanna be actors and annoying arrogant individuals who sort of made it or did make it. It's a trickle down effect. If the entertainment industry suddenly closed up shop in Southern California (regular movies and porn) for whatever reason(cheaper elsewhere, taxes, benefits, laws, etc) there are tons and tons of people who work in those industries that are the typical blue collar hard workers or the white collar hard workers.

You know how many people work at Disney who are accountants, IT professionals, business people, etc? You know how many people who are just your regular camera men, electricians, plumbers, audio engineers etc in the industry? So those people lose jobs or are forced to move. Restaurants and condos and neighborhoods start to become more ghost towns as people who leave town or aren't working can't be customers. And what real estate developer is going to be building condos or office buildings or housing developments?

And discounting the extreme wealthy who wind up becoming celebrities and so on suddenly leave town. Many others with a few bucks or who think they will become a celebrity or work in hollywood don't come to town. And then tourism. Why would anybody visit Los Angeles if they don't come to see celebrities? A lot of people just come to see celebrities. Or hope to see celebrities.

It's like any city or town. What do you think is going to happen if a city loses an industry that brings in billions of dollars and accounts for even more billions because of restaurants, hotels, housing, tourism, etc? Look up the history of towns that lost industries. It's not a good track record.

[majoun]

Originally Posted by BarcelonaFan

But being in the arts whether it's art, music or film doesn't necessarily make it industry does it? I was talking about the style with no substance.

That style's present in EP now. Two words: Mohawk Bend.

[jm1982]

L.A is losing a lot of TV Production ..but I don't see another place becoming the "entertainment" capital anytime soon..

Los Angeles losing the core of its TV production to other states - Los Angeles Times

"Just two of the 23 new fall and midseason shows will be shot in Los Angeles County, as cost-conscious producers seek tax-friendly production havens in New York, North Carolina, Georgia and other states."


Pedro2000.... L.A as a ghost town without the film industry? No tourists and wannabe actors causing traffic? No streets being blocked for filming? Low real estate prices?

This sounds like a dream Come true!. But I'm willing to bet rich foreigners would eagerly purchase up any properties that would be abandoned.

[Tex?Il?]

Originally Posted by jm1982

L.A is losing a lot of TV Production ..but I don't see another place becoming the "entertainment" capital anytime soon..

Los Angeles losing the core of its TV production to other states - Los Angeles Times

"Just two of the 23 new fall and midseason shows will be shot in Los Angeles County, as cost-conscious producers seek tax-friendly production havens in New York, North Carolina, Georgia and other states."


Pedro2000.... L.A as a ghost town without the film industry? No tourists and wannabe actors causing traffic? No streets being blocked for filming? Low real estate prices?

This sounds like a dream Come true!. But I'm willing to bet rich foreigners would eagerly purchase up any properties that would be abandoned.

I'm suspicious of any article that describes New York as "tax friendly"

[PDF]

Originally Posted by jm1982

L.A is losing a lot of TV Production ..but I don't see another place becoming the "entertainment" capital anytime soon..

Los Angeles losing the core of its TV production to other states - Los Angeles Times

"Just two of the 23 new fall and midseason shows will be shot in Los Angeles County, as cost-conscious producers seek tax-friendly production havens in New York, North Carolina, Georgia and other states."


Pedro2000.... L.A as a ghost town without the film industry? No tourists and wannabe actors causing traffic? No streets being blocked for filming? Low real estate prices?

This sounds like a dream Come true!. But I'm willing to bet rich foreigners would eagerly purchase up any properties that would be abandoned.

That can't be all the people causing traffic, right? LA seems to be a real working class city beneath all that. But LA will always be the entertainment capital, even if most productions continue to film elsewhere.

[hipcat]

LA without the Entertainment industry would basically be a large beach town with a majority of residents being snowbirds similar to South Florida and Phoenix.

Hollywood gave LA its global fame and image, and brings in young people from all over the world who wants to "make it". It'd be hard to see what LA looks like without Hollywood. Its so ingrained to the city.

[hipcat]

Originally Posted by PDF

That can't be all the people causing traffic, right? LA seems to be a real working class city beneath all that. But LA will always be the entertainment capital, even if most productions continue to film elsewhere.

They are one of the reasons why traffic is vrazy. The traffic is a lot worse on the Westside compared to other parts of LA.