Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman is making a direct appeal to Hollywood. She is positioning herself as an advocate for entertainment jobs and a more business-friendly filming environment in Los Angeles.
Speaking at the Bloomberg Screentime conference this week, Raman outlined her plans to address the city’s production slowdown. Her proposals include stronger film and TV tax incentives, a dedicated film office and closer cooperation with studio leaders.
The pitch comes as Raman challenges incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in the November 2026 mayoral race.
Raman Makes Her Hollywood Priorities Clear
At Bloomberg Screentime, Raman laid out her priorities for the entertainment industry. She argued that the mayor’s office can do more to help Los Angeles compete with other production hubs.
“There’s a lot that mayor could do, and if I’m mayor I’m going to do it,” Raman said at the event, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Raman also has a personal connection to the industry. Her husband, Vali Chandrasekaran, is a television writer and producer known for work on Modern Family and 30 Rock.
However, her argument goes beyond that connection. Instead, she is focusing on the economic impact of declining production and the workers who depend on Hollywood.
Raman Wants Bigger Tax Incentives
A major part of Raman’s plan involves California’s film and television tax incentive program. She wants to remove the annual spending cap.
According to Raman, stronger incentives could help bring productions and jobs back to California. She has also described herself as a “relentless advocate” for better tax credits in Sacramento.
Moreover, she wants Los Angeles officials and state lawmakers to work together. The goal is to make California more competitive with other production destinations.
Meanwhile, productions have increasingly moved to places such as Georgia, New Jersey and Canada. These locations offer attractive incentives and established production infrastructure.
Still, tax credits are only one part of the challenge. California already has one of the country’s major film and television incentive programs.
At the same time, Los Angeles faces high housing and food costs. Those expenses can make production more expensive compared with competing locations.
A ‘Film Czar’ Could Cut Through Red Tape
Raman is also proposing a dedicated film office within the mayor’s office. The idea is to create a central point of contact for productions.
The proposed office would work across city departments and jurisdictions. As a result, productions could potentially navigate permits and other requirements more easily.
Raman has pointed to past production challenges as an example. She has cited Baywatch and the complications created by overlapping city and county jurisdictions.
Her proposal also includes the possibility of a film commissioner, or “film czar.” This official would help coordinate filming and address bureaucratic hurdles.
For productions, the focus would be simple: fewer delays and a smoother filming process.
Raman Wants Paramount Production in LA
Raman’s Hollywood push comes during major changes in the entertainment business. It also follows the completed Paramount-Warner Bros. deal.
The candidate has emphasized the importance of keeping production activity in Los Angeles. At Bloomberg Screentime, she directly addressed Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison.
Raman said she wants production dollars connected to the company’s commitments to be spent in Los Angeles. She argued that local workers and businesses should benefit from that activity.
The issue is especially significant as city leaders and Hollywood executives look for ways to reverse the production decline.
Hollywood Supports More Than Actors
Importantly, Hollywood’s economic impact goes far beyond actors and directors. Productions support workers across many different industries.
That includes catering, transportation, construction, costumes, lighting and equipment rentals. Small businesses also rely on production crews and their spending.
Raman has repeatedly highlighted this wider economic impact. She has pointed to the decline in shooting days in Los Angeles since 2018.
As production moves elsewhere, the effects can spread through local communities. Therefore, bringing productions back could have implications for businesses far beyond the studio lot.
Why Los Angeles Faces More Competition
Los Angeles is no longer the only major destination for film and television production. In recent years, competing locations have expanded their incentives and infrastructure.
Georgia and New Jersey are among the U.S. locations competing for productions. Canada and other international markets are also part of the increasingly competitive landscape.
Consequently, Los Angeles faces a larger challenge. The city needs to attract major studio projects while also remaining appealing to television productions, independent films, commercials and other entertainment work.
Raman’s proposals are built around that competition. She wants city government to take a more active role in making Los Angeles easier and more affordable to film in.
Hollywood Becomes a Campaign Issue
The entertainment industry has also become an important issue in the Los Angeles mayoral campaign.
Both Raman and Bass have discussed the need to protect entertainment jobs and support local production. However, Raman is emphasizing a more active approach through tax incentives, streamlined filming and stronger coordination.
The debate comes at a difficult moment for Hollywood workers. Production patterns have changed, while studios and streaming companies continue to reassess their business strategies.
As a result, the future of local production has become an economic and political talking point in Los Angeles.
Raman’s Focus Remains on Jobs
Ultimately, Raman’s Hollywood message centers on employment.
She argues that keeping productions in Los Angeles can help support workers and businesses across the city. Her proposals are therefore aimed at making the region more competitive.
At the same time, implementing these ideas would require cooperation between City Hall, Sacramento lawmakers, studios, unions and production companies.
The debate is likely to continue as the November election approaches. For Hollywood, the bigger question remains how Los Angeles can maintain its position as a major global production center.
Raman is making her position clear: she wants City Hall to take a more direct role in bringing production back.
What do you think about Nithya Raman’s plans for Hollywood? Share your thoughts in the comments and follow us for more entertainment and Hollywood updates.
About the author
Neha Nikharge is Assistant Editor at Awesome TV and a writer for AWSM Times. Neha covers Bollywood, OTT releases, celebrity interviews and pop culture for South Asian audiences in the US and around the world, and has written more than 4,500 stories for Awesome TV. Story tips and corrections: hello@awesometv.com.
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