LOS ANGELES, California: Over the weekend, hundreds of Hollywood workers, including crew members, producers, and actors, asked California lawmakers to offer more tax breaks and other help to keep film and TV production in the Los Angeles area.

They met at a local sound stage to make their case and to stop production from moving to other states.

"Make Hollywood Hollywood again," said actor Joely Fisher, who is also an officer in the SAG-AFTRA actors union, to loud applause.

Costume designers, set builders, musicians, producers, and business owners joined the rally. Some wore T-shirts with the quote from The Wizard of Oz: "There's no place like home."

After strikes by writers and actors in 2023, people hoped work would return to Los Angeles, but the recovery has been slow.

Governor Gavin Newsom has suggested raising the state's film and TV tax credits to $750 million a year—up from $330 million. Supporters like the idea, but also want more straightforward rules for getting permits to film.

"California needs to stop assuming Hollywood will always stay here," said filmmaker Sarah Adina Smith, who helps lead the "Stay in LA" campaign. "If we don't stop the decline, Los Angeles could end up like Detroit. Hollywood is a proud American industry, and we are losing it fast."

Many speakers said Hollywood isn't just about rich celebrities—it's also full of middle-class workers. They explained that when production leaves, it also hurts local businesses like caterers and dry cleaners.

Violinist Songa Lee, who has worked on movie soundtracks for 25 years, said union jobs in the area have dropped from about 30 per year to fewer than 10.

"Musicians used to move to L.A. because they could make a good living here," she said. "But now, with less work, that talent is going elsewhere—and we are starting to lose it."