"Lights, camera… tariff?" - that's the question a scrambling movie industry has been asking this week after an unexpected intervention from US President Donald Trump. Writing on his Truth Social platform last Sunday, Trump announced plans to hit movies made in foreign countries with 100% tariffs, as he attempts to stop Hollywood dying "a very fast death". His threat comes as studios increasingly shift productions abroad to places such as the UK. The White House has since clarified that "no final decision" has been made and that they're "exploring all options" for revitalising the US film industry. But Trump's suggestion alone has sent shockwaves through the industry - from Hollywood to Hertfordshire - so what might all of this mean in practice? In 2014, Star Wars: The Force Awakens was shot by Disney at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, and Hollywood has kept growing closer to the UK since. Last year alone,the British Film Institute says65% of UK production spend came from the five major US film studios and three US streaming giants - Netflix, Apple and Amazon. This amounted to £1.37bn ($1.71bn), a near 50% jump on 2023. In Hollywood, by contrast, film and television production in Los Angeles has dropped by nearly 40% over the past decade. The reason? Well largely,it's cheaper to make films in the UK. That's thanks to generous tax incentives such as the Film Tax Relief,which offers a 25% tax rebate- as well as lower labour costs and centralised national funding for film. As British actor Brian Cox told Times Radio on Tuesday: "The reality is films go where they can afford." For Universal's blockbuster Jurassic World: Dominion, these incentives delivered a reported £89.1m ($111.38m) in savings. In the US, tax incentives operate on a state level - and Hollywood has relatively poor tax breaks - not only compared with the UK, which can offer 10% more, but other states such as New York and Georgia, too. Fixing that is no easy task. Trump has appointed Golden Globe Award-winning actor Jon Voight, 86, as a special ambassador to Hollywood, and met with him a day before dropping his light-on-detail proposal. But it's not exactly clear how tariffs would solve the internal tax problem in the US. A possible solution, raised by Voight, is a federal tax incentive to mirror the UK. The Wrap's film reporter Jeremy Fuster tells the BBC it is "unlikely", in the current highly-charged climate, that Republicans would "support a federal tax incentive that can easily be portrayed as a handout to 'woke Hollywood'". And what would the impact be on moviegoers if the levy goes ahead? Fuster says costs, like any other tariffed good, would be passed onto audiences through ticket prices, premium on-demand increases or subscription rates. How exactly this would take form is "something nobody knows". It's not all about the money, because while a boost to US production could benefit parts of the industry, some projects will still need to shoot abroad. "Amazon isn't going to make the next James Bond entirely in America," Fuster notes. Culture minister Sir Chris Bryant has said the UK government is in "active discussions with the top of the US administration" on the "very fluid" situation. With all this in mind, do you know which films have been made in the UK in recent years? BBC News has looked at some below - and they might be closer to home than you think. Warner Bros Leavesden studio in Hertfordshire, best known for producing the Harry Potter films, has been used as the set for numerous Hollywood blockbusters including Barbie, Mickey 17, Venom: The Last Dance and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. The nearby Sky Studios Elstree in Borehamwood was turned into the magical world of Oz in 2023 as it welcomed its first production, Wicked. Beyond Hertfordshire, cities such as Glasgow have long been used as a filming hub for Hollywood movies. The opening scene of Brad Pitt's zombie thriller, World War Z, may look like Philadelphia, but the film was actually shot in George Square in the Scottish city. In November, the city was transformed into a dystopian New York as Glen Powell was spotted filming for forthcoming thriller The Running Man. It's not just dystopian films that are shot in Glasgow - in 2021, star-spangled banners, bunting and vintage shop fronts decorated the streets of Glasgow city centre for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. The city was used for a parade scenewhich appears to capture 1960s New York as Apollo astronauts return home. The latest Indiana Jones movie was also shot in Northern England with Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland being used in the opening scenes. The castle doubled up for 1944 war-torn Nazi Germany. Other scenes were shot along the North York Moors railway line in Grosmont, and the Leaderfoot Viaduct, over the River Tweed, near Melrose, in the Scottish Borders. In 2022, The Batman used Glasgow Cathedral, the Necropolis and the Bridge of Sighs to create Gotham City, which is based on New York. Speaking to the BBC in 2022about the choice in filming location, director Matt Reeves said it was important to film in a location where there was "beautiful Gothic architecture". "I wanted this to feel like a Gothic American city, but one that you'd never been to," he said. "So we went to Glasgow and honestly it was so beautiful." The film's lead actor, Robert Pattinson, said: "It looks great as Gotham, who would've thought of all the cities in the world, Glasgow as Gotham?" Central Saint Martins art school in London was also used as a building in Gotham City, as was some parts of Liverpool. Keen-eyed fans will spot that Gotham City Police Department is actually the Liver Building's clock tower, although the giant Liver Bird was airbrushed out. Spider-Man spin-off Morbius was filmed in Manchester's Northern Quarterand in 2010, the city became 1940s Brooklyn for Captain America: The First Avenger, starring Chris Evans. Liverpool's early 20th Century buildings has also made it a popular stand-in for New York's older skyscrapers. Liverpool was transformed into 1920s New York for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which sees Eddie Redmayne search the city for his escaped magical beasts. Disney's recent live-action Snow White movie was almost entirely filmed in the UK, with Pinewood Studios used for many indoor scenes and sets. A quarry in the Lake District, a beach in Pembrokshire, Wales and a nature reserve in Burnham were all also used as shooting locations. As well as Snow White,Netflix's new thriller Havoc, starring Tom Hardy and set in an unnamed US city, was filmed in Wales. The film's Welsh director Gareth Evans, said it was "challenging" to recreate a US city in south Wales, but he wanted to bring more work to the area. Swansea's Brangwyn Hall doubled up as the exterior of a fictional city police station while Cardiff's Bute Street was turned into a US boulevard with 30cm (12in) of fake snow for one of Havoc's night-time scenes. Other recent Hollywood blockbusters that have seen the majority of their filming - known as principal photography - in the UK, include:
Indiana Jones in Glasgow: The US films you never knew were shot in UK
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Impact of Proposed US Tariffs on Foreign Films Sparks Concern in Hollywood"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
The US film industry is facing uncertainty following President Donald Trump's recent proposal to impose a 100% tariff on foreign-made movies. This announcement, made via his Truth Social platform, aims to address the ongoing trend of Hollywood studios shifting production overseas, particularly to the UK, where favorable tax incentives and lower production costs have attracted major studios. The British Film Institute reported that in the past year, 65% of UK film production spending originated from US studios and streaming services, amounting to approximately £1.37 billion. This represents a significant increase from previous years, especially as film and television production in Los Angeles has seen a nearly 40% decline over the last decade. The primary allure of the UK for filmmakers includes a 25% tax rebate through the Film Tax Relief, which offers a more favorable financial environment compared to the less generous state-level tax incentives available in the US. As actor Brian Cox pointed out, the industry will gravitate toward locations that are more cost-effective for production, like the UK, which provides substantial savings for high-budget films such as Jurassic World: Dominion.
The implications of Trump's tariff proposal are still unfolding, with no definitive plan in place, as the White House has stated they are exploring various options to revitalize the US film industry. The appointment of actor Jon Voight as a special ambassador to Hollywood raises questions about potential reforms, including the introduction of federal tax incentives to match those offered in the UK. However, the current political climate may hinder bipartisan support for such measures, particularly among Republicans who might view them as subsidies to a Hollywood perceived as out of touch. The potential impact on audiences could also be significant, as any tariffs would likely result in increased ticket prices and subscription costs for film consumers. Meanwhile, the UK continues to serve as a filming haven, with cities like Glasgow and studios in Hertfordshire being prominent locations for recent Hollywood productions. Films such as Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and The Batman have utilized these locations, showcasing the UK's importance in the global film landscape while the US grapples with its internal challenges.
TruthLens AI Analysis
The article examines the current situation in the film industry, particularly how President Trump's proposed tariffs on foreign films could impact Hollywood and the UK film production landscape. The discussion highlights the shift of film productions to the UK due to financial incentives and the potential consequences of these tariffs on both the US and UK film industries.
Implications of Tariffs on Film Production
Trump's announcement of a 100% tariff on films made abroad has caused a stir within the industry. While the White House has indicated that no final decision has been made, the mere suggestion reflects a significant concern about the declining production rates in Hollywood, where film output has dropped by nearly 40% over the past decade. This situation contrasts sharply with the UK, where major US studios and streaming services have increasingly turned to film production, taking advantage of favorable tax incentives.
Economic Considerations
The financial benefits of producing films in the UK are substantial. The Film Tax Relief offers a 25% rebate, making it a more attractive option for studios like Universal, which reportedly saved £89.1 million on "Jurassic World: Dominion." In comparison, the fragmented tax incentive system in the US sees various states competing for productions, yet overall, Hollywood has not been able to match the UK's financial allure.
Industry Reactions and Community Impact
The news likely aims to resonate with industry insiders and the general public who may feel the effects of a declining Hollywood economy. By highlighting the disparity between US and UK production environments, the article may foster support for local production initiatives or greater advocacy for film incentives in the US. The narrative that films should be made where they are most affordable could stir up conversations about economic policy and national identity in the arts.
Manipulative Elements and Trustworthiness
The article does not employ overtly manipulative language, but it does present a narrative that could create fear about the future of Hollywood and provoke a defensive reaction among US filmmakers. The framing of Trump's announcement and its potential fallout could be seen as steering public opinion towards supporting domestic production initiatives or questioning the efficacy of current tax policies.
Industry Image and Global Context
The publication of such an article contributes to a broader narrative regarding the globalization of the film industry. It reflects concerns about the US's place in a competitive global market, especially as production increasingly shifts to more financially favorable locations. The implications of these trends could affect economic strategies and policy discussions moving forward.
Community Support and Target Audience
The article likely appeals to various stakeholders in the film industry, including filmmakers, actors, and production companies, as well as audiences interested in the implications of political decisions on cultural output. It may resonate more with those who value the preservation of Hollywood's legacy and the economic benefits of a robust domestic film industry.
Market Reactions
The proposed tariffs could influence stock prices of major film studios and production companies, particularly if they are perceived as a threat to profitability. Investors in the entertainment sector will be closely monitoring the developments surrounding Trump's proposals, which could lead to fluctuations in stock values.
Global Power Dynamics
Although primarily focused on the film industry, the article touches on broader themes of economic competitiveness and national policy, relevant to discussions about global power dynamics in creative industries. The ongoing discourse around US production capabilities versus international alternatives could reflect larger trends in economic policy and international relations.
Overall, the article presents a mix of factual reporting and interpretive analysis that seeks to engage readers in a complex issue facing the film industry, while also reflecting on the economic implications of political decisions.