Nithya Raman, the left-leaning Los Angeles city councilmember running for mayor, has thrown her weight behind President Donald Trump’s plan to save Hollywood. In a podcast interview with Breaking Points, she said she would support a nationwide tax incentive for film and television production.
“I would be very supportive of it,” Raman said. “I’m going to take any kinds of support for this industry that we can get from any level of government. Absolutely.”
The endorsement comes as Hollywood’s creative economy faces a steep decline. A study by Otis College of Art and Design, in partnership with Westwood Economics and Planning Consultants, found that California’s creative sector lost roughly 114,000 jobs — a 14% decline — between 2022 and 2025. Film, television and sound lost nearly 30% of jobs, while traditional media dropped by almost 34%.
Raman’s position puts her at odds with her rival, former mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt. Pratt criticized Raman for not acting on her own, saying, “Why isn’t Nithya doing that?” He added, “If I can do it, what’s her excuse? She legit doesn’t wanna work.”
Pratt said he had met with Trump and worked with Senator Adam Schiff to push a 25% federal film tax credit, which he called “bring back Hollywood.”
Raman’s Plan for Hollywood
Raman has made Hollywood a central plank of her campaign. On her website, she pledged to advocate “for the most expansive possible film tax credits at the state and federal level” and to establish a LA Film Office in the mayor’s office to encourage local production.
She also called for faster permitting for films and reduced fees for indie-sized projects. Her approach combines federal advocacy with local administrative changes.
The Otis/Westwood study points to a broader economic shift. The creative economy is shrinking, and the jobs losses hit film, television and sound the hardest. Raman’s support for Trump’s proposal fits that context — she is looking for federal help to reverse the trend.
Pratt’s Criticism
Pratt’s criticism is personal and pointed. He framed Raman’s inaction as a question of will, not resources. His own path involved meeting with Trump and working with Schiff.
Pratt’s 25% federal film tax credit is the specific proposal he pushed. The credit is part of his broader effort to bring back Hollywood.
Raman’s response was simple: she wants federal support, too. Her endorsement of Trump’s proposal is a direct rebuttal to Pratt’s charge that she does nothing.
The Jobs Numbers
The Otis/Westwood study offers the clearest picture of what Hollywood has lost. Here are the key figures:
- California’s creative economy lost roughly 114,000 jobs — a 14% decline — between 2022 and 2025
- Film, television and sound lost nearly 30% of jobs
- Traditional media dropped by almost 34%
- Study by Otis College of Art and Design, in partnership with Westwood Economics and Planning Consultants
The study documents the scale of the loss. Film and television lost nearly 30% of jobs, which is a significant share of the workforce in those fields.
Raman’s Recent Moves
Raman has been active on the issue beyond her endorsements. Last week, she met with Arnold Schwarzenegger, California’s last Republican governor, at his Santa Monica office. Schwarzenegger hosted a packed room of Hollywood, business and civic leaders.
The meeting was a high-profile display of Raman’s commitment to the industry. She brought together leaders from across the entertainment world.
Her website pledge to establish a LA Film Office in the mayor’s office is a specific commitment. She also wants faster permitting and reduced fees for indie-sized projects. These are local levers, distinct from the federal credit she now supports.
| Raman | Pratt |
|---|---|
| Endorses Trump’s nationwide tax incentive | Pushes Schiff’s 25% federal film tax credit |
| Met with Schwarzenegger | Met with Trump |
| Wants LA Film Office in mayor’s office | “Bring back Hollywood” |
The comparison is stark. Raman is reaching for federal dollars through Trump’s proposal. Pratt is pushing a similar credit through Schiff.
The Mayoral Race
Raman is currently leading the race. A recent poll showed her ahead of incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, 39% to 28%. Bass’s team dismissed the poll as an outlier.
Bass and Raman have traded jabs over Hollywood’s decline during the campaign. The competition is direct, and Hollywood is one of the issues separating the two candidates.
The poll result shows where the electorate stands. Raman leads over Bass, and her Hollywood positions could solidify that lead.
The Political Calculation
Raman’s endorsement of Trump’s proposal is a calculated move. She is positioning herself as a champion of the industry, willing to work with anyone who can help.
Pratt’s criticism is a warning to voters. He is telling them that Raman talks but does not act.
The contrast is sharp. Raman is the candidate who supports Trump’s proposal. Pratt is the candidate who met with Trump and worked with Schiff.
Both are trying to capture the same audience: Hollywood workers who have lost jobs and want government action. The difference is that Raman is endorsing a national plan, while Pratt is pushing a state-level credit.
The race is not over, and the fight for Hollywood is far from settled. Raman has endorsed Trump’s proposal, and Pratt has pushed Schiff’s credit. The outcome will depend on which candidate voters trust to deliver for the industry.
The Otis/Westwood study provides the context. The creative economy lost 114,000 jobs between 2022 and 2025. Film, television and sound lost nearly 30% of jobs. Traditional media dropped by almost 34%.
Those numbers are the reality Raman and Pratt are competing over. The winner will inherit an industry in transition, and the loser will watch as the decline continues.
Raman’s position is clear. She supports Trump’s nationwide tax incentive, and she wants to establish a LA Film Office in the mayor’s office. Those are two distinct approaches to the same problem.
Pratt’s position is equally clear. He is pushing Schiff’s 25% federal film tax credit, which he calls “bring back Hollywood.” He has met with Trump and worked with Schiff to advance the idea.
The contrast is stark, and the outcome could determine the direction of Los Angeles’ creative future.
Where the paper stands
The paper backs Raman’s stated position on supporting the film and TV industry at every level of government and is against any agency or office accumulating power beyond its proper bounds. The Otis/Westwood study documents real job losses in the creative sector, and Raman’s endorsement of Trump’s nationwide tax incentive is a direct response to that decline.
Raman’s approach combines federal advocacy with local administrative changes, including a LA Film Office in the mayor’s office and faster permitting for indie projects. These are specific commitments that sit alongside her broader embrace of federal support.
Pratt’s criticism, that Raman does not act on her own, is a matter of political calculation rather than principle. The paper takes no position on Pratt’s specific proposals or his meetings with Trump and Schiff, but it notes that the contrast between the two candidates is stark.
Source material: “LA mayoral candidate Nithya Raman backs Donald Trump’s proposal to save Hollywood,” the New York Post.
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