March 2, 2025 • 38 mins
Michael Monks delves into how film and TV production, the lifeblood of LA, is undergoing seismic shifts—explaining why “Hollywood” isn’t making “Hollywood” anymore. He explores the hidden impact of the recent fire on producers, writers, and industry professionals who are now focused on personal recovery, before sitting down with State Senator Ben Allen to discuss strategies for rehabilitating the local film industry and preventing a talent exodus. Michael also highlights a new UCLA report revealing a drop in diversity in films and TV in 2024, and he wraps up with an Oscars preview and a look ahead to his plans for tomorrow night.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
You're listening to KFI AM six forty on demand.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
KFI AM six forty live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app.
I'm Michael Monks from KFI News. This is Michael Monks Reports.
We're with you till nine o'clock and I thanks thank
you for being with us on this beautiful, cool Saturday
night in southern California. We are broadcasting live from our
studios in Burbank, where we are surrounded by Hollywood studios,
(00:27):
Warner Brothers right outside this window, Disney just down the road,
various little studios here and there, Various little offices that
support the industry, little restaurants that depend on the work
that takes place in this industry.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Hollywood is a significant part of what LA is right.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
I mean, the Hollywood Sign is one of our iconic images,
maybe one of our most famous, if not the most
famous image that anybody across the country, maybe the world
could identify as being here in Los Angeles. But Hollywood
is hurting. First, we had COVID. We know, all the industries,
no matter what you were doing, you got hit by COVID.
(01:11):
But film and TV productions basically shut down. And then
we start to emerge from COVID, and both the Actors'
Union and the Writers' Union go on strike together, so
that shuts down the industry. And of course, most recently,
(01:33):
we've just had these devastating fires hit La County, where
a lot of industry professionals live and work. These fires
followed a report from Film LA. The report had already
been out showing how bad things are. We asked Film
LA to come on and talk about this devastating report.
(01:55):
They could make the time, despite basically saying there's nothing
to do. They couldn't come on KFI right in the
heart of the entertainment industry and talk to us about it.
But their most recent quarterly report shows that we were
picking up a little bit towards the end of twenty
twenty four, but overall it was the second slowest year ever,
behind only twenty twenty, which of course was the COVID year.
(02:20):
So government officials are scrambling. This is our signature industry.
It's like if France could no longer make wine. Hollywood
not making Hollywood. We saw the La City Council this
week take a symbolic vote in favor or resolution they
adopted in favor of Governor Newsom's plan to more than
(02:42):
double the tax credits available to filmmakers in California to
seven hundred and fifty million dollars. This is what city
council Woman Nithia Rahman had to say about it.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
LA is Hollywood.
Speaker 5 (02:56):
We all know that. And now what we're seeing is
a time when more and more productions are moving out
of the state and even out of the country because
of these tax credits that other places are offering. It
has become more cost effective sometimes to shoot in other
places that are made to look like LA than to
(03:17):
shoot in LA because of the costs that we're seeing here.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Yet, my husband works.
Speaker 5 (03:24):
In this industry. He has known this for a long time.
The crews here are unparalleled, and we need to bring
production back, and I think this is an important tool
for Los Angeles to be able to see greater economic
prosperity and to bring production back to this industry.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
That's correct.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
A lot of other states, a lot of other jurisdictions,
a lot of other countries have since created their own
tax credits for Hollywood productions film television, and some of them,
some of these productions accept those invitations, even if the
(04:05):
productions are set in Los Angeles. They find a place
that looks like Los Angeles but is cheaper than Los
Angeles to do work in. I moved here from northern Kentucky.
The Cincinnati area, I mean Kentucky has a seventy five
million dollar tax credit. Kentucky, Kentucky now has a sound stage.
Cincinnati is competing to host the Sundance Film Festival. I
(04:27):
know Sundance is not in LA, but it's a big
part of the Hollywood industry. Cincinnati wants to host Sundance.
Georgia has a bottomless bucket of tax credits for Hollywood productions.
(04:48):
LA is behind the eight ball on this tax credit
program now, and film is slowing way down. So some
state lawmakers are heating Governor Newsom's proposal and taking it
to Sacramento in the form of official legislation. Some state
senators as some state assembly members spoke in Los Angeles
(05:11):
this week, and they were joined by Mayor Karen Bass
in endorsing this.
Speaker 6 (05:15):
Oftentimes, we don't think of all of the businesses that
are not on a studio doesn't involve celebrities.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Might be a tailor, might.
Speaker 6 (05:25):
Be a floris, all the different types of businesses that
are completely dependent on the industry, and after going through
the three shocks of one a pandemic, the other a strike,
and now the wildfires. Just think about those three blows
that people in the industry have taken personally, losing their home,
(05:48):
losing their job.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
It's just been too much.
Speaker 6 (05:51):
And so to revitalize the industry, to encourage production here
and for goodness sake, for Los Angeles and California to
keep up with it's the rest of the nation. I
don't want to stand here five years from now and
reminisce about an industry that has.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Left us, an industry that has left us that appears
to be a possibility. What is La without Hollywood? I mean,
you're already getting a little bit of a taste of it.
It's been slow for years because of the pandemic, because
of the strikes. Takes a while to get up and
running again. So will these government incentives create a new spark.
(06:31):
Raul Cortez, who is our technical director here on Saturday nights,
he sees one of the local studios up close in
person at his other place of work and Rol, you said,
it's been pretty slow out there.
Speaker 7 (06:42):
Yeah, steady decline.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
You're not seeing like like you're seeing a lot less
activity on the lot.
Speaker 7 (06:48):
Absolutely, yeah, And it's just it's tangible, you know what
I mean, Like just you see all the people that
used to work in catering are they're gone, and so
you know where left the lot. But you see that
it's not coming back, and if it does, it comes
back slowly. And you're right the fire. I think the
(07:08):
fire was one of the worst things that just the
timing of it. That's when everybody was going to come back,
and it hit right when everybody was about to come back.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
I saw a slogan from a lot of creative artists
here in LA who have suffered through the pandemic and
the strikes.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
It was just, you know, here's what we're hearing.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
We're hearing from producers, We're hearing from people will buy
your scripts or give you a part and whatever they're
working on.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
Survive till twenty five, Survive till twenty five.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
They were saying all last year, survive till twenty five,
and then to start twenty five, you know, we have
these massive fires across LA County and now I don't
know what the slogan will be to get through this
year as best you can and see if twenty twenty
six is any better. I know Heather Brooker has a
lot of friends. She's a friendly gal. I know you
probably know a lot of people in the industry. I mean,
what are you seeing from your circles.
Speaker 8 (07:52):
Oh, it's definitely slow. And people are leaving La.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Yeah, they're leaving La already. In LA people are leaving
because they're not finding work. They can't have to live
here without their work, and then they might luck out.
It doesn't seem to matter where you live. There is
a film coming to town. They are making movies all
over the country again, even if it's set in Los Angeles,
they will find a play. We'll make Nebraska look like Pasadena.
Speaker 8 (08:18):
I am also an actor. I'm Moonlight as an actor.
You know Kfi has my heart, but I'm Moonlight as
an actor. And I can tell you so many more
auditions come through from Atlanta, from Texas, from New York,
even they are coming from Utah, a.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
Lot in Canada.
Speaker 8 (08:38):
Very rarely now am I getting auditions for Los Angeles,
where I live. And you know, one thing I think
people forget when they see the Palisades fire and the
impact it have on the industry. A lot of producers
lived out there, a lot of writers lived out there.
The people who make and create film and television lived
in those areas. And you know, I don't know if
(09:01):
they've you know, where they've gone or where they've shifted,
but certainly their mind has not been on creating TV
shows and movies. I'm sure they've been trying to survive
and get their family and lives back together.
Speaker 4 (09:13):
So you're right.
Speaker 8 (09:14):
Three devastating things have happened in the last five years
for the industry, and I worry as an actor and
as someone in the industry that it might be too late.
A lot of these studios have already set up shop
in other states and other communities, and now how do
we lure them back.
Speaker 4 (09:31):
That's a big question.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
That's the big question.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
And one of the possible answers are these tax credits.
We're going to be joined by one local state senator
pushing for this up Naxt will explain how important he
sees these tax credits being.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
You're listening to KFI AM six forty on demand, I AM.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
Sixty live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app. This is Michael
Monks reports. I'm Michael Monks with un til nine o'clock tonight.
Hollywood jobs are disappearing, and so were Hollywood productions. Twenty
twenty four was the second slowest year ever, behind only
twenty twenty. So now local leaders and state wide leaders
are pushing for more tax credits, more than doubling the
(10:13):
current offering for TV and film productions across the state
to seven hundred and fifty million dollars. Will it work?
Our guest is Senator Ben Allen, a Democrat from Santa
Monica who's announced some support of legislation. Senator, it does
seem strange that we're in a position to ask Hollywood
to make movies in Hollywood.
Speaker 3 (10:34):
How did we get here?
Speaker 9 (10:38):
Well, how did we get here? Look, I think there's
a lot of jurisdiction, a lot of places around the
world that have been trying to get Hollywood productions in
their areas for a long time. They've been offering increasingly
generous incentives to go off in film in Georgia, Louisiana,
British Columbia, London, or wherever else, and they've been throwing
money at these projects in the past. California was Look,
(11:00):
we're the home of TV and film we have the infrastructure,
we have the people, we have all that it takes
to do these productions. But increasingly, over time these incentives
have proven really tempting for the studios and for production,
and over time infrastructure has built up in these other places.
So now you've got decent sound stages and cinematographers and
(11:21):
grips and all the infrastructure you need to make productions elsewhere.
And we're starting to see a lot of loss. A
lot of people have been out of work. It's been
a rough go the last few years all over Los Angeles.
There are lots of people that work in and around
the entertainment industry that are really hurting right now because
of all this production going elsewhere.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
So what I'm seeing is states across the country increasing
the amount of money that they have prepared to throw
at film and TV productions. As you noted, they've got
staff at the ready, they have sound stages at the ready.
They're basically building many Hollywoods in the middle of the country.
So what do you say is different right now about
(12:02):
Los Angeles if you're pitching this to people looking to
make their films.
Speaker 9 (12:07):
Yeah, we this is the reason why we're coming forward
with this extension and expansion of the TV's on tax credit.
LA has all these built in advantages. We have beautiful sunshine,
beautiful weather, beautiful landscapes. We've got so many wonderful people
here who are top professionals in the field, who know
the work. We've got sound stages, we've gotten infrastructure, so
(12:29):
there's tons of reasons to stay and do work here
in LA. We just have to make sure that we're
being adequately competitive. The truth is, you're right, thirty eight
different competing tax credit programs in the US alone, thirty
six in Europe. New York's is now at seven hundred
million dollars a year. Georgia has literally no cap so
these aggressive programs are really taking their toll. It's why
(12:50):
I'm involved with a lots of effort right now to
fight back and offer a competitive tax credit program that
will encourage these projects to stay right here at home.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
One of the comments that I've heard that I think
has to sting the most for industry professionals and those
of you looking to boost this industry is a lot
of these places that are throwing money at film productions
are doing so in a way where they have to
make themselves physically look like Los Angeles. For some of
these productions, like the show or the movie might be
(13:21):
set in LA but it's shot in I don't know, Nebraska.
Speaker 9 (13:28):
Just that makes me more angry than anything else I think,
and you know, but again, it's at least partly because
our current program is not competitive enough. It's limited, it's oversubscribed,
and something like seventy seven percent of the projects that
were unable to secure a credit moved production out of
state as a result. So these are people that wanted
(13:48):
to do the work here. As you say, oftentimes their
productions or their TVs, their films were set in Los Angeles.
They wanted to do the work here, but they chose
to go elsewhere because it simply didn't pencil out. It's
so frustrating and it's why we have to step up
and be more proactive to help keep this production here.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
Senator Allen, you represent the twenty fourth district that includes
Hollywood and all of the surrounding communities. We know that
this industry has been hit hard by COVID. We shut
down a lot of businesses, but it did impact Hollywood
dramatically as well. Then we had dual strikes with the
writers and the actors, and now we've also had these
devastating wildfires that have impacted a lot of people, of course,
(14:27):
but also artists, whether they are living in Alta Dina
or whether they're living in your district of the Palisades.
Do you think having a larger tax incentive pool is
enough to help rebuild this industry that has not only
been hit hard by competition, but all of these other
devastating events.
Speaker 9 (14:45):
Look, it's surely going to help. Is it going to
be a silver bullet? Of course, a lot of things
have to come together to help rebuild the strength of
its industry in LA. But I think it will go
a long way toward helping get us back on track.
I really do as you say. There's a lot of
competing factors, but we would be really remiss if we
didn't take this step. We know this is a step
(15:06):
that works. It's one of the reasons why all these
other jurisdictions are doing it. We need to step up
and do this to help protect this industry and keep
them here.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
Hollywood is obviously a significant part of Los Angeles' economy,
a significant part of its history, and basically, when we
talk about trying to boost the industry. It does go
beyond what's happening at studios, what's happening on sets, right,
I mean, there's an entire economy that's supported strongly by
that industry.
Speaker 7 (15:37):
That's right.
Speaker 9 (15:37):
There's a ton of creatives who work around the industry.
By the way, there's lots of people who work around
the industry in small businesses that cater or florists, or
camera shops or prop shops, all those groups that do
all that work that helps to support the industry and
their activities. I'll give you one other examp. Well, during
the Grammys with Slass go Around, they decided to go
(16:00):
all the big parties and put all the money toward
fire relief, which is a wonderful thing, and I certainly
appreciated a great deal, especially given the fact that I
represent the pal States. What I think about was that
all these companies that do the party, so whose business
it is to run the big parties after the big
awards shows, and they employ a lot of people, and
they really rely on these events to keep themselves in business,
(16:23):
and they took a massive hit as a result. Of course,
they've suffered so much, you know, with all the other
things happening with the industry. So, yeah, when you're right,
there are so many layers, so many ripple effects of
the industry, from construction to catering to transportation services that
rely so much on servicing the industry, we often forget
(16:47):
about them. This is not just about the studios and
the people actually making the movies themselves.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
How urgently are you moving with this legislation.
Speaker 9 (16:58):
So we're very serious about it. We introduced it just
last week. We had a big press conference about it.
This week, been talking to people like you and others
telling the story. There's going to be a hearing in
the Assembly on the topic on Monday. The governor, of course,
came down and expressed his support. We have to sell
our colleagues on the wisdom of this, but we're very serious.
(17:20):
This is a group effort under the leadership. I'm obviously
very involved Rick Ziberg, Assembly Member, Isaac Bryan, another Samily member,
But we're really committed to working with all of the
legislative leadership in the Governor's office to get this thing through.
You know, if there's a lot of pressures on the
state budget right now, there's a lot of competing priorities
out there, and we've got to push to make sure
it's high on the radar screen. One of the challenges
(17:41):
this is a state wide credit, and it certainly it
gives actually extra support for productions that are outside of
the thirty mile zone as a way of helping out
productions in San Francisco and the Central Valley and elsewhere.
That's a wonderful thing. But a lot of our colleagues
that aren't from Los Angeles, they're not hearing every day
from constituents in the way that we are how much
(18:01):
the indus is hurting. And I don't know all of
them are quite up to speed on what a doctor
problem this is. So that's another part of our work,
involved educating them and making sure they understand how vulnerable
the industry is right now, how threatened it is.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
State Senator Ben Allen a Democrat from Santa Monica. He
represents a lot of West LA communities, including Hollywood in
that district. So Senator, thank you so much for taking
some time to explain this legislation to us.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
We appreciate it, really appreciate it.
Speaker 9 (18:28):
Appreciate your interest, and let's let's get this thing done up.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
Next something else is disappearing from Hollywood productions. What a
study from UCLA has found about diversity in film and TV.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
You're listening to KFI AM six forty on demand.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
KFI AM six forty live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app.
This is Michael Monks Reports on Michael Monks from KFI News.
We're with you till nine o'clock tonight. The congrats the
USC Trojans women's basketball program, winners of the Big Ten
regular season conference by defeating UCLA at Pauly Pavilion eighty
(19:06):
to sixty seven to nine. Fourth ranked Trojans baiting the
second ranked Bruins, breaking that tie for first place and
winning the Big Ten. Still a little weird to talk
about USC and UCLA in that conference. Does feel a
little bit odd to me still, but there you are,
the Trojans Big Ten regular season champions. Tomorrow is the
(19:31):
biggest night in Hollywood with the Oscars. And you may
recall that some of the requirements to be nominated to
be considered for an Oscar started to be altered. It
was announced in twenty twenty that the Academy was making
sure that there would be more representation of diversity on
(19:53):
screen and off screen. They announced in twenty twenty that
some of the standards would include on scre green representation, themes, narrative,
and that these would absolutely be taken into consideration. Win
movies meant to be nominated for Oscars, they needed to
(20:15):
know the racial makeup of the cast and crew. They
needed to know what the storyline and the subject matter
was about and how it treated certain types of people.
Some of the things that they wanted to include include
the lead or significant supporting actors at least one of
the lead actors or significant supporting actors is from an
(20:37):
underrepresented racial or ethnic group like Asian, Hispanic, Latino, Black,
African American, Native American, Arabs, Hawaiian Pacific Islander. They wanted
to see that the general ensemble cast at least thirty
percent of all actors in secondary and more minor roles
(21:00):
are from at least two of the following groups, women,
racial or ethnic groups, LGBTQ, people with cognitive or physical disabilities, death,
heart of hearing, and that the main storyline or subject
matter includes storylines that are centered on underrepresented groups like women, LGBTQ,
(21:24):
racial or ethnic groups, people with disabilities. They also want
to know that the creative leadership and project team is
diversity at least two of the following creative leadership positions
and department heads casting director, cinematographer, composer, costume designer, director, editor, hairstylists,
those sorts of position producer are coming from underrepresented groups,
(21:48):
and that the overall composition of the crew people working
on the film thirty percent from underrepresented groups. Those were
renounced twenty twenty that films had to start meeting these
standards in order to be considered for the industry's highest honors,
(22:09):
and it was phased in so by last year these
were being seriously taken into consideration.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
But a report from.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
UCLA out this week shows, in spite of that directive
diversity on screen and behind screen has dropped. And keep
in mind this report is reflective of twenty twenty four.
This is before President Trump was reelected and has become
(22:45):
a champion of eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion programs. And
you're seeing universities, including here, eliminate a lot of those
programs and anticipation that they could lose federal funding if
they don't.
Speaker 3 (22:59):
In film, it's already been happening.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
The latest Hollywood Diversity report from UCLA found that opportunities
for people of color fell across the board in twenty
twenty four and that reversus gain scene in recent years,
and women did see an increase in their share of
leading roles on screen, but the number of women writers
(23:20):
has also dropped. This is the twelfth year that this
report has been released by UCLA. It analyzes movies, TV
and their audiences with a focus on the top twenty
excuse me, the top two hundred movies that are released
around the world in theaters each year. The reports authors
(23:41):
over at UCLA found that films like John Choose Oscar
winning movie excuse me, Oscar nominated film Wicked hasn't won
anything yet, That's tomorrow, Oscar nominated film Wicked, and the
movie A Quiet Place Day One do demonstrate that there
is good economics for diversity.
Speaker 3 (24:03):
That's what this report says. That some of these.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
Movies with diverse casts dominated the box office. The study
says domestically and worldwide, films that reflect a multitude of
identities did better at the box office than less diverse projects.
They suggest that this proves those types of movies to
(24:26):
be superior investments. One of the co founders of the
report says, last year we celebrated some historic highs for
people of color in the industry, but twenty twenty four
saw a widespread reversal as film studios retreated from racial
and ethnic diversity in front of and behind the camera.
(24:48):
Now some of the audience makeup is something that producers
may want to pay attention to. Based on this study,
the diversity of the audience is what's driving those diverse
films to the top of the charts. Except for Wicket,
which was primarily driven by white people. The top genres
(25:14):
horror and drama that overtook action and comedy. Horror and
drama are now the most popular, and according to the report, diversity,
particularly people of color, remains a driving factor in opening
weekend box office success. People of color led domestic ticket
(25:34):
sales as the majority audience for twelve of the top
twenty films, including seven of the top ten. Women also
made up the majority of ticket buyers for eight of
the top twenty movies during their opening weekends. Among the
top twenty films where white audiences made up the greatest
(25:55):
share of opening weekend box office sales, only one wicked
at number twenty ranked number one for its opening week.
This report says that films that most reflected the country's population,
which is now estimated to be forty four point three
percent people of color, according to the Senses outperformed other
(26:17):
top releases both domestically and internationally. One of the reports
co founder says, diversity is a key part of the
big financial picture. Diversity travels. When a film lacks diverse
faces and perspectives, it's just not as appealing here and abroad.
(26:37):
That is the film report from You See La ahead
of tomorrow night's Oscars.
Speaker 3 (26:44):
We'll talk a little bit more about the.
Speaker 2 (26:45):
Oscars coming up in the next segment, because that is
what we do in Los Angeles. But I want to
let you know there is a key indicator that the
economy is not going well and it's not something you
might expect. Stick around and we'll tell you how the
Tooth Fairy has forecasted some bad times ahead.
Speaker 1 (27:06):
You're listening to KFI AM six forty on demand.
Speaker 2 (27:10):
KFI AM six forty live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app.
This is Michael Monks Reports on Michael Monks from KFI
knew So glad you could be with us on this
Saturday night, I want to go to one of our
callers who let the message through our iHeartRadio app talkback button,
which you can always do as well, who has something
(27:32):
to say about the firefighter and the appeal of the
fire chief coming up on Tuesday.
Speaker 3 (27:37):
Let's hear that.
Speaker 10 (27:37):
When you look at the Karen Bass interview with Alex Michaelson,
she states that the after action report will be done
by the Fire Commission and also by the state. The
Fire Commission does not have the authority to order the
fire chief to do an after action report. If there
was an extra thousand firefighters, where would they put them
(27:58):
on fire engines or in the yard not working? There
was no place for a thousand firefighters.
Speaker 2 (28:07):
I mentioned earlier in the seven o'clock hour that I
expect that component the response and where the firefighters were?
Speaker 3 (28:15):
Where were the thousand should they have been sent home?
Speaker 2 (28:17):
That's sort of that will be a big component of
the conversation on Tuesday, if not publicly, certainly behind the scenes.
So I think that was from our good firefighting buddy
Steve Krieger, to whom I owe a phone call. I
will get to you very very soon. It's been a
little crazy here at KFI, looking forward to chatting with
you a little bit more about firefighting and the local
(28:38):
fire department in response to the fires. It's Oscar weekend
here in Los Angeles. We would be remiss even here
at KFI, where we prefer to talk about the news,
if we didn't dive into this big issue. Let's hear
this preview from our friends at ABC News.
Speaker 11 (28:54):
It's Oscar Zeve. The carpet is rolled out as we
count down to Hollywood's biggest night, and it goes to
halle Berry and Monses.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
By Parasite.
Speaker 1 (29:07):
Michelleo.
Speaker 11 (29:09):
Money of history has been made in the awards ninety
seven year existence, and this year is poised to be
no different. Could Egott status be on the horizon for
Cynthia Rivo for her role as Alphaba and the os
inspired wicket Are Robin Roberts sitting down with her ahead
(29:31):
of the big night?
Speaker 1 (29:32):
Emmy, Grammy, Tony.
Speaker 6 (29:34):
The only thing missing on your shelf, of course, is
an Oscar.
Speaker 9 (29:38):
You would be the youngest Egot.
Speaker 5 (29:41):
To even think that that's a possibility is mind blowing.
Speaker 11 (29:48):
Wicked joins the genre bending Amelia Perez in the Best
Picture category would first time two musicals have been nominated
since nineteen sixty nine. Lead actress Carlos Sophia Gascone is
the first openly transactor to be nominated for an Oscar.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
My Big Things, We're devised to endure such a ocean.
Speaker 11 (30:12):
The two films joined the Brutalist Raking in ten or
more nominations this year and talk about a family affair.
Fernando Torres, the lead actress in the historical drama I'm
Still Here, is only the second Brazilian to be nominated
for an Academy Award. Her mother was the first more
than twenty five years ago.
Speaker 3 (30:30):
The world expects brothers.
Speaker 9 (30:31):
Like you and I to walk in with our heads held.
Speaker 3 (30:34):
Down, sing sings Coleman.
Speaker 11 (30:36):
Domingo can hold his head high, potentially becoming the first
Afro Latino to win an Oscar for Best Actor.
Speaker 4 (30:43):
You're listen to the music. You're telling me not to play.
Speaker 11 (30:45):
Up against twenty nine year old Timothy Shalome, who could
be the youngest Best Actor winner ever.
Speaker 3 (30:53):
Well, it's gonna be an exciting night.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
You know, I know the Oscars aren't as big as
they used to be because we have so many more channels,
and now you can program against the Oscars. It used
to be a big event like this. The other stations
wouldn't put anything on. But I'll tell you this much, Heatherbrooker,
I'll be watching The White Lotus while these these awards
are being passed out.
Speaker 3 (31:10):
And I'm not sorry about it.
Speaker 4 (31:11):
Okay, you shouldn't be. It's a great season so far.
A little slow, the reison, I'm so was a little slow,
but it's a good show.
Speaker 2 (31:17):
I am so fascinated by the dialogue written by the
producer of that show, the creator that show, Mike White,
that I will watch nothing happen as long as the
characters are talking. So I'll be watching HBO tomorrow night
while the Oscars. I hope every one of the Oscars
has a great time. I hope to have occasion to
attend someday. You know how fun would that be. I
know it's great. I've said this before. Also, you've heard
(31:39):
me talk like an old man on this program, because
I'm getting to be an old man, I guess, you know,
coming from the Eastern time zone moving out here, it
is so nice that these big events happen so much earlier.
Speaker 8 (31:49):
Yeah, that's true. You know, I have been to the
Oscars twice. Well, excuse me, madam, let me just throw
that in that.
Speaker 3 (31:55):
Well, you did some entertainment reporting back that day.
Speaker 8 (31:57):
Yeah. I was at NBCLA for many, many years covering
the Oscars, and I've been to the Oscars a few times.
And if you're working, it's not nearly as fun. I
think as if you're going for the actual party itself.
When you're on the press line, you're shoving and pushing,
you know, for.
Speaker 2 (32:13):
Your I've never wanted to do that, and all my
journalists are. I don't mind interviewing a celebrity, you know,
about what they're working on. Can make that fun and interesting.
But you're never gonna catch me on one of those
red carpets.
Speaker 8 (32:23):
It's tough, and people don't really see that side of
it where you're literally elbowed to.
Speaker 3 (32:27):
I mean you're begging for them to come over and
talk to you, right.
Speaker 8 (32:29):
I have literal video clips of me, you know, just
calling for people as they're walking by. Rommy Malick, I
post on TikTok and me going Robbi Rommy, Robbie Mallick.
Speaker 4 (32:39):
Yeah, when it was yelling for him and he just
kept on walking.
Speaker 2 (32:42):
Because you're not big enough right. Yeah, that so that's
what I mean. It's like if I'm just there and
like KFI is a big station here in LA. But
does Rommy Mollick care that KFI is there? If I
were waving, I was Rommi Rommy and he walks back.
I don't need that kind of rejection in my life.
Speaker 4 (32:58):
It does hurt after a while, but you kind of
get used it.
Speaker 2 (33:00):
So who did come over? Was it like the the
extras at oh for the oscars?
Speaker 3 (33:05):
For you? Like, did you get any big ones?
Speaker 2 (33:06):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (33:07):
I think so.
Speaker 8 (33:07):
I mean I ended up getting, like, you know, quite
a few people, but it not like the.
Speaker 2 (33:13):
Big because they're going to Eyes, you know, the ones
that are broadcasting it live and you know, I don't
even know who.
Speaker 8 (33:19):
And they also show up kind of late because there's
always traffic, so they always get there late and they're
being rushed through the right car.
Speaker 2 (33:25):
You know who I like a lot is Ed Begley Junior.
Oh really, And I know that's kind of random to
bring up, but I follow his social and I follow
his daughter, I think on TikTok and he's a big
Metro Los Angeles guy, a big like Metro public transit
rider and he takes the train to the Oscars and
the bus in the bus.
Speaker 3 (33:46):
Yeah, so he doesn't have to worry about the traffic.
Speaker 4 (33:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 8 (33:49):
No, there was a challenge I think they did last
year where he and his daughter like tried to see
who could get there first or something. They were like,
you know, testing out all the ways to get there
in a more green friendly way. But it's even no
matter how you get there, it's still a fun night.
There's a lot of pomp and circumstance. There's a lot
of history in the Oscars, And like I said, someday
(34:12):
I would like to attend like you. I would like
to attend to and just go for the fun and
for the to enjoy myself.
Speaker 2 (34:17):
Well, let's hope it happens. I'm looking at this list
of Best Picture nominees. I haven't seen a single one.
I can offer no commentary. I'm not a big film
I gues said. I love TV. I love TV shows.
I like a story that you can invest in and
have several weeks with, you know, give me more of
this white Lotus I'm pumped about.
Speaker 4 (34:35):
Haven't seen Wicked. You haven't seen I can't even know.
Speaker 2 (34:39):
I know the Divine Gravity song because of it's been
around because of the Broadway and all that, and I've
heard that song.
Speaker 8 (34:44):
But like now, I do have to say, out of
all these nominees this year, there are not a lot
of interesting choices, and it's kind of disappointing that the
Academy keeps doing this year after year. They seem to
find these, you know, beautiful a lesser known films that
of course deserve attention. But I guarantee you most of
(35:04):
the people who will be watching have not seen half
these movies. They just they've seen Wicked or Doune.
Speaker 3 (35:10):
Yeah, I don't know. I don't even know who to
root for. I don't you know.
Speaker 2 (35:14):
The movie that's coming up this year that I'm excited
about is like the third Doubt Nabbey movie. I'm really
excited about that one. But see, like that's a movie
that's spawned from television. I've watched Out Nabby all the
way through three times and I've seen both of the films,
and I can't believe they're making a third one. And
you know, like give all the oscars to that already.
I haven't even seen it.
Speaker 8 (35:30):
But you're like all in a doubt napps.
Speaker 3 (35:33):
Me that all right?
Speaker 2 (35:35):
I'll tell you what is not showing up golden is
if you lost a teeth, young people, if you've lost
a tooth and you put it under your pillow and
you expect the tooth fairy to show up and give
you some big bucks, the bucks are getting smaller. And
the company Delta Dental, they come out with this original
tooth Fairy pole every year, and they have revealed this
(35:58):
year that the average value of a single loss tooth
during the past year has declined by fourteen percent, from
five dollars and eighty four cents down to five dollars
and a penny. This marks one of the most significant
year over year declines and tooth fairy givings since this
poll started. One in three parents do say the tooth
(36:19):
fairy spends more on their child's first tooth, but she's
also pinching pennies in recognition of this milestone, So the
average value dropped twelve percent for that first tooth. Okay,
the first tooth you lose, you would get an average
of seven dollars and nine cents. It's dropped to six
dollars and twenty four cents. Budget conscious tooth fairy could
(36:40):
be a good lesson for children. Delta Dental says as
nearly one in five parents say the Tooth Fairy helps
teach their child about the value of money, and isn't
that the American way? I mentioned that this poll tends
to have a relationship to the economy overall in America,
and that appears to be true still, but it's different
(37:00):
than it used to be. The original Tooth Fairy pole
used to show that it was in line with the
S and P five hundred, So if the average price
of the tooth was going up, the S and P
would go up. If the average price of a tooth
was going down, the S and P would go down.
Speaker 3 (37:19):
But now, over the.
Speaker 2 (37:20):
Past few years, as the price of a tooth drops,
the S and P five hundred continues to rise. For example,
the January twenty twenty four S and P five hundred
average was four thousand, seven hundred and forty six. That
increased to an average of five nine hundred and sixty
for January of this year, consistent with the timing of
(37:42):
the original Tooth Fairy pole. By the way, who pays
the most wish region of the country pays the most
the South, and being from the south, I think that's
funny how much value we put on the teeth since
all of you seem to think we don't have any.
Speaker 3 (38:00):
Thanks for joining us here on Michael Monks Reports.
Speaker 2 (38:02):
We'll be back next Saturday and you can hear me
all week long doing the news. Don't forget, I'll be
live Tuesday at City Hall covering the hearing of the
fire chief looking for her job back. Thanks to our
producer Matthew Toffler, thanks to our technical director Raoul Cortes,
and thanks to our news anchor Heather Brooker. Always nice
to spend time with you friends, and always great to
spend time with all of you listeners. Follow me on
(38:22):
social media if you want to shoot me a message,
Mike monks La at Mike Monk's La. That's m I
C m O n k s l A m I
C m O nks LA. Talk to you again soon
here on kf I AM six
Speaker 1 (38:33):
Forty KFI AM six forty on demand
You're listening to KFI AM six forty on demand.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
KFI AM six forty live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app.
I'm Michael Monks from KFI News. This is Michael Monks Reports.
We're with you till nine o'clock and I thanks thank
you for being with us on this beautiful, cool Saturday
night in southern California. We are broadcasting live from our
studios in Burbank, where we are surrounded by Hollywood studios,
(00:27):
Warner Brothers right outside this window, Disney just down the road,
various little studios here and there, Various little offices that
support the industry, little restaurants that depend on the work
that takes place in this industry.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Hollywood is a significant part of what LA is right.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
I mean, the Hollywood Sign is one of our iconic images,
maybe one of our most famous, if not the most
famous image that anybody across the country, maybe the world
could identify as being here in Los Angeles. But Hollywood
is hurting. First, we had COVID. We know, all the industries,
no matter what you were doing, you got hit by COVID.
(01:11):
But film and TV productions basically shut down. And then
we start to emerge from COVID, and both the Actors'
Union and the Writers' Union go on strike together, so
that shuts down the industry. And of course, most recently,
(01:33):
we've just had these devastating fires hit La County, where
a lot of industry professionals live and work. These fires
followed a report from Film LA. The report had already
been out showing how bad things are. We asked Film
LA to come on and talk about this devastating report.
(01:55):
They could make the time, despite basically saying there's nothing
to do. They couldn't come on KFI right in the
heart of the entertainment industry and talk to us about it.
But their most recent quarterly report shows that we were
picking up a little bit towards the end of twenty
twenty four, but overall it was the second slowest year ever,
behind only twenty twenty, which of course was the COVID year.
(02:20):
So government officials are scrambling. This is our signature industry.
It's like if France could no longer make wine. Hollywood
not making Hollywood. We saw the La City Council this
week take a symbolic vote in favor or resolution they
adopted in favor of Governor Newsom's plan to more than
(02:42):
double the tax credits available to filmmakers in California to
seven hundred and fifty million dollars. This is what city
council Woman Nithia Rahman had to say about it.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
LA is Hollywood.
Speaker 5 (02:56):
We all know that. And now what we're seeing is
a time when more and more productions are moving out
of the state and even out of the country because
of these tax credits that other places are offering. It
has become more cost effective sometimes to shoot in other
places that are made to look like LA than to
(03:17):
shoot in LA because of the costs that we're seeing here.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Yet, my husband works.
Speaker 5 (03:24):
In this industry. He has known this for a long time.
The crews here are unparalleled, and we need to bring
production back, and I think this is an important tool
for Los Angeles to be able to see greater economic
prosperity and to bring production back to this industry.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
That's correct.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
A lot of other states, a lot of other jurisdictions,
a lot of other countries have since created their own
tax credits for Hollywood productions film television, and some of them,
some of these productions accept those invitations, even if the
(04:05):
productions are set in Los Angeles. They find a place
that looks like Los Angeles but is cheaper than Los
Angeles to do work in. I moved here from northern Kentucky.
The Cincinnati area, I mean Kentucky has a seventy five
million dollar tax credit. Kentucky, Kentucky now has a sound stage.
Cincinnati is competing to host the Sundance Film Festival. I
(04:27):
know Sundance is not in LA, but it's a big
part of the Hollywood industry. Cincinnati wants to host Sundance.
Georgia has a bottomless bucket of tax credits for Hollywood productions.
(04:48):
LA is behind the eight ball on this tax credit
program now, and film is slowing way down. So some
state lawmakers are heating Governor Newsom's proposal and taking it
to Sacramento in the form of official legislation. Some state
senators as some state assembly members spoke in Los Angeles
(05:11):
this week, and they were joined by Mayor Karen Bass
in endorsing this.
Speaker 6 (05:15):
Oftentimes, we don't think of all of the businesses that
are not on a studio doesn't involve celebrities.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Might be a tailor, might.
Speaker 6 (05:25):
Be a floris, all the different types of businesses that
are completely dependent on the industry, and after going through
the three shocks of one a pandemic, the other a strike,
and now the wildfires. Just think about those three blows
that people in the industry have taken personally, losing their home,
(05:48):
losing their job.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
It's just been too much.
Speaker 6 (05:51):
And so to revitalize the industry, to encourage production here
and for goodness sake, for Los Angeles and California to
keep up with it's the rest of the nation. I
don't want to stand here five years from now and
reminisce about an industry that has.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Left us, an industry that has left us that appears
to be a possibility. What is La without Hollywood? I mean,
you're already getting a little bit of a taste of it.
It's been slow for years because of the pandemic, because
of the strikes. Takes a while to get up and
running again. So will these government incentives create a new spark.
(06:31):
Raul Cortez, who is our technical director here on Saturday nights,
he sees one of the local studios up close in
person at his other place of work and Rol, you said,
it's been pretty slow out there.
Speaker 7 (06:42):
Yeah, steady decline.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
You're not seeing like like you're seeing a lot less
activity on the lot.
Speaker 7 (06:48):
Absolutely, yeah, And it's just it's tangible, you know what
I mean, Like just you see all the people that
used to work in catering are they're gone, and so
you know where left the lot. But you see that
it's not coming back, and if it does, it comes
back slowly. And you're right the fire. I think the
(07:08):
fire was one of the worst things that just the
timing of it. That's when everybody was going to come back,
and it hit right when everybody was about to come back.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
I saw a slogan from a lot of creative artists
here in LA who have suffered through the pandemic and
the strikes.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
It was just, you know, here's what we're hearing.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
We're hearing from producers, We're hearing from people will buy
your scripts or give you a part and whatever they're
working on.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
Survive till twenty five, Survive till twenty five.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
They were saying all last year, survive till twenty five,
and then to start twenty five, you know, we have
these massive fires across LA County and now I don't
know what the slogan will be to get through this
year as best you can and see if twenty twenty
six is any better. I know Heather Brooker has a
lot of friends. She's a friendly gal. I know you
probably know a lot of people in the industry. I mean,
what are you seeing from your circles.
Speaker 8 (07:52):
Oh, it's definitely slow. And people are leaving La.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Yeah, they're leaving La already. In LA people are leaving
because they're not finding work. They can't have to live
here without their work, and then they might luck out.
It doesn't seem to matter where you live. There is
a film coming to town. They are making movies all
over the country again, even if it's set in Los Angeles,
they will find a play. We'll make Nebraska look like Pasadena.
Speaker 8 (08:18):
I am also an actor. I'm Moonlight as an actor.
You know Kfi has my heart, but I'm Moonlight as
an actor. And I can tell you so many more
auditions come through from Atlanta, from Texas, from New York,
even they are coming from Utah, a.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
Lot in Canada.
Speaker 8 (08:38):
Very rarely now am I getting auditions for Los Angeles,
where I live. And you know, one thing I think
people forget when they see the Palisades fire and the
impact it have on the industry. A lot of producers
lived out there, a lot of writers lived out there.
The people who make and create film and television lived
in those areas. And you know, I don't know if
(09:01):
they've you know, where they've gone or where they've shifted,
but certainly their mind has not been on creating TV
shows and movies. I'm sure they've been trying to survive
and get their family and lives back together.
Speaker 4 (09:13):
So you're right.
Speaker 8 (09:14):
Three devastating things have happened in the last five years
for the industry, and I worry as an actor and
as someone in the industry that it might be too late.
A lot of these studios have already set up shop
in other states and other communities, and now how do
we lure them back.
Speaker 4 (09:31):
That's a big question.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
That's the big question.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
And one of the possible answers are these tax credits.
We're going to be joined by one local state senator
pushing for this up Naxt will explain how important he
sees these tax credits being.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
You're listening to KFI AM six forty on demand, I AM.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
Sixty live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app. This is Michael
Monks reports. I'm Michael Monks with un til nine o'clock tonight.
Hollywood jobs are disappearing, and so were Hollywood productions. Twenty
twenty four was the second slowest year ever, behind only
twenty twenty. So now local leaders and state wide leaders
are pushing for more tax credits, more than doubling the
(10:13):
current offering for TV and film productions across the state
to seven hundred and fifty million dollars. Will it work?
Our guest is Senator Ben Allen, a Democrat from Santa
Monica who's announced some support of legislation. Senator, it does
seem strange that we're in a position to ask Hollywood
to make movies in Hollywood.
Speaker 3 (10:34):
How did we get here?
Speaker 9 (10:38):
Well, how did we get here? Look, I think there's
a lot of jurisdiction, a lot of places around the
world that have been trying to get Hollywood productions in
their areas for a long time. They've been offering increasingly
generous incentives to go off in film in Georgia, Louisiana,
British Columbia, London, or wherever else, and they've been throwing
money at these projects in the past. California was Look,
(11:00):
we're the home of TV and film we have the infrastructure,
we have the people, we have all that it takes
to do these productions. But increasingly, over time these incentives
have proven really tempting for the studios and for production,
and over time infrastructure has built up in these other places.
So now you've got decent sound stages and cinematographers and
(11:21):
grips and all the infrastructure you need to make productions elsewhere.
And we're starting to see a lot of loss. A
lot of people have been out of work. It's been
a rough go the last few years all over Los Angeles.
There are lots of people that work in and around
the entertainment industry that are really hurting right now because
of all this production going elsewhere.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
So what I'm seeing is states across the country increasing
the amount of money that they have prepared to throw
at film and TV productions. As you noted, they've got
staff at the ready, they have sound stages at the ready.
They're basically building many Hollywoods in the middle of the country.
So what do you say is different right now about
(12:02):
Los Angeles if you're pitching this to people looking to
make their films.
Speaker 9 (12:07):
Yeah, we this is the reason why we're coming forward
with this extension and expansion of the TV's on tax credit.
LA has all these built in advantages. We have beautiful sunshine,
beautiful weather, beautiful landscapes. We've got so many wonderful people
here who are top professionals in the field, who know
the work. We've got sound stages, we've gotten infrastructure, so
(12:29):
there's tons of reasons to stay and do work here
in LA. We just have to make sure that we're
being adequately competitive. The truth is, you're right, thirty eight
different competing tax credit programs in the US alone, thirty
six in Europe. New York's is now at seven hundred
million dollars a year. Georgia has literally no cap so
these aggressive programs are really taking their toll. It's why
(12:50):
I'm involved with a lots of effort right now to
fight back and offer a competitive tax credit program that
will encourage these projects to stay right here at home.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
One of the comments that I've heard that I think
has to sting the most for industry professionals and those
of you looking to boost this industry is a lot
of these places that are throwing money at film productions
are doing so in a way where they have to
make themselves physically look like Los Angeles. For some of
these productions, like the show or the movie might be
(13:21):
set in LA but it's shot in I don't know, Nebraska.
Speaker 9 (13:28):
Just that makes me more angry than anything else I think,
and you know, but again, it's at least partly because
our current program is not competitive enough. It's limited, it's oversubscribed,
and something like seventy seven percent of the projects that
were unable to secure a credit moved production out of
state as a result. So these are people that wanted
(13:48):
to do the work here. As you say, oftentimes their
productions or their TVs, their films were set in Los Angeles.
They wanted to do the work here, but they chose
to go elsewhere because it simply didn't pencil out. It's
so frustrating and it's why we have to step up
and be more proactive to help keep this production here.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
Senator Allen, you represent the twenty fourth district that includes
Hollywood and all of the surrounding communities. We know that
this industry has been hit hard by COVID. We shut
down a lot of businesses, but it did impact Hollywood
dramatically as well. Then we had dual strikes with the
writers and the actors, and now we've also had these
devastating wildfires that have impacted a lot of people, of course,
(14:27):
but also artists, whether they are living in Alta Dina
or whether they're living in your district of the Palisades.
Do you think having a larger tax incentive pool is
enough to help rebuild this industry that has not only
been hit hard by competition, but all of these other
devastating events.
Speaker 9 (14:45):
Look, it's surely going to help. Is it going to
be a silver bullet? Of course, a lot of things
have to come together to help rebuild the strength of
its industry in LA. But I think it will go
a long way toward helping get us back on track.
I really do as you say. There's a lot of
competing factors, but we would be really remiss if we
didn't take this step. We know this is a step
(15:06):
that works. It's one of the reasons why all these
other jurisdictions are doing it. We need to step up
and do this to help protect this industry and keep
them here.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
Hollywood is obviously a significant part of Los Angeles' economy,
a significant part of its history, and basically, when we
talk about trying to boost the industry. It does go
beyond what's happening at studios, what's happening on sets, right,
I mean, there's an entire economy that's supported strongly by
that industry.
Speaker 7 (15:37):
That's right.
Speaker 9 (15:37):
There's a ton of creatives who work around the industry.
By the way, there's lots of people who work around
the industry in small businesses that cater or florists, or
camera shops or prop shops, all those groups that do
all that work that helps to support the industry and
their activities. I'll give you one other examp. Well, during
the Grammys with Slass go Around, they decided to go
(16:00):
all the big parties and put all the money toward
fire relief, which is a wonderful thing, and I certainly
appreciated a great deal, especially given the fact that I
represent the pal States. What I think about was that
all these companies that do the party, so whose business
it is to run the big parties after the big
awards shows, and they employ a lot of people, and
they really rely on these events to keep themselves in business,
(16:23):
and they took a massive hit as a result. Of course,
they've suffered so much, you know, with all the other
things happening with the industry. So, yeah, when you're right,
there are so many layers, so many ripple effects of
the industry, from construction to catering to transportation services that
rely so much on servicing the industry, we often forget
(16:47):
about them. This is not just about the studios and
the people actually making the movies themselves.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
How urgently are you moving with this legislation.
Speaker 9 (16:58):
So we're very serious about it. We introduced it just
last week. We had a big press conference about it.
This week, been talking to people like you and others
telling the story. There's going to be a hearing in
the Assembly on the topic on Monday. The governor, of course,
came down and expressed his support. We have to sell
our colleagues on the wisdom of this, but we're very serious.
(17:20):
This is a group effort under the leadership. I'm obviously
very involved Rick Ziberg, Assembly Member, Isaac Bryan, another Samily member,
But we're really committed to working with all of the
legislative leadership in the Governor's office to get this thing through.
You know, if there's a lot of pressures on the
state budget right now, there's a lot of competing priorities
out there, and we've got to push to make sure
it's high on the radar screen. One of the challenges
(17:41):
this is a state wide credit, and it certainly it
gives actually extra support for productions that are outside of
the thirty mile zone as a way of helping out
productions in San Francisco and the Central Valley and elsewhere.
That's a wonderful thing. But a lot of our colleagues
that aren't from Los Angeles, they're not hearing every day
from constituents in the way that we are how much
(18:01):
the indus is hurting. And I don't know all of
them are quite up to speed on what a doctor
problem this is. So that's another part of our work,
involved educating them and making sure they understand how vulnerable
the industry is right now, how threatened it is.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
State Senator Ben Allen a Democrat from Santa Monica. He
represents a lot of West LA communities, including Hollywood in
that district. So Senator, thank you so much for taking
some time to explain this legislation to us.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
We appreciate it, really appreciate it.
Speaker 9 (18:28):
Appreciate your interest, and let's let's get this thing done up.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
Next something else is disappearing from Hollywood productions. What a
study from UCLA has found about diversity in film and TV.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
You're listening to KFI AM six forty on demand.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
KFI AM six forty live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app.
This is Michael Monks Reports on Michael Monks from KFI News.
We're with you till nine o'clock tonight. The congrats the
USC Trojans women's basketball program, winners of the Big Ten
regular season conference by defeating UCLA at Pauly Pavilion eighty
(19:06):
to sixty seven to nine. Fourth ranked Trojans baiting the
second ranked Bruins, breaking that tie for first place and
winning the Big Ten. Still a little weird to talk
about USC and UCLA in that conference. Does feel a
little bit odd to me still, but there you are,
the Trojans Big Ten regular season champions. Tomorrow is the
(19:31):
biggest night in Hollywood with the Oscars. And you may
recall that some of the requirements to be nominated to
be considered for an Oscar started to be altered. It
was announced in twenty twenty that the Academy was making
sure that there would be more representation of diversity on
(19:53):
screen and off screen. They announced in twenty twenty that
some of the standards would include on scre green representation, themes, narrative,
and that these would absolutely be taken into consideration. Win
movies meant to be nominated for Oscars, they needed to
(20:15):
know the racial makeup of the cast and crew. They
needed to know what the storyline and the subject matter
was about and how it treated certain types of people.
Some of the things that they wanted to include include
the lead or significant supporting actors at least one of
the lead actors or significant supporting actors is from an
(20:37):
underrepresented racial or ethnic group like Asian, Hispanic, Latino, Black,
African American, Native American, Arabs, Hawaiian Pacific Islander. They wanted
to see that the general ensemble cast at least thirty
percent of all actors in secondary and more minor roles
(21:00):
are from at least two of the following groups, women,
racial or ethnic groups, LGBTQ, people with cognitive or physical disabilities, death,
heart of hearing, and that the main storyline or subject
matter includes storylines that are centered on underrepresented groups like women, LGBTQ,
(21:24):
racial or ethnic groups, people with disabilities. They also want
to know that the creative leadership and project team is
diversity at least two of the following creative leadership positions
and department heads casting director, cinematographer, composer, costume designer, director, editor, hairstylists,
those sorts of position producer are coming from underrepresented groups,
(21:48):
and that the overall composition of the crew people working
on the film thirty percent from underrepresented groups. Those were
renounced twenty twenty that films had to start meeting these
standards in order to be considered for the industry's highest honors,
(22:09):
and it was phased in so by last year these
were being seriously taken into consideration.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
But a report from.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
UCLA out this week shows, in spite of that directive
diversity on screen and behind screen has dropped. And keep
in mind this report is reflective of twenty twenty four.
This is before President Trump was reelected and has become
(22:45):
a champion of eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion programs. And
you're seeing universities, including here, eliminate a lot of those
programs and anticipation that they could lose federal funding if
they don't.
Speaker 3 (22:59):
In film, it's already been happening.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
The latest Hollywood Diversity report from UCLA found that opportunities
for people of color fell across the board in twenty
twenty four and that reversus gain scene in recent years,
and women did see an increase in their share of
leading roles on screen, but the number of women writers
(23:20):
has also dropped. This is the twelfth year that this
report has been released by UCLA. It analyzes movies, TV
and their audiences with a focus on the top twenty
excuse me, the top two hundred movies that are released
around the world in theaters each year. The reports authors
(23:41):
over at UCLA found that films like John Choose Oscar
winning movie excuse me, Oscar nominated film Wicked hasn't won
anything yet, That's tomorrow, Oscar nominated film Wicked, and the
movie A Quiet Place Day One do demonstrate that there
is good economics for diversity.
Speaker 3 (24:03):
That's what this report says. That some of these.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
Movies with diverse casts dominated the box office. The study
says domestically and worldwide, films that reflect a multitude of
identities did better at the box office than less diverse projects.
They suggest that this proves those types of movies to
(24:26):
be superior investments. One of the co founders of the
report says, last year we celebrated some historic highs for
people of color in the industry, but twenty twenty four
saw a widespread reversal as film studios retreated from racial
and ethnic diversity in front of and behind the camera.
(24:48):
Now some of the audience makeup is something that producers
may want to pay attention to. Based on this study,
the diversity of the audience is what's driving those diverse
films to the top of the charts. Except for Wicket,
which was primarily driven by white people. The top genres
(25:14):
horror and drama that overtook action and comedy. Horror and
drama are now the most popular, and according to the report, diversity,
particularly people of color, remains a driving factor in opening
weekend box office success. People of color led domestic ticket
(25:34):
sales as the majority audience for twelve of the top
twenty films, including seven of the top ten. Women also
made up the majority of ticket buyers for eight of
the top twenty movies during their opening weekends. Among the
top twenty films where white audiences made up the greatest
(25:55):
share of opening weekend box office sales, only one wicked
at number twenty ranked number one for its opening week.
This report says that films that most reflected the country's population,
which is now estimated to be forty four point three
percent people of color, according to the Senses outperformed other
(26:17):
top releases both domestically and internationally. One of the reports
co founder says, diversity is a key part of the
big financial picture. Diversity travels. When a film lacks diverse
faces and perspectives, it's just not as appealing here and abroad.
(26:37):
That is the film report from You See La ahead
of tomorrow night's Oscars.
Speaker 3 (26:44):
We'll talk a little bit more about the.
Speaker 2 (26:45):
Oscars coming up in the next segment, because that is
what we do in Los Angeles. But I want to
let you know there is a key indicator that the
economy is not going well and it's not something you
might expect. Stick around and we'll tell you how the
Tooth Fairy has forecasted some bad times ahead.
Speaker 1 (27:06):
You're listening to KFI AM six forty on demand.
Speaker 2 (27:10):
KFI AM six forty live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app.
This is Michael Monks Reports on Michael Monks from KFI
knew So glad you could be with us on this
Saturday night, I want to go to one of our
callers who let the message through our iHeartRadio app talkback button,
which you can always do as well, who has something
(27:32):
to say about the firefighter and the appeal of the
fire chief coming up on Tuesday.
Speaker 3 (27:37):
Let's hear that.
Speaker 10 (27:37):
When you look at the Karen Bass interview with Alex Michaelson,
she states that the after action report will be done
by the Fire Commission and also by the state. The
Fire Commission does not have the authority to order the
fire chief to do an after action report. If there
was an extra thousand firefighters, where would they put them
(27:58):
on fire engines or in the yard not working? There
was no place for a thousand firefighters.
Speaker 2 (28:07):
I mentioned earlier in the seven o'clock hour that I
expect that component the response and where the firefighters were?
Speaker 3 (28:15):
Where were the thousand should they have been sent home?
Speaker 2 (28:17):
That's sort of that will be a big component of
the conversation on Tuesday, if not publicly, certainly behind the scenes.
So I think that was from our good firefighting buddy
Steve Krieger, to whom I owe a phone call. I
will get to you very very soon. It's been a
little crazy here at KFI, looking forward to chatting with
you a little bit more about firefighting and the local
(28:38):
fire department in response to the fires. It's Oscar weekend
here in Los Angeles. We would be remiss even here
at KFI, where we prefer to talk about the news,
if we didn't dive into this big issue. Let's hear
this preview from our friends at ABC News.
Speaker 11 (28:54):
It's Oscar Zeve. The carpet is rolled out as we
count down to Hollywood's biggest night, and it goes to
halle Berry and Monses.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
By Parasite.
Speaker 1 (29:07):
Michelleo.
Speaker 11 (29:09):
Money of history has been made in the awards ninety
seven year existence, and this year is poised to be
no different. Could Egott status be on the horizon for
Cynthia Rivo for her role as Alphaba and the os
inspired wicket Are Robin Roberts sitting down with her ahead
(29:31):
of the big night?
Speaker 1 (29:32):
Emmy, Grammy, Tony.
Speaker 6 (29:34):
The only thing missing on your shelf, of course, is
an Oscar.
Speaker 9 (29:38):
You would be the youngest Egot.
Speaker 5 (29:41):
To even think that that's a possibility is mind blowing.
Speaker 11 (29:48):
Wicked joins the genre bending Amelia Perez in the Best
Picture category would first time two musicals have been nominated
since nineteen sixty nine. Lead actress Carlos Sophia Gascone is
the first openly transactor to be nominated for an Oscar.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
My Big Things, We're devised to endure such a ocean.
Speaker 11 (30:12):
The two films joined the Brutalist Raking in ten or
more nominations this year and talk about a family affair.
Fernando Torres, the lead actress in the historical drama I'm
Still Here, is only the second Brazilian to be nominated
for an Academy Award. Her mother was the first more
than twenty five years ago.
Speaker 3 (30:30):
The world expects brothers.
Speaker 9 (30:31):
Like you and I to walk in with our heads held.
Speaker 3 (30:34):
Down, sing sings Coleman.
Speaker 11 (30:36):
Domingo can hold his head high, potentially becoming the first
Afro Latino to win an Oscar for Best Actor.
Speaker 4 (30:43):
You're listen to the music. You're telling me not to play.
Speaker 11 (30:45):
Up against twenty nine year old Timothy Shalome, who could
be the youngest Best Actor winner ever.
Speaker 3 (30:53):
Well, it's gonna be an exciting night.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
You know, I know the Oscars aren't as big as
they used to be because we have so many more channels,
and now you can program against the Oscars. It used
to be a big event like this. The other stations
wouldn't put anything on. But I'll tell you this much, Heatherbrooker,
I'll be watching The White Lotus while these these awards
are being passed out.
Speaker 3 (31:10):
And I'm not sorry about it.
Speaker 4 (31:11):
Okay, you shouldn't be. It's a great season so far.
A little slow, the reison, I'm so was a little slow,
but it's a good show.
Speaker 2 (31:17):
I am so fascinated by the dialogue written by the
producer of that show, the creator that show, Mike White,
that I will watch nothing happen as long as the
characters are talking. So I'll be watching HBO tomorrow night
while the Oscars. I hope every one of the Oscars
has a great time. I hope to have occasion to
attend someday. You know how fun would that be. I
know it's great. I've said this before. Also, you've heard
(31:39):
me talk like an old man on this program, because
I'm getting to be an old man, I guess, you know,
coming from the Eastern time zone moving out here, it
is so nice that these big events happen so much earlier.
Speaker 8 (31:49):
Yeah, that's true. You know, I have been to the
Oscars twice. Well, excuse me, madam, let me just throw
that in that.
Speaker 3 (31:55):
Well, you did some entertainment reporting back that day.
Speaker 8 (31:57):
Yeah. I was at NBCLA for many, many years covering
the Oscars, and I've been to the Oscars a few times.
And if you're working, it's not nearly as fun. I
think as if you're going for the actual party itself.
When you're on the press line, you're shoving and pushing,
you know, for.
Speaker 2 (32:13):
Your I've never wanted to do that, and all my
journalists are. I don't mind interviewing a celebrity, you know,
about what they're working on. Can make that fun and interesting.
But you're never gonna catch me on one of those
red carpets.
Speaker 8 (32:23):
It's tough, and people don't really see that side of
it where you're literally elbowed to.
Speaker 3 (32:27):
I mean you're begging for them to come over and
talk to you, right.
Speaker 8 (32:29):
I have literal video clips of me, you know, just
calling for people as they're walking by. Rommy Malick, I
post on TikTok and me going Robbi Rommy, Robbie Mallick.
Speaker 4 (32:39):
Yeah, when it was yelling for him and he just
kept on walking.
Speaker 2 (32:42):
Because you're not big enough right. Yeah, that so that's
what I mean. It's like if I'm just there and
like KFI is a big station here in LA. But
does Rommy Mollick care that KFI is there? If I
were waving, I was Rommi Rommy and he walks back.
I don't need that kind of rejection in my life.
Speaker 4 (32:58):
It does hurt after a while, but you kind of
get used it.
Speaker 2 (33:00):
So who did come over? Was it like the the
extras at oh for the oscars?
Speaker 3 (33:05):
For you? Like, did you get any big ones?
Speaker 2 (33:06):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (33:07):
I think so.
Speaker 8 (33:07):
I mean I ended up getting, like, you know, quite
a few people, but it not like the.
Speaker 2 (33:13):
Big because they're going to Eyes, you know, the ones
that are broadcasting it live and you know, I don't
even know who.
Speaker 8 (33:19):
And they also show up kind of late because there's
always traffic, so they always get there late and they're
being rushed through the right car.
Speaker 2 (33:25):
You know who I like a lot is Ed Begley Junior.
Oh really, And I know that's kind of random to
bring up, but I follow his social and I follow
his daughter, I think on TikTok and he's a big
Metro Los Angeles guy, a big like Metro public transit
rider and he takes the train to the Oscars and
the bus in the bus.
Speaker 3 (33:46):
Yeah, so he doesn't have to worry about the traffic.
Speaker 4 (33:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 8 (33:49):
No, there was a challenge I think they did last
year where he and his daughter like tried to see
who could get there first or something. They were like,
you know, testing out all the ways to get there
in a more green friendly way. But it's even no
matter how you get there, it's still a fun night.
There's a lot of pomp and circumstance. There's a lot
of history in the Oscars, And like I said, someday
(34:12):
I would like to attend like you. I would like
to attend to and just go for the fun and
for the to enjoy myself.
Speaker 2 (34:17):
Well, let's hope it happens. I'm looking at this list
of Best Picture nominees. I haven't seen a single one.
I can offer no commentary. I'm not a big film
I gues said. I love TV. I love TV shows.
I like a story that you can invest in and
have several weeks with, you know, give me more of
this white Lotus I'm pumped about.
Speaker 4 (34:35):
Haven't seen Wicked. You haven't seen I can't even know.
Speaker 2 (34:39):
I know the Divine Gravity song because of it's been
around because of the Broadway and all that, and I've
heard that song.
Speaker 8 (34:44):
But like now, I do have to say, out of
all these nominees this year, there are not a lot
of interesting choices, and it's kind of disappointing that the
Academy keeps doing this year after year. They seem to
find these, you know, beautiful a lesser known films that
of course deserve attention. But I guarantee you most of
(35:04):
the people who will be watching have not seen half
these movies. They just they've seen Wicked or Doune.
Speaker 3 (35:10):
Yeah, I don't know. I don't even know who to
root for. I don't you know.
Speaker 2 (35:14):
The movie that's coming up this year that I'm excited
about is like the third Doubt Nabbey movie. I'm really
excited about that one. But see, like that's a movie
that's spawned from television. I've watched Out Nabby all the
way through three times and I've seen both of the films,
and I can't believe they're making a third one. And
you know, like give all the oscars to that already.
I haven't even seen it.
Speaker 8 (35:30):
But you're like all in a doubt napps.
Speaker 3 (35:33):
Me that all right?
Speaker 2 (35:35):
I'll tell you what is not showing up golden is
if you lost a teeth, young people, if you've lost
a tooth and you put it under your pillow and
you expect the tooth fairy to show up and give
you some big bucks, the bucks are getting smaller. And
the company Delta Dental, they come out with this original
tooth Fairy pole every year, and they have revealed this
(35:58):
year that the average value of a single loss tooth
during the past year has declined by fourteen percent, from
five dollars and eighty four cents down to five dollars
and a penny. This marks one of the most significant
year over year declines and tooth fairy givings since this
poll started. One in three parents do say the tooth
(36:19):
fairy spends more on their child's first tooth, but she's
also pinching pennies in recognition of this milestone, So the
average value dropped twelve percent for that first tooth. Okay,
the first tooth you lose, you would get an average
of seven dollars and nine cents. It's dropped to six
dollars and twenty four cents. Budget conscious tooth fairy could
(36:40):
be a good lesson for children. Delta Dental says as
nearly one in five parents say the Tooth Fairy helps
teach their child about the value of money, and isn't
that the American way? I mentioned that this poll tends
to have a relationship to the economy overall in America,
and that appears to be true still, but it's different
(37:00):
than it used to be. The original Tooth Fairy pole
used to show that it was in line with the
S and P five hundred, So if the average price
of the tooth was going up, the S and P
would go up. If the average price of a tooth
was going down, the S and P would go down.
Speaker 3 (37:19):
But now, over the.
Speaker 2 (37:20):
Past few years, as the price of a tooth drops,
the S and P five hundred continues to rise. For example,
the January twenty twenty four S and P five hundred
average was four thousand, seven hundred and forty six. That
increased to an average of five nine hundred and sixty
for January of this year, consistent with the timing of
(37:42):
the original Tooth Fairy pole. By the way, who pays
the most wish region of the country pays the most
the South, and being from the south, I think that's
funny how much value we put on the teeth since
all of you seem to think we don't have any.
Speaker 3 (38:00):
Thanks for joining us here on Michael Monks Reports.
Speaker 2 (38:02):
We'll be back next Saturday and you can hear me
all week long doing the news. Don't forget, I'll be
live Tuesday at City Hall covering the hearing of the
fire chief looking for her job back. Thanks to our
producer Matthew Toffler, thanks to our technical director Raoul Cortes,
and thanks to our news anchor Heather Brooker. Always nice
to spend time with you friends, and always great to
spend time with all of you listeners. Follow me on
(38:22):
social media if you want to shoot me a message,
Mike monks La at Mike Monk's La. That's m I
C m O n k s l A m I
C m O nks LA. Talk to you again soon
here on kf I AM six
Speaker 1 (38:33):
Forty KFI AM six forty on demand
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