US plans: Film-Zölle: Voight submits Trump plan for Hollywood reform

With his announcement of providing films produced abroad with high tariffs, US President Donald Trump shaked Hollywood and the film industry worldwide. Oscar winner Jon Voight, whom Trump had named together with Sylvester Stallone and Mel Gibson as Hollywood “ambassador”, announced on Monday that he had presented the Republican a “comprehensive plan” on necessary changes in Hollywood.

Voight (86), father of Angelina Jolie, stated in a message that he had advised himself with dozens of representatives of leading associations in the film and TV industry how to boost domestic production. “The President loves entertainment business and this country and he will help us make Hollywood great again,” said Voight. He spoke of “clever incentives” and necessary funding to strengthen domestic productions.

Accordingly, Voight made a proposal with tax prices, subsidies for cinema owners and production companies and agreements for co -productions with abroad. According to the notification, tariffs can only be used “under certain restricted circumstances”.

Trump had previously claimed that the film industry in America was dying. According to him, the reason is that other countries attracted filmmakers and studios with various incentives from the USA. Trump’s solution: A custom of 100 percent on films “which come to our country and were produced abroad”. This could also hit the business model of the US studios, as they themselves turn a lot abroad to reduce the costs.

Trump creates uncertainty

Trump’s announcement also caused uncertainty in Germany. “Many questions are still open and the consequences for our business and the production location Germany as a whole are currently not completely estimated,” said Jörg Bachmaier, CEO of the Filmschmiede Studio Babelsberg in Potsdam.

“As a long-standing partner for US productions that shoot in Germany and as part of the internationally active platform Cinespace Studios, we watch the situation to understand how the announced tariffs could have an impact on our company, our services and our customers,” said Bachmaier. Studio Babelsberg is not a lone fighter, but part of a global studion network and a global industry based on international cooperation and cultural exchange.

The Babelsberg studio is considered a cradle of German film. His program included the German -language series “Babylon Berlin” or internationally successful feature films such as “Inglourious Basterds” and “Bridge of Spies”. According to Studio Babelsberg, Cinespace Studios is a studio operator in the USA, Canada and Europe.

Trump wants talks with representatives of the film industry

Trump announced talks with representatives of the film industry. It is unclear how such tariffs should work at all, since films are not imported like goods with a fixed price and are often cross -border productions. Among other things, the US government would have to find a way to evaluate films – and to determine when they are considered an import.

Hollywood has been having long been having to migrate to large film productions to other US states or abroad, often attracted by tax benefits. The California governor Gavin Newsom, a democrat, is working for a stronger tax decree for Hollywood.