While most of their cinematic work has been shot in Atlanta or overseas, Joe and Anthony Russo nonetheless have a deep fondness for Los Angeles production, but are more than aware of how difficult it has become to shoot there. Speaking in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the Russo Brothers shared that they support a big change to the current tax incentive structure in California.
“We have larger productions that can save tens of millions of dollars by shooting in the U.K. or in Australia,” said Joe. “The only way you can keep projects [in Los Angeles] is by being competitive with the rebate. It’s a shame, because this town was built around the industry, and the industry seems all but gone now.”
The Russo Brothers’ own careers were built here as well, having gotten their start on the LA-based productions of “Arrested Development” and “Community.” The latter sitcom was even what got them noticed by Marvel chief Kevin Feige and earned them the directing gig on “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.”
“We were running ‘Community’ at the time, which was no small gig,” Joe said of when they were approached for the Marvel sequel. “That was a very complicated show. A lot of personalities — messy personalities — involved in that show. Every episode was a big creative swing. It was a really intense period for us. I remember sleeping in the trailer on the lot of ‘Community’ quite a bit just to keep up with the edits and prep for ‘Captain America.’”
Recalling of how confident he felt being invited into Marvel, Anthony added, “Before we went in for that last meeting on Marvel, my wife reminds me that I said to her, ‘Look, if we don’t get this movie, I have to rethink my entire career. I don’t understand any of that if this doesn’t happen.’ It just felt like the movie was ours.”
Such hope is rare nowadays, especially in Los Angeles, where production continues to dwindle, but the California State Legislature may be able to offer a ray of light. This summer it will be voting on a 2025-2026 budget proposal that includes beefing up the CA tax credit to $750 million. This increase was proposed by Governor Gavin Newsom back in October 2024, but with the state now also needing to consider funding for recovery in the aftermath of the SoCal wildfires, it will be up to political action groups and individual citizens to push representatives for this change. Grassroots efforts are currently underway for such action by production guilds and others.
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