Production

• On-location production in Los Angeles has decreased by 12%, according to a new study by FilmLA. • The decline is primarily attributed to a continued exodus of reality TV productions, although high-employment TV dramas have remained more stable. • Mayor Karen Bass is responding by advocating for an uncapped tax credit that would include competition reality television and "above-the-line" spending.

• The EU AI Act is now requiring companies to implement strict transparency, logging, and human oversight for AI models currently in production. • Dutch startups specializing in MLOps and AI governance are leveraging these regulatory requirements as a competitive advantage to differentiate their services. • In related industry developments, one unnamed company secured a Series D round in early 2025, raising its total funding to €85.6 million.

Coin commemorating 250th anniversary will be released this fall and will mark the first time a living president appears on currencyThe treasury department announced Wednesday that the US Mint has started producing a new commemorative $1 coin featuring Donald Trump as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration.The coin is scheduled for release this fall. Treasury officials said its final design was approved earlier this year by the US Commission of Fine Arts, whose members were appointed by Trump. However, the version revealed Wednesday is not identical to the previously approved design. Among the changes, the coin has a gold finish rather than being made of solid gold. Continue reading...

• Eurostat reports that seasonally adjusted industrial production decreased by 0.2% in the euro area and 0.1% in the EU during May 2026. • This decline follows a period of growth in April 2026, where production rose by 0.3% in the euro area and 0.2% in the EU. • These first estimates highlight a reversal in industrial momentum across the European Union and its primary currency zone.

• Andrew Sellers of Confluent argues that many AI projects fail to transition from impressive initial demonstrations to functional production environments. • The primary obstacle identified is the lack of robust real-time data infrastructure, which is essential for scaling AI models beyond simple prototypes. • This gap matters because without a reliable data pipeline, AI applications cannot maintain the performance or accuracy required for commercial viability.

• Shares of Apple's Asian suppliers surged following reports that the company plans to increase iPhone production. • The rally reflects investor optimism regarding higher demand and increased order volumes for components. • This shift is significant as it suggests a potential boost in global smartphone shipments and revenue for the supply chain.

• Foreign film productions invested 4.025 billion baht in Thailand during the first half of 2026, positioning the country to set a new annual record for investment. • The surge is being driven by major platforms like Netflix and a growing trend in "vertical dramas," which are short-form screen formats popular in China and across Asia. • This growth highlights Thailand's increasing competitiveness as a global filming hub and its ability to adapt to evolving digital content consumption habits.

US commerce department accuses state of ‘environmental terrorism’ and plans to evaluate its coastal agencyThe Trump administration plans to evaluate the performance of the California Coastal Commission, in the latest escalation of a dispute between the state’s Democratic leaders and the federal government over energy production.Per federal law, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) is required to conduct reviews of federally approved coastal management programs, which take into consideration “the extent to which the State of California has implemented and enforced the program approved by the [commerce] Secretary”. Continue reading...

• India's foreign exchange reserves have increased to $672.6 billion, while bank credit has seen a growth of 17.7%, according to data from CareEdge Moneycast. • The report highlights a strong financial position for the country's reserves and a significant expansion in banking sector lending. • In a separate regulatory update, various government offices, stock exchanges, and IFSC units must meet reporting obligations by July 15, 2026.

• Germany plans to mandate that streaming platforms reinvest 8% of their revenue into local productions, with specific exemptions applicable at a 12% threshold. • To further support the industry, the German government is nearly doubling its annual film funding to €250 million. • These measures aim to protect local cultural content and stimulate domestic production amidst the dominance of global streaming giants.

• Viu CEO Janice Lee revealed at APOS 2026 that nearly 20% of the platform's long-form viewers have transitioned to watching microdramas. • The streamer is expanding its branded content and co-production efforts, highlighted by the Indonesia-set series “Abracadabra” produced with Samsung and starring Ji Chang-wook. • This shift matters as the short-form format attracts advertisers seeking rapid production turnarounds and higher engagement through pan-regional tentpole strategies.

• Pennsylvania Film Commissioner Gino Anthony Pesi announced that the state has awarded $117 million in tax credits to a record 59 film and television projects for 2025-2026. • These productions are expected to inject $1.11 billion into the economy and create 11,700 jobs across 35 different counties. • High-profile projects receiving funding include season 5 of Paramount’s *Mayor of Kingstown*, season 3 of Netflix’s *Tires*, and the second season of HBO’s *Task*.

• Viu CEO Janice Lee reports that nearly 20% of long-form users now watch microdrama, a growing format on the platform. • The platform is expanding its branded content and co-production efforts, including a partnership with Samsung for the series "Abracadabra" starring Ji Chang-wook. • This strategy allows for rapid turnaround times, making the short-form format attractive to brands looking for quick content.

• South Korean productions became the most-watched content origin on Netflix outside the U.S., generating 12.1 billion viewing hours globally. • The data, analyzed by Omdia and Digital i, covers the period from April 2025 to March 2026 and was presented at the International Streaming Summit 2026 in Busan. • This milestone highlights the dominant global influence of K-content and its critical role in driving international subscriber engagement for the streaming giant.

• 7K Studios, the first local film production studio in Taos, held its soft opening celebration on Friday, June 12, in Ranchos de Taos. • The studio provides aspiring filmmakers with essential production space and professional tools to create their projects locally. • This initiative aims to integrate Taos into New Mexico’s rapidly growing film industry by lowering barriers to entry for creators.

• South Korean productions became the most-watched non-U.S. content on Netflix, generating 12.1 billion viewing hours between April 2025 and March 2026. • Global hits such as Squid Game, Daehongsu, and Pokssak Sog-atsuda drove this growth, allowing South Korea to outperform other major exporters like Japan, Spain, and the UK. • According to Omdia's Maria Rua Aguete, this trend solidifies South Korea's position as the premier global source of successful entertainment content outside the United States.

• South Korean productions became the most-watched non-U.S. content on Netflix, generating 12.1 billion viewing hours globally between April 2025 and March 2026. • The findings were released by Omdia and Digital i during the International Streaming Summit (OTT·FAST) 2026 held this week in Busan. • This data highlights the massive global influence of K-content and its critical role in driving international user engagement for the streaming giant.

• India's Index of Industrial Production (IIP) growth slowed to 4.9% in April 2026, down from 5.8% recorded in April 2025. • The IIP serves as a critical macroeconomic indicator used to measure short-term fluctuations in the volume of industrial production across the economy. • This deceleration highlights a cooling trend in industrial output, which can signal broader shifts in economic momentum and manufacturing health.

• The European Audiovisual Observatory released a study on May 29, 2026, analyzing the impact of tax credits, cash rebates, and tax shelters on audiovisual production. • The report maps the legal frameworks governing these incentives, including the UNESCO Convention on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and EU state aid law under Article 107(1) of the TFEU. • This research is critical as fiscal incentives have become primary drivers in determining where and how films and series are financed and filmed globally.

• India's latest Index of Industrial Production (IIP) data indicates that the nation's industrial fundamentals have remained relatively resilient. • The government has announced plans to transition toward a chain-linked framework for calculating the index. • This new system will feature more frequent updates to sectoral weights, allowing official statistics to better reflect structural changes within the economy.

• India is introducing the new Industrial Production Index (IIP) Series 2026, which shifts the base year to 2022-23 to better reflect the current economic landscape. • The updated index expands its scope to include modern sectors and products such as vaccines, aircraft parts, gas supply, and rare earth minerals. • These changes are designed to provide policymakers with deeper, more accurate insights into trends within the energy and industrial sectors.

• Streaming platforms, including Netflix, have criticized the German government's plan to impose compulsory production levies to boost local film content, labeling the move as "protectionist." • The proposed legislation would require streaming services to reinvest between 8% and 12% of their revenue into local productions, placing Germany's rate between Spain/Denmark (5%) and France (20%). • This policy shift occurs as U.S.-based streaming groups increasingly move production overseas to avoid rising domestic costs.

• The German government has approved a draft law requiring streaming services and broadcasters to invest a minimum of 8% of their annual German revenues into local productions. • The bill establishes specific sub-quotas for German-language content, new productions, and investments directed toward independent producers. • This measure aims to strengthen the domestic media landscape by ensuring fair rights sharing and guaranteed financial support for local creators.

• India is set to launch its first-ever Index of Services Production (ISP) around July to track short-term production movements in the services sector. • The ISP will complement a new Index of Industrial Production (IIP) series, which is scheduled for release on June 1 using a revised base year of 2022-23. • This initiative is critical because the services sector now contributes more than half of India's GDP and serves as a primary driver for millions of jobs.

• Google disclosed the first observed AI-assisted zero-day exploit, marking a significant escalation in concerns about artificial intelligence being weaponized for cybersecurity attacks. • The discovery raises concerns about AI-generated cyber models and the potential for malicious actors to leverage machine learning to develop previously unknown exploits faster than traditional methods. • Security experts warn this incident highlights emerging risks from advanced AI capabilities in adversarial contexts, prompting calls for enhanced AI safety protocols and threat monitoring.

Norway’s energy minister says country has a ‘responsibility’ to address shortfalls caused by wars in Ukraine and Middle EastIn case of any doubt about Norway’s commitment to maintain – and expand – its production of gas and oil offshore, the energy minister, Terje Aasland, has a pithy response: “We will develop, not dismantle, activity on our continental shelf.”This week, to the alarm of environmental campaigners, he announced that three gasfields off the country’s southern coast would reopen by the end of 2028 – nearly three decades after they closed – to meet a shortfall caused by the impact of the war in Ukraine and disruption to supplies from the Middle East. Continue reading...

Government officials said in December that Britain’s largest automotive employer could lead exodus from UKJaguar Land Rover would have considered moving car production out of the UK and slashing jobs if not for a £380m subsidy for its sister battery company, government officials claimed privately.Officials at the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) warned in December that Britain’s largest automotive employer may have triggered an exodus from the UK car industry, according to state aid documents prepared by the competition regulator. Continue reading...

Settlement details were not revealed in the agreement that put an end to a highly anticipated trial before it beganSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have settled their legal dispute from the acrimonious production of their 2024 film It Ends With Us, just weeks before a highly anticipated scheduled trial.In a joint statement on Monday, legal representatives of both parties said: “The end product – the movie It Ends With Us – is a source of pride to all of us who worked to bring it to life. Raising awareness, and making a meaningful impact in the lives of domestic violence survivors – and all survivors – is a goal that we stand behind.” Continue reading...