Noah Wyle, star and executive producer of HBO Max's 'The Pitt', told a hearing in Burbank on Friday that the show's success proves Hollywood can revive domestic film and television production. The medical drama, which won the Emmy for best drama for its first season, shoots at Warner Bros. studios in Burbank, bucking the trend of production moving to states with cheaper incentives.
Speaking at a hearing organised by California Senator Adam Schiff, Wyle said California's recent tax breaks made the series possible. 'The Pitt' brought nearly 600 production jobs in its first season and generated $125 million for the state economy. 'That is proof of concept,' Wyle said. 'That is replicable. And it is vital to the strength of our industry and to our city to support these incentives.'
Wyle, who starred on NBC's 'ER' from 1994 to 2009, noted that he had not slept in his own bed for 15 years while working on location. 'It's hard on families,' he said. 'It is hard to fracture your industry that way.'
Schiff and other members of Congress said they are working on nationalising production tax breaks. Representative Laura Friedman, whose district includes Burbank, defended the incentives, saying Hollywood is not asking for special treatment. Matthew Loeb, president of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, lamented Marvel moving production from Georgia to England but said film production can more easily return than other industries.
Concerns were raised about Paramount's pending acquisition of Warner Bros., with Friedman warning the merger could determine whether Los Angeles remains the entertainment capital. Loeb noted that while Paramount has committed to 15 major films per year for each studio, there is no commitment on where they will be shot. Wyle, Schiff, and others emphasised the broader economic impact, with Schiff saying livelihoods from hotel workers to dry cleaners depend on local production.
