President-elect Donald J. Trump has added Hollywood to his fix-it list, saying in a social media post on Thursday that Mel Gibson, Sylvester Stallone and Jon Voight would be his “eyes and ears” in the entertainment capital. He said the goal was “bringing Hollywood, which has lost much business over the last four years to Foreign Countries, BACK — BIGGER, BETTER, AND STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE!”
The motivation for Mr. Trump’s announcement was unclear, but he was probably referring to what is known as runaway production. Because of costs, major movies are increasingly being shot in other countries. Britain, Hungary, Australia and Canada, for instance, offer studios generous tax incentives.
Hollywood also has been hurt by a sharp decrease in international ticket sales. China, for example, was once a booming market for American movies but has in recent years prioritized locally produced films.
Mr. Trump referred to the three actors — all of whom have been enthusiastic supporters of the president-elect — as “special ambassadors” and “special envoys” in his post.
Mr. Stallone, 78, still has an active entertainment career that includes starring in the streaming drama “Tulsa King.” Mr. Voight, 86, had small parts in five movies last year, including “Reagan.” Studios long ago ostracized Mr. Gibson, 69, because of his repeated scandals; he has been working on “Passion of the Christ 2.”
