• Donald Trump aims to rejuvenate Hollywood, appointing Mel Gibson, Jon Voight, and Sylvester Stallone as special ambassadors.
• The U.S. film and television industry faces significant challenges, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and recent wildfires.
• Production levels have dropped dramatically, with a reported 26% decline since 2021.
• California proposes to increase its Film & Television Tax Credit program to attract more productions.
• The ambassadors' specific roles in the cinematic revival remain unclear.

In a surprising announcement, President-elect Donald Trump outlined his intention to bolster Hollywood, dubbing the actor trio of Mel Gibson, Jon Voight, and Sylvester Stallone as his "Special Ambassadors to a great but very troubled place, Hollywood, California." Trump expressed his vision of restoring Hollywood to its former glory, likening it to a "Golden Age," in a post on his social media outlet [AP News].

The selection of these actors highlights Trump's nostalgia for the cinematic stars of the '80s and '90s, a period when both Stallone and Gibson were icons while Trump thrived as a tabloid figure in New York. The president's initiative comes at a time when the American film industry is experiencing troubling setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, series of strikes among Hollywood guilds in 2023, and devastating recent wildfires in the Los Angeles area. According to data from [CBS News], overall production in the U.S. has plummeted by 26% since 2021.

FilmLA reported a 5.6% decrease in production activity for the Greater Los Angeles area compared to 2023, marking the lowest levels since 2020. In response to these challenges, California Governor Gavin Newsom recently proposed expanding the state's Film and Television Tax Credit program to $750 million annually, significantly increasing it from the current $330 million. Other cities, including Atlanta, New York, Chicago, and San Francisco, have successfully attracted film and television projects via similar tax incentives, with actor Mark Wahlberg eyeing a new production hub in Las Vegas.

While the specifics of what Gibson, Voight, and Stallone will actually accomplish in their new roles remain vague, their appointments signify Trump's willingness to engage with figures who embody a storied yet controversial cinematic legacy. The actors were noted as being as surprised as the public by Trump's announcement, with Gibson humorously querying whether the role would come with "an Ambassador's residence"—a nod to the loss of his Malibu home in the recent fires during this press announcement [South China Morning Post].

The controversy surrounding these figures, particularly regarding Gibson's public incidents over the years and Voight's staunch support for Trump, adds a multifaceted layer to the administration's focus on Hollywood—an industry grappling with its own identity crises amidst shifting cultural narratives and economic difficulties.

For further details on this development, read the full articles from AP News, South China Morning Post, and CBS News.