Jon Voight met Donald Trump for the first time during an Oscars. The best award -winning actor in the Oscars does not remember the exact year, but he thinks that it is not long after the beginnings of Franco Zeffirelli 1979 Sports classic “The Champ”. The two men have linked to Voight's emblematic film and the emblematic performance as a former boxer in search of a personal acquisition by returning to the ring.
“He loves this film,” says Voight about the president. “He also likes” Rocky “and there is a little game on which is the best film.”
Now, Voight works with President Trump – a politician he has supported with fervor since 2016 – on a level to stem the production of test and “restore people to their dignity and their work”, he adds, “something must be done, and it is very busy”.
For a city accustomed to bombs, the post of President Trump on Sunday which asked 100% prices “on all the films that arrive in our country which are produced to foreign land” sent shock waves through Hollywood and beyond. Although a overwhelming majority of the industry conceives that a certain type of federal aid is necessary, the confusing position was welcomed by skepticism and negative titles.
Variety Caught up with Voight by phone while he was driving through what looked like car washing. He refused to talk about details or logistics, preferring to allow the presentation project he has led with producer Steven Paul to speak of himself. But the legend of “back to home” weighed on the momentum behind the plan for the President, which Voight describes as a movie buff and passionate about pop culture, and his surprise to the negative media reaction – “What would you say about enthusiasm and gratitude?” He insists that the titles on the tariff plan do not reflect what he hears from a wide range of interests.
“We have obtained a lot of good answers from people,” he says. “We really rush our sleeves and work. I think we have a good plan, and we just start. This small team worked very hard to try to understand things. The people and producers of the Union give their expertise and understanding to this problem, and we work together. Many people have had a lot of contribution and we listen to everyone. ”
How Hollywood came to this point, where the American cinematographic and television economy began to fall freely while the studios have chosen to shoot in Canada, the United Kingdom, Hungary and Australia on Los Angeles and domestic hubs like Atlanta and New York, was inevitable, said Voight. Consequently, rank such as make -up artists, make -up artists, costume designers and cameras were the hardest affected with too little jobs available at any time. Instead, the studios mainly hire local teams during filming abroad.
“Each studio has a lot of intelligent people, and they have maneuvered radiation and gifts that are distributed worldwide to attract people in different countries. They take advantage of it,” said Voight about incentives that can shave tens of millions of dollars on the budget of a film. “Now we say,” Hey, we must have it here. “Let's have the level playground.
What may surprise is President Trump's interest in intervening in the name of an industry that hates him almost universally.
“I think it was treated unfairly. I think I also have it. But what is the difference? Who cares? ” Request Voight. “I mean, there has been a battle, but now it's time to put it aside. And I must say, in all the interactions we have had [on addressing runaway production]Politics has never appeared. Never.”
Voight believes that Hollywood Democrats are impatient to put aside the elections accused in 2024 who saw Trump prevail over the Democrat Kamala Harris. As he sees, Hollywood faces the most pronounced existential crisis in his history.
“It happened to a point where we really need help, and thank God, the president cares about Hollywood and films,” he said. “He has a great love for Hollywood in this way. We have to roll up our sleeves here. We cannot drop him into the drain like Detroit. ”
Scott Karol, the lawyer who worked closest to Voight and Paul on the plan, is a democrat. It is likely that most of the people he asked for the contribution is also on the left.
“It shouldn't be political. I do not know the political identity of the people we talked about. We talked to a lot of people here. I do not distinguish them on their affiliation. [a plan that can be executed]He will support us. He wants us to be the Hollywood of yesteryear, “adds Voight.” If we all come together, I think we have a brilliant future. »»
