“The Floor Fell Out”: LA’s Entertainment Industry Is In Full Collapse
4th October 2025
Hollywood’s middle class is collapsing, according to a new report from the Wall Street Journal.
Production has slowed to historic lows, jobs are vanishing, and longtime workers are leaving Los Angeles in droves.
Animator Brian Mainolfi, who once worked with Chuck Jones and on Disney films like Mulan, hasn’t had steady work since 2024. His only income is $350 a week teaching three hours away. “By the end of the year if I don’t have something, I’m going to have to apply to a big-box store or a grocery store,” said the 54-year-old, now burning through savings.