The film industry, once a beacon of creative opportunity and stable careers, is facing an unprecedented crisis. From Hollywood’s production decline to the vanishing “middle class” of filmmakers, professionals and aspiring creatives alike are asking: Is it still possible to make a living in film in 2025 and beyond?

The Hollywood Downturn: By the Numbers

Recent reports from major outlets like the LA Times and Film LA reveal a stark reality: filming in the greater Los Angeles area dropped by 22% in the first quarter of this year, with total shoot days down nearly 25%. This isn’t just a local issue—Hollywood’s struggles are a warning sign for the global industry.

Why Is This Happening?

1. The Streaming Algorithm Trap

The rise of streaming platforms has fundamentally changed how content is produced and consumed. Tech-driven companies like Netflix use vast amounts of viewer data to determine what gets made, leading to a glut of similar content—true crime, celebrity docs, and reality shows—at the expense of originality. While this approach maximizes short-term profits, it stifles creative risk-taking and makes it harder for new, innovative projects to get greenlit.

2. Economic Pressures and Runaway Costs

Shooting in California has become prohibitively expensive, with permits and labor costs driving productions overseas to cheaper locations like Hungary and Ireland. Even with recent tariffs aimed at protecting domestic filmmaking, the economics remain challenging for all but the biggest studios.

3. The Disappearance of the Filmmaking Middle Class

Perhaps the most devastating trend is the erosion of the “middle class” in filmmaking—those who built steady careers on commercials, network TV, and mid-budget features. As budgets shrink and studios play it safe, these jobs are vanishing, leaving only high-end blockbusters and low-budget, scrappy productions.

Adapting to the New Reality

Despite the doom and gloom, the demand for high-quality visual content is stronger than ever—just not in the traditional places. The future belongs to those who can pivot:

• High-End Specialists: Those who break into the world of big-budget productions for streamers and studios.
• Nimble Creators: Filmmakers who can deliver top-tier work with small teams and modest budgets, often for commercial clients or digital platforms.

Case Study: Thriving Outside the Middle

One professional filmmaker recounts how, after years of working on high-profile documentaries for Netflix and HBO, he shifted focus to smaller, more agile projects for commercial clients like Coinbase. Despite smaller crews and less gear, these jobs proved more profitable than many traditional gigs, demonstrating that adaptability and reputation can open new doors—even in a shrinking market.

The Path Forward: Practical Advice

• Embrace Change: The industry will not return to its old ways. Flexibility and a willingness to pivot are essential.
• Build a Reputation: High-end skills and a strong portfolio can attract both premium and commercial clients.
• Leverage New Opportunities: Online education, branded content, and direct-to-consumer platforms offer alternative paths to success.

Conclusion

The dream of professional filmmaking isn’t dead—but it has evolved. The middle ground may be disappearing, but opportunities abound for those willing to adapt, learn new skills, and straddle both the high and low ends of the market. The industry’s future belongs to the flexible, the creative, and the entrepreneurial.

Bolanle Media Press Room

The film industry stands at a crossroads in 2025, facing rapid technological changes, economic uncertainty, and evolving audience habits. While some professionals fear for the future, others see opportunity in the turbulence. Bolanle Media Press Room explores the reality behind the headlines, drawing on candid conversations with working filmmakers, directors, and crew members.

The State of the Industry

Unpredictable Work and Shrinking Budgets

Industry professionals report a landscape marked by inconsistency1. Many crew members and directors experience long periods without work, followed by intense bursts of activity. Budgets have tightened, leading to more unpaid hours and increased pressure on freelancers and production companies.

• Survey data: 78% of UK-based long-form directors say their income is unstable, working on average just 27 weeks per year. Over half report working 60-hour weeks or more, often with no corresponding increase in pay.
• Freelancer experience: The pandemic boom led to a surplus of crew, but as demand normalized, many found themselves surplus to requirements, with work becoming “consistently inconsistent”.

The Impact of Technology and Social Media

The rise of AI and social media has fundamentally changed how films and advertising content are produced and consumed. Brands now often opt for influencer-driven campaigns over traditional big-budget productions, shifting opportunities and budgets away from established production pipelines.

• Social media as a storefront: Many filmmakers report that their biggest projects now come through platforms like Instagram, with viral content leading to unexpected job offers.
• Changing advertising: Companies are increasingly turning to user-generated content and influencer marketing, which requires fewer resources and less traditional crew.

Adaptation and Opportunity

Diversification is Key

Those thriving in the current climate are often those who have diversified their skills and roles1. The advice to “niche down” is less relevant, as industry professionals find success by working across multiple sectors and job functions.

• Multi-hyphenate professionals: Many successful filmmakers now direct, produce, edit, and even run their own production companies, adapting to whatever opportunities arise.
• Continuous outreach: Early-career professionals spend significant time each day networking and reaching out to potential clients, often landing work through persistence and visibility.

The Role of Passion and Resilience

Despite the challenges, many in the industry remain optimistic. Passion for storytelling and adaptability are cited as crucial for survival and success.

• Emotional resilience: The unpredictability of freelance work is emotionally taxing, but professionals stress the importance of staying flexible and remembering why they entered the industry in the first place.
• No single path: There is no longer a guaranteed progression or perfect plan. The industry rewards those who are willing to evolve, learn new tools, and build strong relationships.

Conclusion

The film industry is not dying—it is transforming. While shrinking budgets, new technologies, and changing workflows create discomfort and unpredictability, they also bring new opportunities for those willing to adapt. The need for compelling stories and passionate storytellers remains unchanged, ensuring a future for those who embrace change and stay curious.

For more insights and interviews with industry professionals, follow Bolanle Media Press Room for the latest updates on the evolving world of filmmaking.

A Legal Showdown That Could Change AI Forever

In a dramatic escalation of the battle between Hollywood and Silicon Valley, Disney and Universal have filed a landmark copyright lawsuit against Midjourney, the leading AI image generator, accusing the company of “calculated and willful” infringement on their most valuable intellectual property—from Star Wars and Marvel to The Simpsons and Shrek.This is the first time major studios have directly targeted a generative AI company in court, and the case could set the rules for how artificial intelligence interacts with creative industries for years to come.

The Allegations: “A Bottomless Pit of Plagiarism”

Disney and Universal’s 110-page complaint, filed in a Los Angeles federal court, paints Midjourney as a “virtual vending machine” that enables users to generate endless unauthorized reproductions of beloved characters and scenes. The lawsuit is packed with side-by-side comparisons, showing how Midjourney’s outputs—created from simple text prompts—can closely mimic original works, including:

• Lifelike images of Yoda, Iron Man, Elsa, the Minions, and Homer Simpson.
• Replicated movie stills from blockbusters like The Avengers and The Mandalorian.
• The ability to generate unmistakable images of iconic characters even from vague prompts, such as “popular ‘90s animated cartoon with yellow skin,” resulting in The Simpsons.

The studios argue that these results are only possible because Midjourney trained its AI models on copyrighted materials without permission, and that the company has ignored multiple cease-and-desist letters demanding it stop.

What’s at Stake: Billions in Revenue and Creative Control

Midjourney, founded in 2022, has quickly become a dominant force in the generative AI space, reporting $300 million in revenue last year and amassing over 20 million users. Disney and Universal contend that this explosive growth is built on the unauthorized use of their creative work, threatening the very incentives that drive investment in film, television, and animation.

The lawsuit seeks:

• Financial damages—potentially up to $150,000 per infringed work.
• Restitution of Midjourney’s profits derived from infringing activity.
• A court order (injunction) to halt Midjourney’s image and upcoming video generation services until robust copyright protections are implemented.

Industry Impact: A Turning Point for AI and Copyright Law

This legal action is part of a broader wave of lawsuits against AI companies, with The New York Times, Sony Music, and Getty Images also challenging the use of copyrighted content in AI training data. However, the Disney and Universal case stands out for its scale and the high-profile nature of the plaintiffs, raising urgent questions about:

• Whether training AI on copyrighted materials without a license constitutes infringement.
• The responsibilities of AI developers to respect intellectual property.
• The future of creative industries in the age of generative algorithms.

Legal experts suggest this lawsuit could reshape how AI companies source data, filter user prompts, and interact with copyright holders. If Disney and Universal succeed, it may force the entire industry to rethink how generative AI models are built and deployed.

The Road Ahead: Will AI Art Survive?

As the case proceeds, the outcome could set a precedent for how AI companies operate, influence future legislation, and determine whether Hollywood’s creative output remains protected or becomes raw material for generative algorithms. With Midjourney preparing to launch a video generation tool, the stakes are higher than ever for both the tech and entertainment worlds.

For now, the creative community, technology sector, and millions of AI art enthusiasts are watching closely—because the future of AI-generated art may hang in the balance.

This article was produced by the Bolanle Media Newsroom, continuing our commitment to covering the intersection of technology, creativity, and culture.