Remember, like, a dozen or so inscrutable Donald Trump decisions ago, when he appointed Jon Voight, Sylvester Stallone, and Mel Gibson as his “special ambassadors” to Hollywood? He said the actors would be his “eyes and ears” and that he would “get done what they suggest” in order to “bring back Hollywood.” Mostly, it seemed like a vanity announcement to flatter some movie star tough guys and possibly make Trump look cooler. (We have to concede it’s cooler to stand next to Rocky than Elon Musk.) This impression was reinforced by the fact that the “special ambassadors” didn’t even know about their appointment until Trump randomly posted about it on social media. As such, Gibson and Stallone seemingly haven’t done anything in their official capacity as ambassadors. But not Jon Voight. Jon Voight is taking this shit seriously.
According to Deadline, Voight “has been taking meetings around town with union reps and studio executives to understand the issues plaguing domestic production.” He’s reportedly spoken with the Directors Guild of America, Teamsters, and IATSE. His plan to save Tinseltown is so far unclear, “but sources with knowledge of his conversations with Hollywood insiders tell us they expect a federal tax incentive to be the main component,” Deadline says. Gibson and Stallone have not joined these talks and haven’t been conducting any similar boots-on-the-ground research, so far as anyone knows. Probably because, again, “special ambassador to Hollywood” is a fake job.
But if Voight does have the president’s ear, maybe he could… actually do something positive for Hollywood? Based on Deadline‘s reporting, it sounds like everybody Voight met with is skeptical that he’d succeed at swaying Trump to anything. Relying on a conservative conspiracy theorist to help traditionally liberal Hollywood also feels dubious. But keeping productions in the U.S., and particularly in Los Angeles, is actually a major concern for the entertainment industry right now, so Voight actually has the chance to do some good if (and it’s a big if) he can pull it off. Frankly, it sounds like he’s taking this made-up position more seriously than some real government officials right now, which… isn’t the most comforting thought, huh?
