VARIETY: Paramount Deal and U.S. Film Incentive Reflect Hollywood’s Deepening Ties to Government.

Hollywood has historically been wary of government involvement, whether in the form of censorship or via anti-monopolization efforts. But unions and studio chiefs celebrated last week’s developments.

“In almost every instance, Hollywood by and large resisted and was scared of interference,” Galloway says. “The contrast is that these two moves are by and large welcomed by Hollywood.”

Democrats often decry “corporate welfare,” but have long made an exception for Hollywood studios, which provide union jobs. Now Republicans are coming around too. Last year, Texas increased its state incentive and offered bonuses for “faith-based” projects and films that promote Texas heritage.

“The cultural aspects were used to get more traditional fiscal conservatives on board with something that could be seen as a Hollywood handout,” says Pete Johnson, a media industry researcher and visiting assistant professor at New York University, who sees Texas as a precursor to President Trump’s backing of a federal film incentive.

From the left’s point of view, what’s the problem? I’m so old, I can remember 12 years ago, when Salon wanted to nationalize both the film and the TV news industries.

As Charles Cooke asked the left in 2016, “Herewith, an under-asked question for our friends on the progressive left: ‘Has Donald Trump’s remarkable rise done anything to change your mind as to the ideal strength of the State?’”