Why Independent Filmmakers Say Los Angeles Is Still Worth the Risk
By: Stephanie Ahn | Aug 5, 2026
Founders of Getaway Entertainment are optimistic about the future of Los Angeles as a home for indie filmmaking, thanks to feature “Tilt”
Credit: Courtesy of Getaway Entertainment
For decades, Los Angeles has been the undisputed home of filmmaking. Yet today, as generous tax incentives lure productions to other states and countries, independent filmmakers are left wondering if it is still possible to build a sustainable production company in the heart of Hollywood.
For the founders of Getaway Entertainment, the answer is a resounding yes.
Rather than following the industry’s migration elsewhere, director Sophia Banks, producer Damiano Tucci, and novelist and screenwriter Arwen Elys Dayton made a deliberate decision to plant their flag in Los Angeles with their debut film, “Tilt.”
“Tilt,” entirely shot in Los Angeles, follows a struggling freelance reporter and her cameraman while they investigate a citywide conspiracy amid a roaring wildfire. The disaster fiction feature was filmed entirely in the city, not because it was the easiest choice, but because they believe Los Angeles remains an irreplaceable part of cinematic storytelling.
Credit: Courtesy of Getaway Entertainment
Director Sophia Banks and actor Kyle Allen on the set of “Tilt”
“Ultimately, it was authentic to the story we are trying to tell. A big theme in the film is persistence. And while L.A. has its issues, it is still L.A. and there is a spirit about L.A. that encourages persistence and hard work,” said Tucci. “I think there is an aesthetic wavelength it has that can’t be replicated and frankly comes across in every frame of our film.”
Much of the indie film was inspired by the destructive Palisades Fire last year, which Dayton experienced firsthand.
“I was heartbroken about L.A., and I wanted to put everything I love about the city and the people who made it great… into the fabric of this story,” the screenwriter said.
While the founders remain committed to the importance of the city’s spirit, they acknowledge that making independent films in California comes with significant challenges.
Tucci described making indie films as a gamble in itself, as companies struggle with tax credits, time constraints and proper wages. However, the three founders are optimistic about the passion and ambition for filmmaking to persevere. Historically, the blockbuster era of movies was built on the backs of indie filmmakers from the 70s, Banks explained.
“L.A. is a place still filled with artists that embody this on a daily basis and when those artists get to create, we as the audience get to experience magical things. As long as L.A. continues to support that, I think films will be able to be made here forever,” said Tucci.
For Getaway Entertainment, “Tilt” carries more weight than just a first feature. At a time when independent filmmaking faces unprecedented economic pressures, Banks, Tucci and Dayton are making the case that Los Angeles remains not only a backdrop for storytelling, but a source of inspiration and collaboration.