The Los Angeles City Council postponed a vote Wednesday to explore a potential grant program to support vertical content creators and incentivize local production.
Council members agreed to continue a vote on a motion introduced by Councilman Bob Blumenfield in September 2025 to Jan. 28. If approved, the motion would direct the Economic and Workforce Development Department to report on a framework for the program.
City staff would analyze economic development tools to attract long-term industry investments, potential funding sources and review permit fees and tax rebate opportunities, among other things.
The motion would direct staff to identify $5 million in public, private and philanthropic funding sources to establish a “40% launch and rebate program,” which would provide up-front funding to micro-drama productions offering a 40% rebate on qualifying L.A. expenditures. An initial 20% up-front grant would be provided to small productions with the final 20% provided upon completion of the project.
Vertical content refers to videos on mobile devices, which have proliferated in recent years. These videos are usually set in a 9:16 ratio, tailored for viewing on phones.
Short-form content, or “micro-dramas,” is projected to hit $15 billion by 2028, according to the motion. Blumenfield seeks to prepare the city and position it as “the national and global hub” for this form of storytelling.
Micro-drama productions typically have budgets less than $200,000, which fall below the threshold to qualify for California’s tax credits. Some creators relocate to other cities that offer tax credits.
“The targeted support to micro-drama production will not only nurture a new generation of creative talent, but also help future-proof Los Angeles’ position at the center of the global entertainment industry,” according to Blumenfield’s motion.