Steven Paul, Who Developed Voight Plan for Hollywood, Buys L.A. Studio Facility

Steven Paul, one of the architects of actor Jon Voight‘s plan to save Hollywood, has acquired a small production facility in Van Nuys and intends to film there in a vote of confidence for the local industry.

Paul is Voight’s manager and production partner, and worked with him on a package of incentives and targeted tariffs that was presented to President Trump on May 3-4.

On Tuesday, Paul announced the acquisition of Avenue Six Studios, which has four soundstages and a backlot resembling a New York street. Paul has filmed many of his recent productions in Bulgaria, but said he intends to make three films at the Van Nuys lot.

“I won’t film everything there, but I’ll be able to utilize it,” he said in an interview.

Paul and his partner, Scott Karol, crafted a proposal for a federal tax incentive for production, along with a host of other ideas such as a restoration of the old financial interest and syndication rules, which were eliminated more than three decades ago.

Trump seized on a single element of that plan — tariffs — and announced that he would impose a 100% tariff on all films produced overseas.

In the wake of that move, a coalition of industry unions urged Trump to support three limited tax deductions that can be used to incentivize production. The unions are also supportive of a federal production subsidy, but see that as a longer-term goal.

In the interview, Paul said that the team continues to meet with industry leaders on the initiative.

“We’re all working together as one united voice to try to make something happen,” he said.