Almost everyone in Hollywood wants to get back to work. What’s taking so long?

For example, of the 11 Universal Pictures films that have gone into production or preproduction since the strikes settled, none were shot or are set to shoot in California. Similarly, only one Warner Bros. feature — a new movie from "Licorice Pizza" writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson — out of seven has been filming in the Golden State. Nearly the same ratio applies to Sony, which has kick-started production on six movies, one of which is slated to shoot in California; Disney has 22 live-action films in various stages of production, roughly three of which are based in California.

The decreasing volume of major motion pictures shooting in California continues a long-term pattern. Industry experts and insiders blamed the ongoing exodus on California's tax credit system, which they said often struggles to compete with the programs of other popular filming locales, such as Georgia, New Mexico, New York, Louisiana and the United Kingdom.

The California Film Commission has been making efforts to prevent productions from fleeing to other parts of the country and overseas by offering film tax incentives. The state awards about $330 million annually to dozens of companies that shoot in state, but the tax incentives aren't as generous as other destinations that vie for the same business.

In February, the state agency announced that it would bestow tax breaks on 15 upcoming local film productions. Five of those features were backed by major studio players, including Disney and Lucasfilm's "The Mandalorian & Grogu," which was awarded $21.8 million to film in California.