Los Angeles’ post-strike production rebound has been slow to materialise in the first quarter of 2024 for both on-location shoot days (Sd) and film permit-associated cast and crew jobs, according to a report by the city’s film office FilmLA.
Total LA-based production shoot days were down 8.7% to 6,823 Sd compared to Q1 2023, and down 20.5% compared to the last five-year average. (The average discounts 2020).
For television, the rebound was particularly slow, with production down 16.2% year on year and down 32.8% compared to the five-year average. This loss of television production is the main contributor to the decline, according to the report.
In the TV category,...
Total LA-based production shoot days were down 8.7% to 6,823 Sd compared to Q1 2023, and down 20.5% compared to the last five-year average. (The average discounts 2020).
For television, the rebound was particularly slow, with production down 16.2% year on year and down 32.8% compared to the five-year average. This loss of television production is the main contributor to the decline, according to the report.
In the TV category,...
- 4/19/2024
- ScreenDaily
The dual Hollywood strikes are history, but production has been slow to return in Los Angeles, especially for television projects. The city and county’s film office said today that local on-location filming declined by 8.7% the first quarter, recording only 6,823 shoot days from January through March.
The quarterly report from FilmLA (read it here) cites a double-digit loss of television production as the main contributor to the decline. TV production was down 16.2% year-over-year in Q1 —. The current filming levels look much worse over a longer study period, as the television sector now trails its five-year category average by 32.8%
Reality TV production dropped 18.6% in the first quarter to 1,317 shoot days, while location-heavy TV drama production dropped 5.5% and less location-heavy TV comedy production plunged by 51.5%. TV pilots — nearly none of which were made in 2023 — saw a 842.9% rise in quarterly production but yielded just 66 shoot days.
Related: Hollywood Contraction:...
The quarterly report from FilmLA (read it here) cites a double-digit loss of television production as the main contributor to the decline. TV production was down 16.2% year-over-year in Q1 —. The current filming levels look much worse over a longer study period, as the television sector now trails its five-year category average by 32.8%
Reality TV production dropped 18.6% in the first quarter to 1,317 shoot days, while location-heavy TV drama production dropped 5.5% and less location-heavy TV comedy production plunged by 51.5%. TV pilots — nearly none of which were made in 2023 — saw a 842.9% rise in quarterly production but yielded just 66 shoot days.
Related: Hollywood Contraction:...
- 4/18/2024
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Filming in Los Angeles has been slow to bounce back after production in the region was decimated by Hollywood’s historic season of strikes.
The main reason for the sluggish rebound: A double-digit drop in television shoots compared to the same period last year. Present levels look even worse over a five year period, with filming in the category — long a mainstay and anchor of production in the region — trailing its five-year average by more than 32 percent.
The report from FilmLA reflects the first full quarter after the resolutions of the strikes. The film office said that the three-month period from January to March saw 6,823 shoot days, representing a roughly 9 percent decline year-over-year and more than a 20 percent decline from the five-year average. That quarter to start 2023 also saw a significant slowdown across most categories of on-location production as decisions about future content direction were put on hold as the...
The main reason for the sluggish rebound: A double-digit drop in television shoots compared to the same period last year. Present levels look even worse over a five year period, with filming in the category — long a mainstay and anchor of production in the region — trailing its five-year average by more than 32 percent.
The report from FilmLA reflects the first full quarter after the resolutions of the strikes. The film office said that the three-month period from January to March saw 6,823 shoot days, representing a roughly 9 percent decline year-over-year and more than a 20 percent decline from the five-year average. That quarter to start 2023 also saw a significant slowdown across most categories of on-location production as decisions about future content direction were put on hold as the...
- 4/18/2024
- by Winston Cho
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
All that free cash flow from a strike-plagued 2023 is burning a hole in Hollywood’s pockets. Time to get back to work.
The key players in film and television will spend a combined $132.7 billion on content in 2024, MoffettNathanson analyst Robert Fishman estimates. You know, if IATSE, the teamsters, and Hollywood Basic Crafts don’t walk out on AMPTP productions and onto the picket lines. But let’s be optimistic for a moment — much of the industry is.
Forty-five percent of below-the-line crew recently surveyed by entertainment-industry tracker ProdPro had a positive outlook for 2024 vs. 20 percent with a negative view. Businesses, like vendors, were even more optimistic: 54 percent had a positive outlook with 9 percent skewing negative.
Why the (relatively) sunny outlook ahead of another potential work stoppage? No one can afford another strike year. Ten billion dollars of production spending was put on hold due to the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes,...
The key players in film and television will spend a combined $132.7 billion on content in 2024, MoffettNathanson analyst Robert Fishman estimates. You know, if IATSE, the teamsters, and Hollywood Basic Crafts don’t walk out on AMPTP productions and onto the picket lines. But let’s be optimistic for a moment — much of the industry is.
Forty-five percent of below-the-line crew recently surveyed by entertainment-industry tracker ProdPro had a positive outlook for 2024 vs. 20 percent with a negative view. Businesses, like vendors, were even more optimistic: 54 percent had a positive outlook with 9 percent skewing negative.
Why the (relatively) sunny outlook ahead of another potential work stoppage? No one can afford another strike year. Ten billion dollars of production spending was put on hold due to the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes,...
- 3/11/2024
- by Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
On March 4, major Hollywood crew unions began negotiating their health and pension benefits with studios and streamers, with Hollywood Teamsters head Lindsay Dougherty saying, “We will strike if we have to” during the talks. But some Los Angeles-area crewmembers say that, in the aftermath of the writers’ and actors’ walkouts in 2023, there doesn’t seem to be that much work to halt if their own stoppage is called.
Caught in a brutal industry contraction amid the demise of Peak TV, crewmembers describe an anemic return to production after the strikes, which is exacerbating problems for those who already had significantly fewer opportunities to work in 2023.
“There hasn’t been any real work,” says one location manager based in L.A., who didn’t work for seven and a half months during and after the strikes. “The industry is not back. What’s back is a few things that are doing...
Caught in a brutal industry contraction amid the demise of Peak TV, crewmembers describe an anemic return to production after the strikes, which is exacerbating problems for those who already had significantly fewer opportunities to work in 2023.
“There hasn’t been any real work,” says one location manager based in L.A., who didn’t work for seven and a half months during and after the strikes. “The industry is not back. What’s back is a few things that are doing...
- 3/6/2024
- by Katie Kilkenny
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Dan Vetanovetz, a crew member with Local 728 who deals with set lighting, wrapped work on upcoming “Star Wars” series “Skeleton Crew” in January 2023. The show capped a period dating back to September 2020 in which he worked back-to-back on projects including “Westworld” and Ryan Murphy’s “The Prom.”
“There were so many times, everybody would be texting each other and saying, ‘Can you work tomorrow?’ and it was, ‘No, I’m booked.’ It was non-stop,” Vetanovetz told IndieWire. “I started telling people, ‘I don’t want to get your hopes up. Can you not text me? I’m going to be locked into this job for the next eight months.’ That was a lot, and everybody was super gangbusters.”
But 2023 was “pretty sparse,” he said. He had a few days on commercials. In September, he spent a week on a low-budget union project that qualified for an interim agreement. He installed light fixtures at conferences.
“There were so many times, everybody would be texting each other and saying, ‘Can you work tomorrow?’ and it was, ‘No, I’m booked.’ It was non-stop,” Vetanovetz told IndieWire. “I started telling people, ‘I don’t want to get your hopes up. Can you not text me? I’m going to be locked into this job for the next eight months.’ That was a lot, and everybody was super gangbusters.”
But 2023 was “pretty sparse,” he said. He had a few days on commercials. In September, he spent a week on a low-budget union project that qualified for an interim agreement. He installed light fixtures at conferences.
- 2/23/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
In the sixth edition of its Sound Stage study, FilmLA has highlighted growth in infrastructure in both the UK and Georgia, at the same time examining a widespread recent drop in studio occupancy, and a marked decrease in L.A.’s one-hour TV series production, specifically, in 2022.
Since the org’s last sound stage update in March of 2023, both the UK and Georgia added upwards of a million square feet of stage inventory to their existing supply, the study said. Now comparable to Los Angeles, the UK currently has around 6.6 million square feet of stage space, with plans to add dozens of new facilities. Georgia has over 4 million, with several significant projects in various planning and expansion phases. Read the full report at the link.
“Just like with trained crew, the availability of purpose-built sound stages is a factor that helps determine the attractiveness of any filming location,” stated FilmLA President Paul Audley.
Since the org’s last sound stage update in March of 2023, both the UK and Georgia added upwards of a million square feet of stage inventory to their existing supply, the study said. Now comparable to Los Angeles, the UK currently has around 6.6 million square feet of stage space, with plans to add dozens of new facilities. Georgia has over 4 million, with several significant projects in various planning and expansion phases. Read the full report at the link.
“Just like with trained crew, the availability of purpose-built sound stages is a factor that helps determine the attractiveness of any filming location,” stated FilmLA President Paul Audley.
- 2/20/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Hollywood’s historic season of strikes decimated filming in Los Angeles, with the region recording close to the lowest production levels on record.
The decline marks the fourth consecutive quarterly shooting drop, capping off a year in which filming was blocked for over four months. Filming for TV shows, long a mainstay in Los Angeles, saw the steepest dip.
The report from FilmLA reflects the last quarter that accounts for the strikes. The agency said that the three-month period from October to December saw 5,520 shoot days, which represents a roughly 36 percent decline from the same quarter last year. The work stoppages from the WGA and SAG-AFTRA concluded on Sept. 27 and Nov. 9 respectively.
FilmLA noted that the resolution of the strikes “came too late for production to pick up by year’s end,” though runaway production is also a factor. On-location filming in Los Angeles has been continuously declining since 2021 as...
The decline marks the fourth consecutive quarterly shooting drop, capping off a year in which filming was blocked for over four months. Filming for TV shows, long a mainstay in Los Angeles, saw the steepest dip.
The report from FilmLA reflects the last quarter that accounts for the strikes. The agency said that the three-month period from October to December saw 5,520 shoot days, which represents a roughly 36 percent decline from the same quarter last year. The work stoppages from the WGA and SAG-AFTRA concluded on Sept. 27 and Nov. 9 respectively.
FilmLA noted that the resolution of the strikes “came too late for production to pick up by year’s end,” though runaway production is also a factor. On-location filming in Los Angeles has been continuously declining since 2021 as...
- 1/16/2024
- by Winston Cho
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
TV and film production in Los Angeles was slow to recover from the industry-wide strikes last fall, according to new data released by FilmLA.
Scripted TV production ticked up slightly in the fourth quarter compared with the prior three-month period, but still remained far below historic levels. And feature film production continued to decline even after the strikes ended.
The WGA strike ended on Sept. 27 after nearly five months, and the SAG-AFTRA strike concluded six weeks later, on Nov. 9.
Overall location filming was down 32.4% in 2023 compared to 2022. Those figures include commercials and reality TV, neither of which was directly impacted by the strike, but which were nevertheless down compared to the prior year.
“It hasn’t been good for anyone who works in the industry,” said Paul Audley, the president of FilmLA. “2023 was a really, really difficult year.”
FilmLA issues location permits for productions throughout the Los Angeles region.
Scripted TV production ticked up slightly in the fourth quarter compared with the prior three-month period, but still remained far below historic levels. And feature film production continued to decline even after the strikes ended.
The WGA strike ended on Sept. 27 after nearly five months, and the SAG-AFTRA strike concluded six weeks later, on Nov. 9.
Overall location filming was down 32.4% in 2023 compared to 2022. Those figures include commercials and reality TV, neither of which was directly impacted by the strike, but which were nevertheless down compared to the prior year.
“It hasn’t been good for anyone who works in the industry,” said Paul Audley, the president of FilmLA. “2023 was a really, really difficult year.”
FilmLA issues location permits for productions throughout the Los Angeles region.
- 1/16/2024
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
FilmLA said Tuesday that on-location production in the city and county of Los Angeles and other local jurisdictions was down more than 32% in 2023, and Q4 even more, as the Hollywood industry continues to recover from two industry labor strikes and a persistent post-Covid production decline in the region.
The film-permit office said Q4 2023 saw 5,220 shoot days, down 36.4% year over year, marking four consecutive quarters of double-digit declines. Overall, there were 24,873 shooting days in 2023, according to FilmLA data, compared with 36,792 shoot days in 2022, 37,709 in 2021 and 36,540 in 2019. See the report here.
The Writers Guild went out on strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers on May 2, with SAG-AFTRA following beginning July 14. The WGA struck for 148 days before reaching a deal September 27; SAG-AFTRA was out for 118 days and reached a deal November 9.
It was the first dual Hollywood strike in 60 years and came less than three years after on-location production...
The film-permit office said Q4 2023 saw 5,220 shoot days, down 36.4% year over year, marking four consecutive quarters of double-digit declines. Overall, there were 24,873 shooting days in 2023, according to FilmLA data, compared with 36,792 shoot days in 2022, 37,709 in 2021 and 36,540 in 2019. See the report here.
The Writers Guild went out on strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers on May 2, with SAG-AFTRA following beginning July 14. The WGA struck for 148 days before reaching a deal September 27; SAG-AFTRA was out for 118 days and reached a deal November 9.
It was the first dual Hollywood strike in 60 years and came less than three years after on-location production...
- 1/16/2024
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
On July 1, two months into the writers strike, FilmL.A. rolled out rate hikes on a slew of fees to obtain permits to shoot in the region. Some of the increases, like with application fees and authorization to shoot at certain locations, were tied to inflation. Others — for rider, photo and notification fees — represented markups of roughly 8 to 17 percent. The agency also introduced a host of entirely new administrative fees for complex filming requests, including for drone, helicopter and special effects use, lane and street closures, and simulated gunfire.
Among the service pricing changes were additional limitations imposed by the guidelines that may further aggravate location budgets. A permit that used to accommodate up to 10 locations for $863 over 14 consecutive days now allows for only five locations per permit for $895 over seven consecutive days. This could cause some permitting costs on large-scale projects to triple, depending on the duration of the shoot...
Among the service pricing changes were additional limitations imposed by the guidelines that may further aggravate location budgets. A permit that used to accommodate up to 10 locations for $863 over 14 consecutive days now allows for only five locations per permit for $895 over seven consecutive days. This could cause some permitting costs on large-scale projects to triple, depending on the duration of the shoot...
- 10/31/2023
- by Winston Cho
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Los Angeles production dropped 41% overall last quarter, led by the near total shutdown of scripted TV and film production due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.
According to FilmLA, which handles L.A.-area location permits, production also declined in areas that are not affected by the strikes: reality TV and commercials. Reality TV production dropped 23% compared to the same quarter last year, while commercial production is down 26%.
“Sobering as these statistics are, production numbers are not the ultimate testimony of the importance of this industry to our region,” said Paul Audley, president of FilmLA, in a statement. “There’s a deeper testimony that comes to us through stories of families, businesses, lives, and jobs affected by the present downturn.”
FilmLA issues quarterly reports on the state of on-location filming in the region. According to the report, scripted TV production was down 99% in the July-to-September quarter, compared to the same...
According to FilmLA, which handles L.A.-area location permits, production also declined in areas that are not affected by the strikes: reality TV and commercials. Reality TV production dropped 23% compared to the same quarter last year, while commercial production is down 26%.
“Sobering as these statistics are, production numbers are not the ultimate testimony of the importance of this industry to our region,” said Paul Audley, president of FilmLA, in a statement. “There’s a deeper testimony that comes to us through stories of families, businesses, lives, and jobs affected by the present downturn.”
FilmLA issues quarterly reports on the state of on-location filming in the region. According to the report, scripted TV production was down 99% in the July-to-September quarter, compared to the same...
- 10/17/2023
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
On-location filming in Los Angeles fell 41.4% year over year in the third quarter to a total of 5,311 shoot days as the Writers’ Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes halted Hollywood productions, according to a new report by FilmLA.
The office noted that the labor disputes were not the sole reason for the decline, citing overall on-location filming in the region falling for seven consecutive quarters.
Unsurprisingly, the steepest losses came from the near complete shutdown of scripted television production in May, with television drama and comedy production falling 99% and 99.4% for the quarter, respectively. TV drama productions had a total of 12 shoot days, compared to 1,198 shoot days a year ago, while comedy productions had 2 shoot days, compared to 352 shoot days a year ago. No filming took place by projects qualifying for the California Film & Television Tax Credit Program, and no TV Pilot filming occurred.
Feature film production saw a 54.6% drop during...
The office noted that the labor disputes were not the sole reason for the decline, citing overall on-location filming in the region falling for seven consecutive quarters.
Unsurprisingly, the steepest losses came from the near complete shutdown of scripted television production in May, with television drama and comedy production falling 99% and 99.4% for the quarter, respectively. TV drama productions had a total of 12 shoot days, compared to 1,198 shoot days a year ago, while comedy productions had 2 shoot days, compared to 352 shoot days a year ago. No filming took place by projects qualifying for the California Film & Television Tax Credit Program, and no TV Pilot filming occurred.
Feature film production saw a 54.6% drop during...
- 10/17/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
A clearer picture of the impact on production caused by the ongoing actors strike and the recently resolved writers strike is coming into focus, with filming in Los Angeles down by nearly half compared to the same period last year.
The decline marks the seventh consecutive quarterly filming drop, which has been driven largely by productions increasingly electing in recent years to shoot in other states with more generous tax credit programs. Filming for TV shows saw the steepest dip. The little local, on-location shooting that the region saw came mostly from reality TV and independent titles granted interim waivers to film amid the strike.
The report from FilmLA reflects the first full quarter that accounts for the strikes. The agency said that the three-month period from July to September saw 5,311 shoot days, which represents a roughly 41 percent decline from the same quarter last year. FilmLA noted that the “contract...
The decline marks the seventh consecutive quarterly filming drop, which has been driven largely by productions increasingly electing in recent years to shoot in other states with more generous tax credit programs. Filming for TV shows saw the steepest dip. The little local, on-location shooting that the region saw came mostly from reality TV and independent titles granted interim waivers to film amid the strike.
The report from FilmLA reflects the first full quarter that accounts for the strikes. The agency said that the three-month period from July to September saw 5,311 shoot days, which represents a roughly 41 percent decline from the same quarter last year. FilmLA noted that the “contract...
- 10/17/2023
- by Winston Cho
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The WGA strike is over, but the fallout from that and the ongoing SAG-AFTRA walkout continue to clobber film and TV production in Los Angeles. FilmLA reported today that on-location shooting days plunged again during the third quarter, dropping 41.4% over 2022 — the seventh consecutive quarterly decline.
Local production during the previous April-to-June quarter had fallen to the lowest levels since the early days of Covid.
The city and county film-permitted office said the steepest losses in the July-to-September period came from the near-complete shutdown of scripted television production in May. TV drama production dropped 99% from July through September, and TV comedy shoots plunged 99.4% (2 days vs. 352).
There were no TV pilots shot during Q3 as 97.3% of all TV filming for the period came from reality series, which made up 40.8% of all location shoots in L.A., including Vanderpump Rules, Basketball Wives and Real Murders of Los Angeles.
Local production during the previous April-to-June quarter had fallen to the lowest levels since the early days of Covid.
The city and county film-permitted office said the steepest losses in the July-to-September period came from the near-complete shutdown of scripted television production in May. TV drama production dropped 99% from July through September, and TV comedy shoots plunged 99.4% (2 days vs. 352).
There were no TV pilots shot during Q3 as 97.3% of all TV filming for the period came from reality series, which made up 40.8% of all location shoots in L.A., including Vanderpump Rules, Basketball Wives and Real Murders of Los Angeles.
- 10/17/2023
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
The greater Los Angeles area remains the top filming location in the United States for scripted entertainment content, but it’s being outpaced by growth in competing locations, according to a report released by FilmLA today.
Growth in the region’s total production was less than 1% between 2021 and 2022, compared to a 4% growth in total industry output and significant growth in competing jurisdictions, according to FilmLA.
For instance, the United Kingdom and the state of Georgia posted year-over-year increases ranging from 50% to 200%, with the exception of theatrical release movies, achieving high rates of production capture across multiple production categories, according to researchers.
The group’s Scripted Content Study (read it here) analyzed projects produced between 2021-2022. The report examined four categories, including television series; original, made-for-cable movies; first-run feature films in theatrical release; and original feature films made for streaming services.
Approximately 1,000 projects meet these criteria and are distributed each calendar year,...
Growth in the region’s total production was less than 1% between 2021 and 2022, compared to a 4% growth in total industry output and significant growth in competing jurisdictions, according to FilmLA.
For instance, the United Kingdom and the state of Georgia posted year-over-year increases ranging from 50% to 200%, with the exception of theatrical release movies, achieving high rates of production capture across multiple production categories, according to researchers.
The group’s Scripted Content Study (read it here) analyzed projects produced between 2021-2022. The report examined four categories, including television series; original, made-for-cable movies; first-run feature films in theatrical release; and original feature films made for streaming services.
Approximately 1,000 projects meet these criteria and are distributed each calendar year,...
- 10/3/2023
- by Tom Tapp
- Deadline Film + TV
On-location television production in Los Angeles declined 36.4% year over year during the second quarter of 2023 as the Writers Guild of America put pencils down and went on strike after contract negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers fell apart.
Television production had an aggregate total of 2,630 shoot days, according to FilmLA, a partner film office for the city and county and other local jurisdictions. One “shoot day” is defined as one crew’s permission to film at one or more defined locations during all or part of any given 24-hour period.
TV drama and comedy shoot days totaled 360 and 84, respectively, down 36.4% and 72.8% compared to the same period in 2022 and 52.8% and 72.8% compared to the previous quarter. Scripted TV productions that filmed during the quarter prior to the strike included “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC), “S.W.A.T.” (CBS), “The Old Man” (FX), “Good Trouble” (Freeform), “Interior Chinatown” (Hulu), and “How to be a Bookie...
Television production had an aggregate total of 2,630 shoot days, according to FilmLA, a partner film office for the city and county and other local jurisdictions. One “shoot day” is defined as one crew’s permission to film at one or more defined locations during all or part of any given 24-hour period.
TV drama and comedy shoot days totaled 360 and 84, respectively, down 36.4% and 72.8% compared to the same period in 2022 and 52.8% and 72.8% compared to the previous quarter. Scripted TV productions that filmed during the quarter prior to the strike included “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC), “S.W.A.T.” (CBS), “The Old Man” (FX), “Good Trouble” (Freeform), “Interior Chinatown” (Hulu), and “How to be a Bookie...
- 7/19/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
FilmLA has reported a sharp production decline in 2023’s second quarter.
On-location production was down 28.8 percent from April to June, with only 6,566 shoot days. The data captures the impact of the Writers Guild of America strike, which began on May 2. The actors union did not begin striking until July.
“Greater Los Angeles is the North American epicenter of scripted television production. Before long, this sector’s shutdown will be felt in every corner of the regional economy,” said FilmLA’s president Paul Audley. “Like all others watching with hope from the sidelines, we are eager to see the studios and unions reopen their contract negotiations,” Audley continued. “Much is at stake for WGA and SAG-AFTRA members, and also for the small business supply chain on which future filming depends.”
Feature film production dropped by 18.9 percent with only 728 shoot days, 26.6 percent below the category’s five-year average.
Nearly all feature projects...
On-location production was down 28.8 percent from April to June, with only 6,566 shoot days. The data captures the impact of the Writers Guild of America strike, which began on May 2. The actors union did not begin striking until July.
“Greater Los Angeles is the North American epicenter of scripted television production. Before long, this sector’s shutdown will be felt in every corner of the regional economy,” said FilmLA’s president Paul Audley. “Like all others watching with hope from the sidelines, we are eager to see the studios and unions reopen their contract negotiations,” Audley continued. “Much is at stake for WGA and SAG-AFTRA members, and also for the small business supply chain on which future filming depends.”
Feature film production dropped by 18.9 percent with only 728 shoot days, 26.6 percent below the category’s five-year average.
Nearly all feature projects...
- 7/19/2023
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Nearly 80 days into a strike with no end in sight and another that just started, film production in Los Angeles has plummeted and will likely keep sinking.
The decline in the second quarter of this year marks the sixth consecutive quarterly production drop, which was aggravated by the ongoing writers strike and doesn’t include titles stalled by the work stoppage from SAG-AFTRA members. Shooting for TV shows, which drives the most filming in the area, saw the steepest dip.
“Greater Los Angeles is the North American epicenter of scripted television production,” FilmLA president Paul Audley said in a statement. “Before long, this sector’s shutdown will be felt in every corner of the regional economy.”
Just one month into the quarter, members of the Writers of Guild of America went on strike for the first time in 15 years. Several productions went on pause due to disruptions of not having...
The decline in the second quarter of this year marks the sixth consecutive quarterly production drop, which was aggravated by the ongoing writers strike and doesn’t include titles stalled by the work stoppage from SAG-AFTRA members. Shooting for TV shows, which drives the most filming in the area, saw the steepest dip.
“Greater Los Angeles is the North American epicenter of scripted television production,” FilmLA president Paul Audley said in a statement. “Before long, this sector’s shutdown will be felt in every corner of the regional economy.”
Just one month into the quarter, members of the Writers of Guild of America went on strike for the first time in 15 years. Several productions went on pause due to disruptions of not having...
- 7/19/2023
- by Winston Cho
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
On-location filming in Los Angeles has plummeted during the ongoing Writers Guild strike to levels not seen since the dog days of the Covid pandemic, according to FilmLA, the city and county film permit office.
On-location shooting days for locally produced TV comedies was down 72.8% in the second quarter of 2023 compared to the same period last year. And the five-year average of second quarters was even worse for comedies, down by 77.1%. Filming of TV dramas, meanwhile, plunged 63.8%, and shoot days for feature films were off by 18.9%.
“The last time production levels were this low, we were in the middle of a global pandemic,” said FilmLA President Paul Audley. “Families and businesses affected then are again being tested today, lending urgency to the moment to sustain creative careers.”
FilmLA’s latest report for the second quarter – from April 1 through June 30 – includes two months of the WGA strike, which began on May...
On-location shooting days for locally produced TV comedies was down 72.8% in the second quarter of 2023 compared to the same period last year. And the five-year average of second quarters was even worse for comedies, down by 77.1%. Filming of TV dramas, meanwhile, plunged 63.8%, and shoot days for feature films were off by 18.9%.
“The last time production levels were this low, we were in the middle of a global pandemic,” said FilmLA President Paul Audley. “Families and businesses affected then are again being tested today, lending urgency to the moment to sustain creative careers.”
FilmLA’s latest report for the second quarter – from April 1 through June 30 – includes two months of the WGA strike, which began on May...
- 7/19/2023
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers ended contract talks with the Writers Guild of America on Monday night, hours before the contract expiration deadline. The WGA responded by calling for a strike to begin on Tuesday.
The AMPTP cast the WGA as refusing to compromise on key issues and for “the magnitude” of its asks at the bargaining table.
“Negotiations between the AMPTP and the WGA concluded without an agreement today,” the AMPTP said in a statement issued Monday night. “The AMPTP presented a comprehensive package proposal to the Guild last night which included generous increases in compensation for writers as well as improvements in streaming residuals. The AMPTP also indicated to the WGA that it is prepared to improve that offer, but was unwilling to do so because of the magnitude of other proposals still on the table that the Guild continues to insist upon. The primary sticking points are ‘mandatory staffing,...
The AMPTP cast the WGA as refusing to compromise on key issues and for “the magnitude” of its asks at the bargaining table.
“Negotiations between the AMPTP and the WGA concluded without an agreement today,” the AMPTP said in a statement issued Monday night. “The AMPTP presented a comprehensive package proposal to the Guild last night which included generous increases in compensation for writers as well as improvements in streaming residuals. The AMPTP also indicated to the WGA that it is prepared to improve that offer, but was unwilling to do so because of the magnitude of other proposals still on the table that the Guild continues to insist upon. The primary sticking points are ‘mandatory staffing,...
- 5/2/2023
- by Cynthia Littleton and Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
The possibility of a writers’ strike in Hollywood next month has taken its toll on production in Los Angeles, as the new quarterly report from FilmLA shows a 24% drop in the number of on-location shoot days recorded in the county.
In Q1 of 2022, FilmLA recorded 9,832 shoot days as Hollywood pushed to make up for the time lost by the Covid-19 shutdown. But with the possibility that the Writers Guild of America could order a strike if a new contract with studios isn’t agreed upon by the May 1 deadline, studios are significantly drawing down the number of new productions while hastily completing ones that began early this year.
In Q1 of 2023, 7,476 shoot days were recorded, down 24% year-over-year and 16.8% below the five-year average for the first quarter. Television in particular took a huge hit with 2,862 shoot days, down 35.8% from last quarter and 24.2% from the quarterly average.
Also Read:
Writers Guild Members...
In Q1 of 2022, FilmLA recorded 9,832 shoot days as Hollywood pushed to make up for the time lost by the Covid-19 shutdown. But with the possibility that the Writers Guild of America could order a strike if a new contract with studios isn’t agreed upon by the May 1 deadline, studios are significantly drawing down the number of new productions while hastily completing ones that began early this year.
In Q1 of 2023, 7,476 shoot days were recorded, down 24% year-over-year and 16.8% below the five-year average for the first quarter. Television in particular took a huge hit with 2,862 shoot days, down 35.8% from last quarter and 24.2% from the quarterly average.
Also Read:
Writers Guild Members...
- 4/19/2023
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
Concern about looming labor unrest and uncertainty surrounding pending corporate restructuring have contributed to a 35.8% plunge in on-location TV production in Los Angeles in the first quarter of 2023 compared with the same period last year, according to the latest report from FilmLA, the city and county film permit office.
“Over three consecutive quarters, we’ve seen a significant slowdown across all of the most economically important categories of on-location production,” said FilmLA President Paul Audley. “Particularly in the television world, decisions about future content direction are on hold, pending the outcome of corporate restructuring actions and industry labor negotiations.”
Overall, local on-location shoot days fell by 24% in the first quarter this year compared to the first quarter last year – down from 9,832 to 7,476 shoot days – and 16.8% below the region’s five-year average of first quarters. FilmLA defines a “shoot day” as one crew’s permission to film at one or more defined locations during all or part of any given 24-hour period. FilmLA data does not include production that occurs on certified sound stages or in jurisdictions it doesn’t serve.
Read the full report here.
Asked about L.A.’s overall decline in on-location TV production, Audley told Deadline that “We have a multitude of things impacting it, and we’re not really clear which one is having the greatest impact. But certainly the news that’s been around for months now about the majors and the streaming services beginning to reduce the amount of production has had an impact. In the first quarter of 2022, we still had sort of a halo from Covid, with people not being able to travel and a lot more production in L.A. And we have seen some concerns about starting production on series, with a potential strike. So, there are all kinds of things in the balance. But it is part of a longer-term trend – the downturn in production for greater Los Angeles.”
The Writers Guild this week received overwhelming approval from its members to launch a strike if negotiations for a new contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers can’t be reached by May 1. And the DGA is set to begin its own contract talks with the AMPTP on May 10, followed by SAG-AFTRA on June 7.
Related: Los Angeles Remains World’s Soundstage Leader, But Other Locales Are Catching Up: FilmLA Report
“We would hope that when all the various unions and guilds that are in, or going into, labor negotiations settle out, that we would see some level of a return to production to whatever our new normal is,” Audley said.
“But we have to also realize that the international and national competition remains extreme for California,” he added. “One of our major competitors, New York, is going from $420 million in tax incentives to $700 million this year, while California remains, if the governor’s budget is passed, at $330 million. We’re behind on infrastructure development of new stages, as other major areas are building massive and multiple new stages, and we’re sort of at the beginning of doing that. So, the answer is to meet the completion and beat it in the mid-term – not long-term – because if we wait too long, we’re out of the game.
“The other part of the answer is that we’ve seen, in this report and in past reports, how critical the tax credit has been in at least maintaining some level of production here. When you look at television, and realize that almost a quarter of our TV has been associated with that tax credit in this last quarter, imagine the numbers if we didn’t have that tax credit in place. It would be basically bottom-barrel for us, and we’d be in more serious trouble than we are in now.”
California’s tax credit was increased by $90 million – to $420 million – this year and last year, but will return to $330 million next year – or less than half of what New York is offering, and far below the $900 million allotted by Georgia.
Related: Are Streaming Residuals Being Slashed? As WGA’s Own Data Shows, It’s Complicated
The one bright spot in FilmLA’s latest report is that that on-location production of TV comedies increased by 25.1% – to 324 shoot days – from last year’s first quarter but are still down by 22.1% from the five-year average of first quarters. Only 12 of those shoot days, however, involved productions that received California tax credits – or just 3.7% of the total comedy shoot-days. TV sitcoms that filmed locally last quarter included American Auto (NBC), Young Sheldon (CBS), Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO), It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX), Killing it (Peacock), and This Fool (Hulu).
On-location production of TV dramas, meanwhile, plunged 40.4% to 762 shoot days in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter of 2022, and fell by 37.3% compared to the five-year average of first quarters, although FilmLA don’t include 2020 in its five-year averages because production was suspended in Los Angeles County between mid-March through mid-June dues to the Covid-19 pandemic.
TV dramas that shot in the region last quarter included The Company You Keep (ABC), All American (The CW), Mayans Mc (FX), The Sympathizer (HBO), Presumed Innocent (Apple TV+) and Interior Chinatown (Hulu). A total of 186 of the 762 TV drama shoot days – 24.4% – were from projects that received California tax credits.
Reality TV shows, which aren’t eligible for the state’s tax credits, plummeted 37.8% in the first quarter, although production levels in this category hover 17.4% above the five-year average.
Related: As WGA & AMPTP Talks Kick Off, Details Emerge Of DGA’s Attempt To Reach Under-The-Radar Deal With Studios
TV Pilots, produced far less often in an age of direct-to-series orders, generated just seven shoot days for the quarter – a whopping 88.3% decline from the previous year, and 95.4% below the five-year average. Part of this decline in pilots, however, can be attributed to bookkeeping. FilmLA relies on companies to self-classify their project type when they apply for permits, and while for a time applicants tended to call their first episode a pilot, even for a direct-to-series show, now they often just call their show a TV Drama or TV Sitcom.
On-location production of feature films, meanwhile, remained flat for the quarter – 595 shoot days in 2023 versus 594 shoot days in 2022 – but was down 13.1% over the five-year average.
A total of 99 feature film shoot days – 16.6% of feature production – were tied to films that received the state’s tax incentives. Local productions included Unicorn (Apple Studios), Fast X (Universal Pictures), Black Girl, Erupted (BET Her), and indie films On Swift Horses, Stealing Pulp Fiction, and Wishing Well.
Commercial productions, which aren’t eligible for the state’s tax credits, continued their decline last quarter, with a 22.5% percent drop compared to last year (to 899 shoot days), and an even steeper 32.5% decline compared to its five-year average. Companies such as Ally Bank, Chevron and Walmart recently filmed spots locally, as did car companies such as BMW, Dodge, Ford, Genesis, Honda, Hyundai, Toyota and Volvo.
FilmLA’s “other” category, which included still photography shoots, student films, music videos and all other miscellaneous production categories, was down by 13.7% compared to last year.
“Over three consecutive quarters, we’ve seen a significant slowdown across all of the most economically important categories of on-location production,” said FilmLA President Paul Audley. “Particularly in the television world, decisions about future content direction are on hold, pending the outcome of corporate restructuring actions and industry labor negotiations.”
Overall, local on-location shoot days fell by 24% in the first quarter this year compared to the first quarter last year – down from 9,832 to 7,476 shoot days – and 16.8% below the region’s five-year average of first quarters. FilmLA defines a “shoot day” as one crew’s permission to film at one or more defined locations during all or part of any given 24-hour period. FilmLA data does not include production that occurs on certified sound stages or in jurisdictions it doesn’t serve.
Read the full report here.
Asked about L.A.’s overall decline in on-location TV production, Audley told Deadline that “We have a multitude of things impacting it, and we’re not really clear which one is having the greatest impact. But certainly the news that’s been around for months now about the majors and the streaming services beginning to reduce the amount of production has had an impact. In the first quarter of 2022, we still had sort of a halo from Covid, with people not being able to travel and a lot more production in L.A. And we have seen some concerns about starting production on series, with a potential strike. So, there are all kinds of things in the balance. But it is part of a longer-term trend – the downturn in production for greater Los Angeles.”
The Writers Guild this week received overwhelming approval from its members to launch a strike if negotiations for a new contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers can’t be reached by May 1. And the DGA is set to begin its own contract talks with the AMPTP on May 10, followed by SAG-AFTRA on June 7.
Related: Los Angeles Remains World’s Soundstage Leader, But Other Locales Are Catching Up: FilmLA Report
“We would hope that when all the various unions and guilds that are in, or going into, labor negotiations settle out, that we would see some level of a return to production to whatever our new normal is,” Audley said.
“But we have to also realize that the international and national competition remains extreme for California,” he added. “One of our major competitors, New York, is going from $420 million in tax incentives to $700 million this year, while California remains, if the governor’s budget is passed, at $330 million. We’re behind on infrastructure development of new stages, as other major areas are building massive and multiple new stages, and we’re sort of at the beginning of doing that. So, the answer is to meet the completion and beat it in the mid-term – not long-term – because if we wait too long, we’re out of the game.
“The other part of the answer is that we’ve seen, in this report and in past reports, how critical the tax credit has been in at least maintaining some level of production here. When you look at television, and realize that almost a quarter of our TV has been associated with that tax credit in this last quarter, imagine the numbers if we didn’t have that tax credit in place. It would be basically bottom-barrel for us, and we’d be in more serious trouble than we are in now.”
California’s tax credit was increased by $90 million – to $420 million – this year and last year, but will return to $330 million next year – or less than half of what New York is offering, and far below the $900 million allotted by Georgia.
Related: Are Streaming Residuals Being Slashed? As WGA’s Own Data Shows, It’s Complicated
The one bright spot in FilmLA’s latest report is that that on-location production of TV comedies increased by 25.1% – to 324 shoot days – from last year’s first quarter but are still down by 22.1% from the five-year average of first quarters. Only 12 of those shoot days, however, involved productions that received California tax credits – or just 3.7% of the total comedy shoot-days. TV sitcoms that filmed locally last quarter included American Auto (NBC), Young Sheldon (CBS), Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO), It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX), Killing it (Peacock), and This Fool (Hulu).
On-location production of TV dramas, meanwhile, plunged 40.4% to 762 shoot days in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter of 2022, and fell by 37.3% compared to the five-year average of first quarters, although FilmLA don’t include 2020 in its five-year averages because production was suspended in Los Angeles County between mid-March through mid-June dues to the Covid-19 pandemic.
TV dramas that shot in the region last quarter included The Company You Keep (ABC), All American (The CW), Mayans Mc (FX), The Sympathizer (HBO), Presumed Innocent (Apple TV+) and Interior Chinatown (Hulu). A total of 186 of the 762 TV drama shoot days – 24.4% – were from projects that received California tax credits.
Reality TV shows, which aren’t eligible for the state’s tax credits, plummeted 37.8% in the first quarter, although production levels in this category hover 17.4% above the five-year average.
Related: As WGA & AMPTP Talks Kick Off, Details Emerge Of DGA’s Attempt To Reach Under-The-Radar Deal With Studios
TV Pilots, produced far less often in an age of direct-to-series orders, generated just seven shoot days for the quarter – a whopping 88.3% decline from the previous year, and 95.4% below the five-year average. Part of this decline in pilots, however, can be attributed to bookkeeping. FilmLA relies on companies to self-classify their project type when they apply for permits, and while for a time applicants tended to call their first episode a pilot, even for a direct-to-series show, now they often just call their show a TV Drama or TV Sitcom.
On-location production of feature films, meanwhile, remained flat for the quarter – 595 shoot days in 2023 versus 594 shoot days in 2022 – but was down 13.1% over the five-year average.
A total of 99 feature film shoot days – 16.6% of feature production – were tied to films that received the state’s tax incentives. Local productions included Unicorn (Apple Studios), Fast X (Universal Pictures), Black Girl, Erupted (BET Her), and indie films On Swift Horses, Stealing Pulp Fiction, and Wishing Well.
Commercial productions, which aren’t eligible for the state’s tax credits, continued their decline last quarter, with a 22.5% percent drop compared to last year (to 899 shoot days), and an even steeper 32.5% decline compared to its five-year average. Companies such as Ally Bank, Chevron and Walmart recently filmed spots locally, as did car companies such as BMW, Dodge, Ford, Genesis, Honda, Hyundai, Toyota and Volvo.
FilmLA’s “other” category, which included still photography shoots, student films, music videos and all other miscellaneous production categories, was down by 13.7% compared to last year.
- 4/19/2023
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
Filming in Los Angeles continued to decline across most categories to start the year as Hollywood braces for a potential work stoppage.
Particularly for TV shooting, local office FilmLA attributed the dropoff to the suspension of production decisions “pending the outcome of corporate restructuring actions and industry labor negotiations.”
“Over three consecutive quarters, we’ve seen a significant slowdown across all of the most economically important categories of on-location production,” said FilmLA president Paul Audley in a statement, noting that “decisions about future content direction are on hold.”
The first quarter that ended in March saw a 7,476 shoot days, according to FilmLA. The figure represents a 24 percent decline from the same period last year. At that time, Los Angeles was enjoying a production surge due to a backlog of content stalled by the Covid-19 pandemic. The film office reported that the start of 2022 was the busiest first quarter ever, with 9,832 shoot days.
Particularly for TV shooting, local office FilmLA attributed the dropoff to the suspension of production decisions “pending the outcome of corporate restructuring actions and industry labor negotiations.”
“Over three consecutive quarters, we’ve seen a significant slowdown across all of the most economically important categories of on-location production,” said FilmLA president Paul Audley in a statement, noting that “decisions about future content direction are on hold.”
The first quarter that ended in March saw a 7,476 shoot days, according to FilmLA. The figure represents a 24 percent decline from the same period last year. At that time, Los Angeles was enjoying a production surge due to a backlog of content stalled by the Covid-19 pandemic. The film office reported that the start of 2022 was the busiest first quarter ever, with 9,832 shoot days.
- 4/19/2023
- by Winston Cho
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
With 6.2 million square feet of soundstages, Los Angeles remains the world leader in terms of overall stage space, but other jurisdictions are catching up, according to the latest report from the city and county film permit office.
Related Story Los Angeles On-Location Filming Falls In 2022; TV Pilots Plummet By 71.9% As Film & TV Production Drops, FilmLA Says Related Story Lausd Strike: Campus Workers Reach Tentative Deal With District, Must Still Be Voted On By Union's Members – Updated Related Story Los Angeles-Area Tornado Was Region's Strongest In 40 Years
FilmLA says the United Kingdom, with an estimated 5.4 million square feet of dedicated stage space, “is catching up with Los Angeles. Just three years ago, the UK had only 3.5 million square feet, representing an increase of nearly 2 million square feet over that period.”
Ontario is now in third place with 3.8 million square feet of dedicated stage space, followed by Georgia (3 million square feet...
Related Story Los Angeles On-Location Filming Falls In 2022; TV Pilots Plummet By 71.9% As Film & TV Production Drops, FilmLA Says Related Story Lausd Strike: Campus Workers Reach Tentative Deal With District, Must Still Be Voted On By Union's Members – Updated Related Story Los Angeles-Area Tornado Was Region's Strongest In 40 Years
FilmLA says the United Kingdom, with an estimated 5.4 million square feet of dedicated stage space, “is catching up with Los Angeles. Just three years ago, the UK had only 3.5 million square feet, representing an increase of nearly 2 million square feet over that period.”
Ontario is now in third place with 3.8 million square feet of dedicated stage space, followed by Georgia (3 million square feet...
- 3/30/2023
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
FilmLA announced on Wednesday that local film production in Los Angeles declined sharply in the fourth quarter last year, 19.5 behind its record-breaking equivalent logged just one year ago. However, it was still on par with pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
Only 8,674 shoot days (Sd) were recorded from October through December 2022, with 36,792 Sd across all categories by the end of the year. There was a 2.4 decline compared to the 37,709 Sd in 2021, with a slight increase of 0.7 in 2019, a pre-pandemic year.
“The return of pre-pandemic filming levels places us roughly where we were in 2019, which was itself a year of significant production decline. Can we hold here, or will the pre-covid downtrend resume? That is the question everyone is asking,” said FilmLA president Paul Audley.
Shoot days for commercials finished at 24.5 below its five-year annual average. The category posted a 33.7 decline in the fourth quarter alone with 828 Sd. Commercial productions, which included shoots for McDonald’s,...
Only 8,674 shoot days (Sd) were recorded from October through December 2022, with 36,792 Sd across all categories by the end of the year. There was a 2.4 decline compared to the 37,709 Sd in 2021, with a slight increase of 0.7 in 2019, a pre-pandemic year.
“The return of pre-pandemic filming levels places us roughly where we were in 2019, which was itself a year of significant production decline. Can we hold here, or will the pre-covid downtrend resume? That is the question everyone is asking,” said FilmLA president Paul Audley.
Shoot days for commercials finished at 24.5 below its five-year annual average. The category posted a 33.7 decline in the fourth quarter alone with 828 Sd. Commercial productions, which included shoots for McDonald’s,...
- 1/18/2023
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Production in Los Angeles sharply declined to end 2022 as Hollywood slowed its recovery from Covid-19.
But data recorded for the full year reflected that filming returned to pre-pandemic levels in 2019, which was a year of significant production decline.
“Can we hold here, or will the pre-covid downtrend resume?” said FilmLA President Paul Audley. “That is the question everyone is asking.”
The quarter that ended in December saw 8,674 shoot days, according to film permit office Film LA. The figure represents a 19.5 percent dropoff from the same period last year, although the fourth quarter of 2021 set an all-time quarterly record due to a backlog of productions stalled by the pandemic.
The data incorporates shooting days for feature films, television, commercials in addition to music videos, student films and documentaries.
There were 36,792 total shoot days in 2022. The tally marks a 2.4 percent decline over 2021 and 0.7 percent increase over the last pre-pandemic year in 2019.
While...
But data recorded for the full year reflected that filming returned to pre-pandemic levels in 2019, which was a year of significant production decline.
“Can we hold here, or will the pre-covid downtrend resume?” said FilmLA President Paul Audley. “That is the question everyone is asking.”
The quarter that ended in December saw 8,674 shoot days, according to film permit office Film LA. The figure represents a 19.5 percent dropoff from the same period last year, although the fourth quarter of 2021 set an all-time quarterly record due to a backlog of productions stalled by the pandemic.
The data incorporates shooting days for feature films, television, commercials in addition to music videos, student films and documentaries.
There were 36,792 total shoot days in 2022. The tally marks a 2.4 percent decline over 2021 and 0.7 percent increase over the last pre-pandemic year in 2019.
While...
- 1/18/2023
- by Winston Cho
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
On-location filming in Los Angeles fell by 2.4 in 2022 compared to the prior year, with feature film and television shoot days down 9.6, TV pilots plummeting 71.9 and commercial shoot days falling 22.6, according to the latest report from FilmLA, the city and county film permit office.
Last year had been shaping up to be a good one for local filming, but production fell off sharply in the third quarter and again in the fourth – down 19.5 compared to Q4 2021. Even so, on-location shoot-days continue to hold steady at not-so-great pre-pandemic levels.
“The return of pre-pandemic filming levels places us roughly where we were in 2019, which was itself a year of significant production decline,” said FilmLA president Paul Audley. “Can we hold here, or will the pre-Covid downtrend resume? That is the question everyone is asking.”
The only bright spots in the report were for TV reality shows, which were up 5.2, and the category of “Other,...
Last year had been shaping up to be a good one for local filming, but production fell off sharply in the third quarter and again in the fourth – down 19.5 compared to Q4 2021. Even so, on-location shoot-days continue to hold steady at not-so-great pre-pandemic levels.
“The return of pre-pandemic filming levels places us roughly where we were in 2019, which was itself a year of significant production decline,” said FilmLA president Paul Audley. “Can we hold here, or will the pre-Covid downtrend resume? That is the question everyone is asking.”
The only bright spots in the report were for TV reality shows, which were up 5.2, and the category of “Other,...
- 1/18/2023
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
FilmLA has reported a total of 9,066 Shoot Days (Sd)* in the third quarter (“Q3”). This figure reflects a 10 decline from the same period last year and a -1.7 decline from 2020.
FilmLA President Paul Audley said the decline was a modest one as last year was an unprecedented one due to the pandemic. Audley said, “To that point, we note that the Covid-19 Delta wave forced an out of season production shift last year. That shift led to record-breaking filming levels in the latter half
of 2021.”
Shoot Day activity for feature films and commercials declined, both year-over-year and compared to the five-year averages, while TV and other categories were more mixed
Among the productions shooting in LA were Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie,” “Beverly Hills Cop” from Netflix and Universal’s “Fast X.”
A total of 115 Sd – 13.9 percent of the category total – were generated by projects that received the California Film & Television Tax Credit,...
FilmLA President Paul Audley said the decline was a modest one as last year was an unprecedented one due to the pandemic. Audley said, “To that point, we note that the Covid-19 Delta wave forced an out of season production shift last year. That shift led to record-breaking filming levels in the latter half
of 2021.”
Shoot Day activity for feature films and commercials declined, both year-over-year and compared to the five-year averages, while TV and other categories were more mixed
Among the productions shooting in LA were Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie,” “Beverly Hills Cop” from Netflix and Universal’s “Fast X.”
A total of 115 Sd – 13.9 percent of the category total – were generated by projects that received the California Film & Television Tax Credit,...
- 10/19/2022
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
A developer announced plans Monday to build a studio facility with 16 soundstages in the heart of the Los Angeles Arts District.
East End Studios filed an application to construct the facility, which also includes four office buildings, on a 15-acre site at the corner of 6th and Alameda streets. The announcement comes amid a boom in development of new production facilities in L.A., to keep up with demand fueled by broadcast TV and streaming services.
The East End project is expected to take about four years to complete — two years for development approvals and two years for construction.
Paul Audley, the president of FilmLA, said he hoped the project — and others in the planning stages — could move quickly. He said that in the past, L.A. faced runaway production due to tax incentives in other states and countries. But now, he said the concern is that productions will flee...
East End Studios filed an application to construct the facility, which also includes four office buildings, on a 15-acre site at the corner of 6th and Alameda streets. The announcement comes amid a boom in development of new production facilities in L.A., to keep up with demand fueled by broadcast TV and streaming services.
The East End project is expected to take about four years to complete — two years for development approvals and two years for construction.
Paul Audley, the president of FilmLA, said he hoped the project — and others in the planning stages — could move quickly. He said that in the past, L.A. faced runaway production due to tax incentives in other states and countries. But now, he said the concern is that productions will flee...
- 8/15/2022
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
FilmLA announced today that it expects to see production return to pre-pandemic levels within the next 12 months.
After posting three consecutive record-breaking quarters, local filming in the second quarter (“Q2”) of 2022 was down by -5.8 over the same period last year. From April through June, FilmLA recorded a total of 9,220 Shoot Days (Sd)* compared to 9,791 in Q2 2021. Local filmmakers achieved an all-time quarterly high of 10,780 Sd in Q4 2021, moving on to set a new Q1 record of 9,832 Sd earlier this year.
Local production still surpassed pre-pandemic levels; finishing 6.8 ahead of Q2 2019 and 2.7 ahead of Q2 2018.
“We expected we would see production return to pre-pandemic levels sometime within the year, and now here we are,” observed FilmLA President Paul Audley. “Resilient in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, and with industry leaders taking steps to protect both worker and community safety, we have confidence in the film industry’s ability to...
After posting three consecutive record-breaking quarters, local filming in the second quarter (“Q2”) of 2022 was down by -5.8 over the same period last year. From April through June, FilmLA recorded a total of 9,220 Shoot Days (Sd)* compared to 9,791 in Q2 2021. Local filmmakers achieved an all-time quarterly high of 10,780 Sd in Q4 2021, moving on to set a new Q1 record of 9,832 Sd earlier this year.
Local production still surpassed pre-pandemic levels; finishing 6.8 ahead of Q2 2019 and 2.7 ahead of Q2 2018.
“We expected we would see production return to pre-pandemic levels sometime within the year, and now here we are,” observed FilmLA President Paul Audley. “Resilient in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, and with industry leaders taking steps to protect both worker and community safety, we have confidence in the film industry’s ability to...
- 7/20/2022
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
Filming in Los Angeles stabilized above pre-pandemic levels in the second-quarter of 2022 after posting three consecutive all-time quarterly records.
Despite a drop-off in shooting from the start of the year, local production from April to June finished 2.7 percent and 6.8 percent ahead of the same periods in 2018 and 2019 respectively, according to FilmLA’s latest report, released Wednesday. There were 9,220 shoot days this quarter.
Due to a backlog of production stalled by the pandemic, there was massive levels of filming in L.A. from July 2021 to March 2022. Local shooting surged in the third quarter of 2021 to highs not seen since 2018 by logging 10,127 shoot days, moving on to set an all-time quarterly record to end 2021 with 10,780 shoot days. Shooting at the top of 2022 was the busiest first quarter ever with 9,832 shoot days.
“We expected we would see production return to pre-pandemic levels sometime within the year,...
Filming in Los Angeles stabilized above pre-pandemic levels in the second-quarter of 2022 after posting three consecutive all-time quarterly records.
Despite a drop-off in shooting from the start of the year, local production from April to June finished 2.7 percent and 6.8 percent ahead of the same periods in 2018 and 2019 respectively, according to FilmLA’s latest report, released Wednesday. There were 9,220 shoot days this quarter.
Due to a backlog of production stalled by the pandemic, there was massive levels of filming in L.A. from July 2021 to March 2022. Local shooting surged in the third quarter of 2021 to highs not seen since 2018 by logging 10,127 shoot days, moving on to set an all-time quarterly record to end 2021 with 10,780 shoot days. Shooting at the top of 2022 was the busiest first quarter ever with 9,832 shoot days.
“We expected we would see production return to pre-pandemic levels sometime within the year,...
- 7/20/2022
- by Winston Cho
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
On-location filming in Los Angeles fell 5.8 in the second quarter of 2022 compared to the same period last year – the first decline following three consecutive record-breaking quarters. Even so, local production has surpassed pre-pandemic levels, finishing 6.8 ahead of 2019’s second quarter and 2.7 ahead of 2Q 2018, according to FilmLA, the city and county film office.
“We expected we would see production return to pre-pandemic levels sometime within the year, and now here we are,” said FilmLA President Paul Audley said in the group’s Q2 (read it here). “Resilient in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, and with industry leaders taking steps to protect both worker and community safety, we have confidence in the film industry’s ability to sustain local production at or above its historic levels.”
On-location shoot days totaled 9,220 in the second quarter, down from 9,791 in Q2 2021. FilmLA defines a shoot day as one crew’s permission to film...
“We expected we would see production return to pre-pandemic levels sometime within the year, and now here we are,” said FilmLA President Paul Audley said in the group’s Q2 (read it here). “Resilient in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, and with industry leaders taking steps to protect both worker and community safety, we have confidence in the film industry’s ability to sustain local production at or above its historic levels.”
On-location shoot days totaled 9,220 in the second quarter, down from 9,791 in Q2 2021. FilmLA defines a shoot day as one crew’s permission to film...
- 7/20/2022
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
While the number of shoot days saw a small year-over-year drop, FilmLA’s latest quarterly report shows that film and television production in Los Angeles County continues to stay above pre-pandemic levels.
The report recorded 9,220 shoot days for Q2 2022, down 5.8 from 9,791 shoot days in Q2 2021 but 6.8 above the 8,632 shoot days recorded in Q2 2019.
“We expected we would see production return to pre-pandemic levels sometime within the year, and now here we are,” observed FilmLA President Paul Audley. “Resilient in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, and with industry leaders taking steps to protect both worker and community safety, we have confidence in the film industry’s ability to sustain local production at or above its historic levels.”
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Summer Has Been a Box Office Feast for Movie Exhibitors – But a Famine Is Coming
The breakdown in production shows 898 shooting days for feature films, 995 days for TV dramas, 309 days for TV comedies,...
The report recorded 9,220 shoot days for Q2 2022, down 5.8 from 9,791 shoot days in Q2 2021 but 6.8 above the 8,632 shoot days recorded in Q2 2019.
“We expected we would see production return to pre-pandemic levels sometime within the year, and now here we are,” observed FilmLA President Paul Audley. “Resilient in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, and with industry leaders taking steps to protect both worker and community safety, we have confidence in the film industry’s ability to sustain local production at or above its historic levels.”
Also Read:
Summer Has Been a Box Office Feast for Movie Exhibitors – But a Famine Is Coming
The breakdown in production shows 898 shooting days for feature films, 995 days for TV dramas, 309 days for TV comedies,...
- 7/20/2022
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
On-location film and TV production in Greater Los Angeles is off to a “strong start” in 2022, with 9,832 days of on-location shooting setting an all-time first-quarter record according to the latest report from FilmLA, the city and county film permit office. That topped the previous first quarter mark set in 2016 but was down 8.8 from the record-setting 10,780 shoot days racked up in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Shoot days in the first three months of this year were up 40.2 compared with the first quarter of 2021, when the spread of the Delta variant of the coronavirus led to a voluntary filming hiatus that slowed production to just 7,011 shoot days for the quarter and were 9.7 higher than the five-year average of first quarters.
“The potential for another Covid-related cutback had us eyeing the first quarter with concern,” FilmLA president Paul Audley said. “But with strong protective protocols in place, the industry was in a good...
Shoot days in the first three months of this year were up 40.2 compared with the first quarter of 2021, when the spread of the Delta variant of the coronavirus led to a voluntary filming hiatus that slowed production to just 7,011 shoot days for the quarter and were 9.7 higher than the five-year average of first quarters.
“The potential for another Covid-related cutback had us eyeing the first quarter with concern,” FilmLA president Paul Audley said. “But with strong protective protocols in place, the industry was in a good...
- 4/19/2022
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
Despite the wave of Covid-19 infections in January thanks to the Omicron variant, FilmLA reported a record number of shooting days in the first quarter of 2022.
In FilmLA’s latest quarterly report, 9,832 shooting days were reported between January and March, topping the Q1 record of 9,725 shooting days in 2016. Driving this increase was shooting for reality and drama television shows, including “Basketball Wives,” “American Horror Stories,” and “The Flight Attendant.” TV dramas accounted for 1,279 shooting days — 8.6 above the five-year average — while reality shows surged to 2,600 shooting days.
FilmLA’s miscellaneous category, which includes student films, documentaries, and music videos, stands 17 over the five-year average with 3,608 shooting days. The major categories that are lagging behind the five-year average include feature films with just 594 shooting days on films like “Home Delivery” and “Love Me to Death.” TV comedies are also lagging with 259 shooting days, 45 down from the five-year average.
Though the rate of...
In FilmLA’s latest quarterly report, 9,832 shooting days were reported between January and March, topping the Q1 record of 9,725 shooting days in 2016. Driving this increase was shooting for reality and drama television shows, including “Basketball Wives,” “American Horror Stories,” and “The Flight Attendant.” TV dramas accounted for 1,279 shooting days — 8.6 above the five-year average — while reality shows surged to 2,600 shooting days.
FilmLA’s miscellaneous category, which includes student films, documentaries, and music videos, stands 17 over the five-year average with 3,608 shooting days. The major categories that are lagging behind the five-year average include feature films with just 594 shooting days on films like “Home Delivery” and “Love Me to Death.” TV comedies are also lagging with 259 shooting days, 45 down from the five-year average.
Though the rate of...
- 4/19/2022
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
On-location filming in Los Angeles set an all-time quarterly record in the fourth quarter of 2021, was double the annual output from 2020 and was up 3.2% from the pre-pandemic year of 2019, according to the latest report from FilmLA, the city and county film permit office. Even so, production is off to a slow start again in 2022 because of the ongoing Omicron surge.
“This is an encouraging report by most indicators, but how production will fare in 2022 remains uncertain at this time,” said FilmLA president Paul Audley. “With the highly contagious Omicron variant driving record Covid-19 cases in Los Angeles County, industry output is also affected. Just as 2021 got off to a slow start, the New Year has filmmakers feeling cautious, with many studios and production companies delaying their return to filming. Our hope is that 2022 follows a similar trajectory as last year – with a slow, responsible start and strong end-of-year finish.”
Read the full report here.
“This is an encouraging report by most indicators, but how production will fare in 2022 remains uncertain at this time,” said FilmLA president Paul Audley. “With the highly contagious Omicron variant driving record Covid-19 cases in Los Angeles County, industry output is also affected. Just as 2021 got off to a slow start, the New Year has filmmakers feeling cautious, with many studios and production companies delaying their return to filming. Our hope is that 2022 follows a similar trajectory as last year – with a slow, responsible start and strong end-of-year finish.”
Read the full report here.
- 1/19/2022
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
Film production in Greater Los Angeles surged during the third quarter of 2021, according to a new report by FilmLA. The increase in shooting marks the third strongest quarter in twenty-six years, with a total of 10,127 shoot days. The last time the region saw filming levels this high was in the fourth quarter of 2018, which boasted 10,359 shoot days.
Compared to last year which was still being impacted by the pandemic and shutdowns, total production rose 141.2 percent.
“The biggest takeaway from this report is that the pace of local production continues to increase,” observed FilmLA President Paul Audley. “The late-pandemic recovery is uneven in some ways, but community receptiveness to filming is steady and the work opportunities are undeniably there.”
Looking at the major production categories tracked by FilmLA, the pace of feature film production quickened the most in Q3 of 2021, growing 33.5 percent over Q2. Among those productions were Paramount Pictures’ “Wild Chickens,...
Compared to last year which was still being impacted by the pandemic and shutdowns, total production rose 141.2 percent.
“The biggest takeaway from this report is that the pace of local production continues to increase,” observed FilmLA President Paul Audley. “The late-pandemic recovery is uneven in some ways, but community receptiveness to filming is steady and the work opportunities are undeniably there.”
Looking at the major production categories tracked by FilmLA, the pace of feature film production quickened the most in Q3 of 2021, growing 33.5 percent over Q2. Among those productions were Paramount Pictures’ “Wild Chickens,...
- 10/20/2021
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
On-location filming is booming in Los Angeles. The third quarter of 2021 was the third-best quarter in 26 years, trailing only the pre-pandemic fourth quarters of 2016 and 2018, according to the latest report from FilmLA, the city and county film permit office. Shooting days were up 3.4% from the second quarter, and skyrocketed more than 141% from the dark days of the pandemic a year ago.
“The biggest takeaway from this report is that the pace of local production continues to increase,” said FilmLA president Paul Audley. “The late-pandemic recovery is uneven in some ways, but community receptiveness to filming is steady and the work opportunities are undeniably there.”
Broadcast TV series that filmed locally during the third quarter (July 1–Sept. 30) include CBS’ Seal Team and NCIS: Los Angeles; NBC’s Mr. Mayor and This is Us, and ABC’s The Rookie and Home Economics. Cable series include two new series for Showtime – Super Pumped...
“The biggest takeaway from this report is that the pace of local production continues to increase,” said FilmLA president Paul Audley. “The late-pandemic recovery is uneven in some ways, but community receptiveness to filming is steady and the work opportunities are undeniably there.”
Broadcast TV series that filmed locally during the third quarter (July 1–Sept. 30) include CBS’ Seal Team and NCIS: Los Angeles; NBC’s Mr. Mayor and This is Us, and ABC’s The Rookie and Home Economics. Cable series include two new series for Showtime – Super Pumped...
- 10/20/2021
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
While Los Angeles is now facing a new surge of Covid-19 cases, FilmLA reports that film and TV shoot days in the county rebounded last quarter to pre-pandemic levels amidst a drop in cases from April to June.
In FilmLA’s latest report, 9,791 on-location shoot days were recorded in Q2 of 2021 — the highest total since Q4 of 2019 and higher than the average level for all of 2019. TV productions led the way with 4,913 shoot days, the highest seen for television in a decade.
It is believed that the surge in TV shoot days may be connected to a pause in shooting in January as the pandemic reached its peak in Los Angeles, causing a backlog of TV productions that needed to be finished for the upcoming season.
But it is unclear whether the upward trend will continue as the Delta variant has caused Covid-19 infection rates to rise in Los Angeles...
In FilmLA’s latest report, 9,791 on-location shoot days were recorded in Q2 of 2021 — the highest total since Q4 of 2019 and higher than the average level for all of 2019. TV productions led the way with 4,913 shoot days, the highest seen for television in a decade.
It is believed that the surge in TV shoot days may be connected to a pause in shooting in January as the pandemic reached its peak in Los Angeles, causing a backlog of TV productions that needed to be finished for the upcoming season.
But it is unclear whether the upward trend will continue as the Delta variant has caused Covid-19 infection rates to rise in Los Angeles...
- 8/5/2021
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
Film production in Los Angeles rebounded to pre-pandemic levels in the second quarter of 2021, according to permit data released Thursday by FilmLA.
The film office recorded 9,791 shoot days from April to June of 2021 — the highest total since the last quarter of 2019 and higher than the average level for all of 2019.
The rebound coincided with California’s statewide “reopening” in June, though Covid cases have since spiked again with the fast spread of the delta variant around the country. A handful of productions have had to shut down since the increase began around July 4.
“By almost any available measure, the second quarter was good for filming in Los Angeles,” FilmLA President Paul Audley said in a statement. “With local Covid-19 cases rising it’s not clear whether that will be sustainable, but the industry’s commitment to community, cast and crew safety remains firmly in place.”
Television production led the way in the second quarter,...
The film office recorded 9,791 shoot days from April to June of 2021 — the highest total since the last quarter of 2019 and higher than the average level for all of 2019.
The rebound coincided with California’s statewide “reopening” in June, though Covid cases have since spiked again with the fast spread of the delta variant around the country. A handful of productions have had to shut down since the increase began around July 4.
“By almost any available measure, the second quarter was good for filming in Los Angeles,” FilmLA President Paul Audley said in a statement. “With local Covid-19 cases rising it’s not clear whether that will be sustainable, but the industry’s commitment to community, cast and crew safety remains firmly in place.”
Television production led the way in the second quarter,...
- 8/5/2021
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
Los Angeles On-Location Filming Continues To Rebound; FilmLA Says Second Quarter Was Best Since 2019
On-location filming in Los Angeles continued its rebound in the second quarter of 2021 after reaching pre-pandemic levels in each of the last two quarters, according to FilmLA, the city and county film permit office. This year’s second quarter – April through June – was the best quarter since late-2019.
On-location filming in the second quarter of 2021, which totaled 9,791 shoot days, also exceeded the pre-Covid four-year average of second quarters by 5.8%. During last year’s second quarter, which marked the first full quarter of the Covid-19 shutdown, on-location filming in Los Angeles totaled only 194 shoot days – a record low. Due to the industry’s pandemic lockdown, production was suspended in Los Angeles County between mid-March through mid-June 2020.
“By almost any available measure, the second quarter was good for filming in Los Angeles,” said FilmLA president Paul Audley, who noted, however, that “with local Covid-19 cases rising, it’s not clear whether that will be sustainable.
On-location filming in the second quarter of 2021, which totaled 9,791 shoot days, also exceeded the pre-Covid four-year average of second quarters by 5.8%. During last year’s second quarter, which marked the first full quarter of the Covid-19 shutdown, on-location filming in Los Angeles totaled only 194 shoot days – a record low. Due to the industry’s pandemic lockdown, production was suspended in Los Angeles County between mid-March through mid-June 2020.
“By almost any available measure, the second quarter was good for filming in Los Angeles,” said FilmLA president Paul Audley, who noted, however, that “with local Covid-19 cases rising, it’s not clear whether that will be sustainable.
- 8/5/2021
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
February saw a similar jump in applications from January
Film production in Los Angeles is coming back strong. FilmLA reported a surge of 43% in applications in March, a huge jump after LA County saw a similarly large jump of 43% between January to February.
FilmLA in its latest report Friday says that it received 1,125 applications in March for film and TV shoots on location. That’s 6,585 film permit applications, spanning 4,421 unique projects, since production resumed during the coronavirus pandemic last June, and another huge jump following the industry pause over the holiday in which Los Angeles saw another spike in Covid-19 cases.
The total number of productions is on pace with what the industry saw before the pandemic. FilmLA says that in terms of total shoot days during the last quarter, film and TV shoots were down only 3.3% compared to the same period in 2020. That’s 7,011 shoot days between January and...
Film production in Los Angeles is coming back strong. FilmLA reported a surge of 43% in applications in March, a huge jump after LA County saw a similarly large jump of 43% between January to February.
FilmLA in its latest report Friday says that it received 1,125 applications in March for film and TV shoots on location. That’s 6,585 film permit applications, spanning 4,421 unique projects, since production resumed during the coronavirus pandemic last June, and another huge jump following the industry pause over the holiday in which Los Angeles saw another spike in Covid-19 cases.
The total number of productions is on pace with what the industry saw before the pandemic. FilmLA says that in terms of total shoot days during the last quarter, film and TV shoots were down only 3.3% compared to the same period in 2020. That’s 7,011 shoot days between January and...
- 4/23/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
FilmLA has reported an increase in the application for on-location permits for March, an optimistic sign for the return of production in Hollywood.
After the holiday Covid surge and voluntarily industry production pause in December and January, application activity surged 45% from February (with 777 applications) to March.
“The current pace of business resumption is encouraging,” said FilmLA President Paul Audley. “Continuing industry adherence to Appendix J protocols, which has made film sets among the safest possible workplaces during the pandemic, remains important even as local vaccine uptake increases.”
Total shoot days were down last quarter from the same quarter in 2020. A total of 7011 days showed a decrease of 3.3% from the January through March period last year, most of which took place before the pandemic.
However, in the television category, there was an increase of 50.1% over last year for a total of 3,766 shoot days. The largest growth was through reality TV series...
After the holiday Covid surge and voluntarily industry production pause in December and January, application activity surged 45% from February (with 777 applications) to March.
“The current pace of business resumption is encouraging,” said FilmLA President Paul Audley. “Continuing industry adherence to Appendix J protocols, which has made film sets among the safest possible workplaces during the pandemic, remains important even as local vaccine uptake increases.”
Total shoot days were down last quarter from the same quarter in 2020. A total of 7011 days showed a decrease of 3.3% from the January through March period last year, most of which took place before the pandemic.
However, in the television category, there was an increase of 50.1% over last year for a total of 3,766 shoot days. The largest growth was through reality TV series...
- 4/23/2021
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
On-location filming of TV shows in Los Angeles reached pre-pandemic levels in the first quarter of 2021 – the second quarter in a row that it’s hit that milestone, according to the latest report from FilmLA, the city and county film permit office. On-location shooting days for feature films and commercials still have a ways to go to catch up, however.
But overall, filming in the first quarter was down only 3.3% from a year ago – but 21.7% below the five-year average of first quarters – to just over 7,000 total shooting days in and around the city.
In the first quarter of this year, TV shows filmed on-location in L.A. accounted for 3,766 shooting days, a 51.2% increase over the first quarter of 2020 – the last two weeks of which saw the industry in total lockdown mode. That’s also more shooting days on TV shows than in the first quarters of 2018 and 2019 and more than...
But overall, filming in the first quarter was down only 3.3% from a year ago – but 21.7% below the five-year average of first quarters – to just over 7,000 total shooting days in and around the city.
In the first quarter of this year, TV shows filmed on-location in L.A. accounted for 3,766 shooting days, a 51.2% increase over the first quarter of 2020 – the last two weeks of which saw the industry in total lockdown mode. That’s also more shooting days on TV shows than in the first quarters of 2018 and 2019 and more than...
- 4/23/2021
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
Production in Los Angeles continues its rise.
According to FilmLA’s latest report, filming in the city shows more signs of rebounding after a major downturn amid the pandemic.
After the Covid-19 surge in January and the voluntary industry production pause that resulted, film permit applications surged 45 percent from February (with 777 applications) to March (with 1,125 applications).
“The current pace of business resumption is encouraging,” said FilmLA president Paul Audley. “Continuing industry adherence to Appendix J protocols, which has made film sets among the safest possible workplaces during the pandemic, remains important even as local vaccine ...
According to FilmLA’s latest report, filming in the city shows more signs of rebounding after a major downturn amid the pandemic.
After the Covid-19 surge in January and the voluntary industry production pause that resulted, film permit applications surged 45 percent from February (with 777 applications) to March (with 1,125 applications).
“The current pace of business resumption is encouraging,” said FilmLA president Paul Audley. “Continuing industry adherence to Appendix J protocols, which has made film sets among the safest possible workplaces during the pandemic, remains important even as local vaccine ...
- 4/23/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Production in Los Angeles continues its rise.
According to FilmLA’s latest report, filming in the city shows more signs of rebounding after a major downturn amid the pandemic.
After the Covid-19 surge in January and the voluntary industry production pause that resulted, film permit applications surged 45 percent from February (with 777 applications) to March (with 1,125 applications).
“The current pace of business resumption is encouraging,” said FilmLA president Paul Audley. “Continuing industry adherence to Appendix J protocols, which has made film sets among the safest possible workplaces during the pandemic, remains important even as local vaccine ...
According to FilmLA’s latest report, filming in the city shows more signs of rebounding after a major downturn amid the pandemic.
After the Covid-19 surge in January and the voluntary industry production pause that resulted, film permit applications surged 45 percent from February (with 777 applications) to March (with 1,125 applications).
“The current pace of business resumption is encouraging,” said FilmLA president Paul Audley. “Continuing industry adherence to Appendix J protocols, which has made film sets among the safest possible workplaces during the pandemic, remains important even as local vaccine ...
- 4/23/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
FilmLA is raising prices on a wide range of permit fees in order to return its finances to pre-pandemic levels – eight years from now. The new rates, which are going up by about 13-15%, will take effect on May 1. It’s the first time fees will have increased since July 2019.
The agency was hit hard by the loss of income from application and permit fees generated by on-location filming in and around Los Angeles. “Over an eight year period,” FilmLA said, “the fee increase is projected to restore FilmLA to a financial position similar to its status at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
FilmLA president Paul Audley said that the fee hikes are expected to generate about $6 million by 2029 – the amount of reserves the permit agency has lost during the pandemic. “In 2020, revenue was down 50%,” Audley said. “We went a full quarter with no revenue at all. It came back,...
The agency was hit hard by the loss of income from application and permit fees generated by on-location filming in and around Los Angeles. “Over an eight year period,” FilmLA said, “the fee increase is projected to restore FilmLA to a financial position similar to its status at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
FilmLA president Paul Audley said that the fee hikes are expected to generate about $6 million by 2029 – the amount of reserves the permit agency has lost during the pandemic. “In 2020, revenue was down 50%,” Audley said. “We went a full quarter with no revenue at all. It came back,...
- 4/7/2021
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
FilmLA received 777 film permit applications, an increase of 43.1% compared to the prior month.
A late-month surge in production established last month as the third busiest FilmLA has experienced since last June, although activity remains around 40% below normal for this time of year.
Over the last 37 weeks, FilmLA has processed approximately 5,533 film permit applications spanning 3,789 unique projects.
Film permit applications had declined from November 2020 through January 2021, with the surge in Covid-19 cases leading to a substantial drop in local production.
After health officials gave production permission to move forward, applications peaked in October (880 applications), declining to 813 in November, 613 in December and just 543 in January.
“As new Covid-19 case counts diminish and more projects restart production, we are optimistic that the local film economy will soon be back on track,” said FilmLA President Paul Audley, who notes that, despite the desire to return to work, the industry remains vigilant on safety protocols.
A late-month surge in production established last month as the third busiest FilmLA has experienced since last June, although activity remains around 40% below normal for this time of year.
Over the last 37 weeks, FilmLA has processed approximately 5,533 film permit applications spanning 3,789 unique projects.
Film permit applications had declined from November 2020 through January 2021, with the surge in Covid-19 cases leading to a substantial drop in local production.
After health officials gave production permission to move forward, applications peaked in October (880 applications), declining to 813 in November, 613 in December and just 543 in January.
“As new Covid-19 case counts diminish and more projects restart production, we are optimistic that the local film economy will soon be back on track,” said FilmLA President Paul Audley, who notes that, despite the desire to return to work, the industry remains vigilant on safety protocols.
- 3/10/2021
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Applications to film on-location in Los Angeles surged 43.1% in February over January, according to FilmLA, the city and county film permit office.
A late-month surge in production made last month the third-busiest FilmLA has recorded since June, when production tentatively resumed after the Covid-19 shutdown, though the agency said “activity remains around 40% below normal for this time of year.”
“As new Covid-19 case counts diminish and more projects restart production, we are optimistic that the local film economy will soon be back on track,” said FilmLA president Paul Audley. “On-location filming, for months conducted safely in observance of strict health protocols, will surely rise again with the reopening of businesses and expanding vaccine availability.”
Some of the series shot locally that started or resumed filming recently include: Grey’s Anatomy, Curb Your Enthusiasm, This is Us, American Crime Impeachment Story, Shameless, Dear White People, All American, Generation, 9-1-1: Lone Star, Seal Team and You.
A late-month surge in production made last month the third-busiest FilmLA has recorded since June, when production tentatively resumed after the Covid-19 shutdown, though the agency said “activity remains around 40% below normal for this time of year.”
“As new Covid-19 case counts diminish and more projects restart production, we are optimistic that the local film economy will soon be back on track,” said FilmLA president Paul Audley. “On-location filming, for months conducted safely in observance of strict health protocols, will surely rise again with the reopening of businesses and expanding vaccine availability.”
Some of the series shot locally that started or resumed filming recently include: Grey’s Anatomy, Curb Your Enthusiasm, This is Us, American Crime Impeachment Story, Shameless, Dear White People, All American, Generation, 9-1-1: Lone Star, Seal Team and You.
- 3/10/2021
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
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