Judd Apatow Concerned About “Heartbreaking” Decline of Film and TV Production in California

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As a gamer with a keen interest in cinema, particularly the works of Judd Apatow, I can’t help but feel a sense of dismay when I hear about the current state of film production in California. Having grown up in Los Angeles, I’ve seen firsthand the magic that happens on sets and the vibrant energy that the city provides for creators.

As a movie enthusiast, I was disheartened to learn, straight from the horse’s mouth – or rather, FilmLA, LA’s film permitting office – that the struggles faced by our beloved production crews this year have been more than just a passing storm. In fact, their latest quarterly report released on Wednesday has made it abundantly clear: things are only getting tougher.

During the three-month span from July to September in 2024, there was a 5% drop in shooting days, totalling 5,048 – the lowest quarter of that year. Across all genres of scripted productions, the figures are below average not just for this quarter but also when compared to the last five years. However, there was a positive trend in feature film production, with a surge of over 25% in shooting days last quarter, reaching 476. FilmLA emphasized that an extension of California’s film and TV tax credit program is crucial to counteract this decline and maintain productions within the state. This has been a recurring demand and topic of debate in the industry for quite some time.

Filmmaker Judd Apatow, who has produced over half of his story-based films within the state, recently discussed the challenging environment for local film production and the confusion surrounding it with The Hollywood Reporter at a high-profile industry event in Malibu on September 23.

Judd Apatow expressed his puzzlement as to why California doesn’t seem to believe in offering a beneficial tax incentive for our industry, prior to hosting an event. He recalled visiting Michigan, where they once had an excellent rebate system that was subsequently abolished. This led to many people relocating to establish their industry there, only to leave later when the incentive vanished. Places like Georgia are prospering economically in this regard because they’ve been offering such incentives for a long time and understand the benefits it brings to their state.

Watching the downturn in Los Angeles and California as a whole evokes strong emotions for Apatow. He finds it heartrending to see this happening because, as people cut back on expenses, there are only a few instances where one can continue residing in town purely out of desire. Most of his films have been produced in California – four out of seven – and all of them could have been filmed elsewhere. However, the unique energy and ambiance of California were crucial factors that made production successful there.

Films set in California by director Apatow feature movies like “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” (2005) starring Steve Carell, “Knocked Up” (2007) with Seth Rogen and Katherine Heigl, “Funny People” (2009) starring Rogen, Adam Sandler, and Leslie Mann, and “This Is 40” (2012) starring Mann alongside Paul Rudd. Apatow shared his thoughts on whether he’d face difficulties making these films in California nowadays, stating that the approval for production is ultimately determined by budget considerations.

He clarified that everyone is concerned about costs. Essentially, the current situation requires a shift in perspective for everything. For instance, films that used to be made with adequate budgets are now expected to be produced at half the cost, which isn’t feasible today or would not allow enough shooting days to achieve the desired look. In other words, it’s tougher now but you just have to persevere and keep pushing forward.

In his words, some of the struggles are against algorithms. He finds it alarming that people have access to an overwhelming amount of information, causing them to rely on algorithms and artificial intelligence for decision-making tasks that should be guided by feelings and intuition. This is a concern we all need to address in today’s world. Studios and streamers must create content that defies logic and might not pass the test if pitched today. For instance, try proposing 2001: A Space Odyssey, a 1968 sci-fi masterpiece by Stanley Kubrick, in modern times.

Apatow contends that creativity is being undermined by algorithms, and viewers are picking up on the shift in film production, which is moving away from major cities like New York. It’s as if Prague has taken over the role of New York City, and it becomes evident when watching movies. You might find yourself thinking, “I can’t quite put my finger on it, but that doesn’t look like a genuine New York.

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2024-10-17 21:54