Shocking Low: LA’s Film and TV Production Crashes to Post-Pandemic Lows in 2024

Filming in Los Angeles is experiencing a resurgence, yet overall production for last year reached record-low figures in history.

Over the three-month span from October through December of this year, I’ve noticed that the majority of production sectors have been thriving – except for reality TV, which has unfortunately continued its downward trend for a ninth straight quarter compared to past years, as per the latest report released by FilmLA on Wednesday. Interestingly, filming in Los Angeles witnessed a nearly 6% uptick compared to the previous year, with a total of 5,860 shoot days recorded.

Looking back on last year, it’s clear that a significant increase in filming didn’t come soon enough to counteract the cumulative effects of several factors. These included the long-term surge in production driven by productions choosing locations with more attractive tax incentives, a recovery from the strike slower than anticipated, and an overall industry shrinkage. In 2024, local filming only managed 23,480 shoot days – the second lowest figure recorded by FilmLA, after the pandemic-induced halt in 2020. As a devoted cinema enthusiast, I can’t help but feel the impact of these trends on our vibrant film scene.

The report fails to consider how the historic wildfires in Los Angeles might affect production, potentially leading to a temporary decrease in filming activities.

In a statement, FilmLA President Paul Audley emphasized that numerous workers in Hollywood and related industries have been significantly impacted by this catastrophe. He further noted that many popular locations cherished by audiences nationwide may not reappear on screen again. Moreover, he stated that as we anticipate indications of economic recovery in 2025, it’s crucial to understand that no part of life in Greater Los Angeles has remained untouched by the recent wildfires and the devastating loss of lives, homes, businesses, and cherished community spaces.

Contrary to other primary production sectors which experienced growth, television filming decreased by 6.5% from last year, with only 1,596 shooting days, which represents about half of the average number seen over the past five years.

The significant decrease in reality TV production – a drop of approximately 45.7% compared to the same quarter in 2023 – has had a profound impact on the television industry as a whole. For years, this genre has been a major contributor to regional production. Concurrently, days allocated for TV drama shooting have risen above 2023 levels, reaching 528 days. However, it’s worth noting that this figure is still 36.6% lower than its five-year average.

There was a significant improvement in the number of days used for filming feature films, climbing by approximately 82% in the last quarter to reach 589 shooting days. This surge, according to FilmLA analysts, can be largely attributed to the increased activity in independent film production.

In light of Los Angeles’ ongoing decline in film production, there’s been a growing focus on California’s film and television tax incentive plan. Governor Gavin Newsom recently endorsed a budget plan that significantly raises the state’s annual cap for tax credits to the entertainment industry from $330 million to $750 million. If enacted, this subsidy would rank as the most generous among all states except Georgia, which doesn’t limit the amount it offers for productions each year.

The program’s success heavily depends on other modifications such as expanding the eligible expenditures and production categories for tax incentives, and increasing the highest subsidy amount a single project can receive. Unlike other major film centers, California currently excludes any portion of ‘above-the-line costs,’ such as actor, director, and producer salaries, from qualifying for tax credits.

Several of the productions that shoot in L.A. get tax incentives to shoot in California.

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2025-01-15 23:24