LA's Movie Magic Melting Away: Film and TV Production Falls Steeply
Film and TV production in Los Angeles continues to show a decrease.
Hollywood, Baby, Where'd You Go? LA's film and TV production dropping like a bombshell, leaving some pondering if this Tinseltown titan could suffer a similar fate to Detroit's auto industry collapse decades ago.
Los Angeles has been knocked down a notch - or ten - in the movie and TV production game, facing fierce competition from Georgia, New York, and Canada. Despite the city's signature charms and sunny skies, productions are taking off faster than flamingos on a beach, leaving a trail of disheartened Angelenos in their wake.
says FOX Business Correspondent Max Gorden in a report last week.
The numbers don't lie: the greater LA area recorded approximately 5,300 on-location shoot days during the initial quarter of 2024 - a staggering 22.4% drop from the same time frame in 2023. And that slide hasaryn't been a mere blip on the ol' Hollywood radar. According to the not-for-profit FilmLA, it's been a global drop in production and more intense competition that's been pushing film projects up and out of town.
But don't think those Cali wildfires in January were mere smoldering embers that had no impact on filming. Well, think again, chum! They had a "small effect" on production during the quarter, according to FilmLA.
Even compared to numbers from 2021's first quarter, on-location production in Los Angeles was in a slump, with the local industry managing "mere shadows" of over 7,000 shoot days, to quote the ever-insightful Max Gorden himself.
The head honcho of a Los Angeles location agency spilled the beans, telling Gorden that smaller production companies were beyond struggling, and even on the brink of extinction. said Real to Reel Location Agency CEO, Gary Onyshko.
So what can be done to restore the Golden State's illustrious film industry to its former glory? Experts in the biz are advocating for fewer regulations and more incentives from the California government to welcome productions back home and keep 'em kickin' in the Golden State.
As Gorden points out,
In late October, Governor Gavin Newsom proposed an upgrade to California's Film and Television Tax Credit Program, almost doubling the program's allocation to $750 million annually, which would more than triple the current $230 million allocation. Newsom's office stated that this would help California outshine other states competing for tax incentives, enticing more film and TV productions back to the Golden State.
Most recently, California lawmakers have introduced legislation to revamp the existing Film and Television Tax Credit Program. In addition to increasing the program to $750 million, the proposition would make a broader range of productions eligible for tax credits and expand the size of the tax credits for individual projects, among other updates.
You might be wondering how much the entertainment industry means to LA's wallet and employment. Well, here's a fun fact for you: the entertainment industry contributes over $30 billion to California's economy and supports more than 200,000 local jobs, making it a powerful driver of tourism for the city.
So, Hollywood, don't hang up your acting shoes just yet! This ain't the end, my friend. It's time to rally the troops, rally the government, and rally the industry to turn this ship around, Tinseltown style!
- The decline in film and TV production in Los Angeles has left some wondering if Hollywood could suffer the same fate as Detroit's auto industry decades ago, as productions are moving faster than flamingos on a beach.
- Max Gorden, FOX Business Correspondent, stated that the same could occur in Los Angeles as movie productions are hightailing it out of town, potentially gutting the city like the auto industry abandoned Detroit.
- Despite the California government advocating for fewer regulations and more incentives to welcome productions back home and keep them kickin' in the Golden State, smaller production companies are reportedly fighting tooth and nail to stay afloat.
- In response to the steep decline in production, Governor Gavin Newsom proposed an upgrade to California's Film and Television Tax Credit Program, almost doubling the program's allocation to $750 million annually, which could help attract more film and TV productions back to the Golden State and boost the economy.
