For our local film production professionals, the first quarter of 2009 was a tough time to find work on feature films or commercial projects in Los Angeles. As FilmL.A. on April 14, 2009, on-location feature film and commercial production levels experienced drastic year-over-year declines for the period, while television production misleadingly appeared to soar compared to the strike-affected first quarter … Read More
L.A.-Based Big-Budget Features Going, Going, Gone?
FilmL.A.’s annual production figures for 2008 are in, and the data reveal that all is not well with L.A.’s signature industry. Total on-location filming coordinated by FilmL.A. decreased 8.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2008 compared to the same period in 2007, from 13,353 to 12,277 permitted days of production. By year’s end, total days had dropped 1.7 percent, … Read More
L.A. Filming Centennial Highlights What’s at Stake
This year Los Angeles’ movie industry celebrates a centennial. One hundred years ago in 1909 the first motion picture filmed entirely within Los Angeles was shot downtown at 8th and Olive. Film production became a signature industry for our region and state, as its products were exported throughout the world. Unfortunately, movie industry jobs have been exported as well. The phenomenon … Read More
Seasons Change, Cloudy Outlook Remains
New FilmL.A. production data reveals that local on-location feature film production dropped 38 percent between July and September, as compared to the same period last year. The year-over-year decline from 1,897 to 1,181 permitted production days (PPD) is due to a string of unusually early project wraps; many producers chose to start their projects ahead of mid-year contract deadlines. … Read More
Second Quarter Gains from First Quarter Pains
On-location filming reached record highs this past April through June, as a unique combination of seasonal and economic circumstances fueled a 26 percent year-over-year rise in production. During the past three months, FilmL.A. coordinated a total of 17,375 permitted days of on-location production, making the second quarter of 2008 the busiest single quarter ever observed. FilmL.A.’s recent announcement of … Read More