By many anecdotal accounts, 2010 seemed like a decent year for television pilot production in Los Angeles. But what did the actual numbers say? For that, you’ll have to read on.
A year after FilmL.A. published its 2005-2009 Television Pilot Production Report, we issued our 2010 Pilot Production Update analyzing the 2009/2010 development cycle.
Of the 129 total projects FilmL.A. tracked in this development cycle (covering late 2009 through early 2010), 76 filmed in Los Angeles. That gives our region a 59 percent share of this year’s total projects, worth an estimated $206 million in total production spending.
This share is slightly greater than what Los Angeles captured last year during the 2008/2009 development cycle, in which Los Angeles landed 59 out of 103 available projects for a 57 percent stake of the total.
“There’s no question that this year’s bigger season gave local production a boost,” said FilmL.A. President Paul Audley. “Compared to last year, we had 17 more projects in production in the area, and that put thousands more people to work.”
But Audley also cautioned observers to look at the recent season in context. “Five years ago, L.A. had 81 percent of this business, and now we have 59 percent. We need to hold on to the part we have left, and that means L.A. must become more competitive.”
Eighteen other jurisdictions captured the remainder of the pilot productions. Major pilot production centers outside Los Angeles include Canadian Provinces (17 projects), New York (5 projects), Texas (4 projects) and Illinois (4 projects). As in years past, the availability of generous out-of-state film incentives was a key decision driver for pilot producers.