L.A. area on-location filming increased 9.5 percent in the third quarter compared to the same period last year (11,792 permitted production days — or PPD — in 2013 vs. 10,773 PPD in 2012), according to a report released earlier this month by FilmL.A.
Growth in the Features production category (up 19.5 percent to 1,959 PPD) and the Commercials category (up 17.7 percent to 1,925) generated most of the gains.
The Television category lost ground due to weak yields from the TV Reality (down 14.3 percent to 1,353 PPD), TV Sitcom (down 15.0 percent to 517 PPD) and Web Based TV (down 15.6 percent to 357 PPD) subcategories.
The TV Dramas category, gifted with a 6.5 increase last quarter, is still trailing its five year average year-to-date by 13.3 percent. TV Reality, the other major contributor to local TV totals, is also down 8.0 percent year-to-date compared to its five year average.
FilmL.A. characterized the quarter as one of modest recovery, measurably aided by the existence of the California Film & Television Tax Credit Program (see full release for more details).
“Any increase in local production is cause for celebration, as long as we don’t lose sight of the big picture,” noted FilmL.A. President Paul Audley. “For feature film production to be where it once was and should be in L.A., production would need to increase by 125 percent.”
“Sacramento needs to help level the competitive playing field,” Audley added. “Until it does, we won’t see the kind of growth and prosperity that California families are counting on.”
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