FilmLA Research
Integral to FilmLA’s work is ongoing research into the benefits that local filming brings to the Los Angeles region. To that end, we maintain an internal research division devoted to the production, collection and dissemination of information regarding the U.S. film production economy and global production trends.
Provided you cite FilmLA as your source, you are welcome to use all information, charts, graphs, etc. that appear in our reports. Copies of higher-resolution images or graphics from recent reports can also be made available.
Have a question about FilmLA data or other film industry studies? Please direct inquiries and opportunities to our research team at 213.977.8600 or media@filmla.com
Sign Up For Our Research Updates
Quarterly Film Production Reports
2023 Q3 Production Report
Reality TV Emerges as the Season’s Primary Production Driver
FilmLA’s new report reveals the full effect of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA work actions on summer film and television production in Los Angeles. Local on-location film production declined in the third quarter, with 5,311 Shoot Days (SD)* logged for a -41.4 percent decline against 2022 levels. The contract disputes were not the sole cause of the downward trend as overall, on-location filming in the region has declined for seven consecutive calendar quarters.
2023 Q2 Production Report
Pencils Down, Production Plummets in Year’s Second Quarter
Local on-location film production declined in the second quarter of 2023, mustering 6,566 Shoot Days (SD)* to finish down -28.8 percent for the quarter, measured year over year.
Featured Publications
Scripted Content Study (2021-2022)
FILMLA RESEARCH IS PLEASED TO PRESENT a new, first of its kind report analyzing U.S.-produced, first-run, English-language scripted projects distributed in years 2021 and 2022. The purpose of this report – representing an evolution in FilmLA’s tracking methodology - is to analyze production locations used in the creation of today’s vast universe of U.S. scripted content.
Sound Stage Study Update (2021)
FilmLA's fifth Sound Stage Production Report updates its ongoing survey of Los Angeles area studio developments, releasing new stage occupancy and use data for calendar year 2021.
2021 Television Report
The FilmLA 2021 Television Report provides a high-level snapshot of how COVID-19 related impacts to production affected broadcast, cable and streaming network lineups in 2021 and the production centers where filming occurs.
Sound Stage Production Report (2020)
April 1, 2022 - FilmLA Report Reveals Strong Demand for LA Area Sound Stages & Backlots
High Occupancy, Utilization Rates See Increased Interest in Local Development
The purpose of this ongoing report is to provide a more comprehensive picture of “behind the scenes” production activity on certified sound stages in Los Angeles County. The report is made possible by a unique data-sharing partnership with a select group of 13 studio partners, who by entrusting FilmLA with sensitive business information, help to bring the local production picture into clearer focus.
This is FilmLA’s third report on sound stage production activity. It focuses on calendar year 2019.
ON-LOCATION PRODUCTION REPORT
Every day in Los Angeles County, up to several hundred locations are used in film shoots. As the regional film office for Greater Los Angeles, FilmLA provides centralized coordination of on-location filming permits. This allows FilmLA to aggregate and publish quarterly data for on-location film production, covering categories in Television, Feature Films, Commercials, and other types of smaller productions.
2020 TELEVISION REPORT
This report provides a deep dive into the LA entertainment industry's most competitive segment -- scripted television. The authors examine changes in the quantity of and filming locations for "new projects" in 2020, including traditional pilots, and analyze live-action scripted series production across broadcast, cable and streaming networks. The report also includes estimates of projects that were shut down or disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Feature Films: A Profile
California leads among the top international competitors when it comes to attracting US-based narrative feature films, according to a new study published today by FilmLA. Feature Films: A Profile of Production analyzes a sample of 291 live-action theatrical-release and 56 streaming-release films from 2018. All films are English-language titles produced by U.S.-based production companies.
Sound Stage Production Report (2018)
2019 Television Report
The 2019 Television Report offers an overview of the current production landscape for U.S. based television series and new TV projects. In addition to quantifying California’s share, the report assesses some of the trends shaping series production across broadcast, cable and digital networks.
2018 Television Report
The 2018 Television Report offers an overview of the current production landscape for U.S. based television series and new TV projects (i.e. pilots). In addition to quantifying California’s capture of this economically important business, the report assesses some of the trends shaping series production across broadcast, cable and digital networks.
2017 Feature Film Study
The 2017 Feature Film Study analyzes the 100 highest-performing U.S. feature films released theatrically last year, identifying where these films were made and how much was spent to produce them. The report also examines five-year trends in feature production including physical production, postproduction and animation.
Sound Stage Production Report
The pioneering report aggregates data supplied by a growing list of FilmLA studio partners, and examines both occupancy and active film and non-film use of 232 certified sound stages and adjoining backlots over a 12-month period in 2016.
2017 Pilot Production Report
FilmLA’s official count shows that 173 broadcast, cable and digital pilots (109 Dramas, 64 Comedies) were produced during the 2016-17 development cycle, more than two dozen fewer than the previous year.
2016 Feature Film Study
Employing a new sampling method, the 2016 Feature Film Study analyzes the 100 highest-performing U.S. feature films released theatrically last year, identifying where they were filmed and how much was spent to produce them. The report also examines California’s top competitors and four-year trends in feature production yield.
2016 Pilot Production Report
This report provides updated insight from FilmLA’s decade old tracking effort focused on new television projects and promising series. This year’s report features expanded analysis of digital pilot production and trends in “straight-to-series” pilot orders and “pilot-to-series” relocation.
2015 Feature Film Study
This report analyzes a sample of 109 U.S. feature films released theatrically last year, identifying where they were filmed and how much was spent to produce them. The report also examines California’s top competitors and year-over-year trends in film production yield.
2015 Production Retrospective
This report aggregates 5 years of film permit-derived data to present a recent overview of on-location film production in Greater Los Angeles. This report is divided into topic sections addressing the most seriously studied production genres in individual detail.
2015 Pilot Production Report
FilmLA’s 2015 count shows that 202 broadcast, cable and digital pilots (111 Dramas, 91 Comedies) were produced during the 2014-15 development cycle, just one less than the prior year, which was the most productive on record by a large margin.
2014 Feature Film Study
A total of 22 California-made film projects were released theatrically in 2014 (18 live action films & 4 animated films) giving the state an edge over its competitors in total project count and production spending. The 22 projects filmed in California brought an estimated $1.11 billion in total production spending to the state.