Concern in Los Angeles rises, as scripted production declines

Los Angeles Production

FilmLA’s recently released 2023 Scripted Content Study reveals concerning trends for Los Angeles, as the city continues to lose its stronghold on film and television production.

The study, which analyzes U.S.-produced, first-run, English-language scripted projects, shows that Los Angeles saw a 19.7% decline in its share of production projects, dropping from 228 in 2022 to just 183 in 2023. This drop has significant implications not only for the entertainment industry but also for the broader California economy.

Put another way, last year viewing audiences enjoyed 31 fewer TV series, seven (7) fewer TV movies, two (2) fewer theatrical films, and five (5) fewer streaming movies that were made in Los Angeles by working Californians.

The decline is part of a broader trend of U.S. and global jurisdictions capturing more of the production market, with places like New York, Ontario, and Georgia becoming increasingly competitive. In 2023, Los Angeles held only 18% of the total projects made across the industry, compared to 22% the previous year.

This loss was particularly pronounced in television production, which saw an 18.3% drop in total series released. Streaming series production in Los Angeles took a hit of 27.9%, while cable and broadcast series declined by 16.1% and 18.9%, respectively.

Paul Audley, FilmLA President, expressed concern about the broader impact on the state’s economy, noting that the entertainment industry contributes around $43 billion in wages. “How long can California subsist on an ever-thinner slice of a shrinking production pie?” Audley asked, pointing out that continued production losses could have far-reaching consequences for local suppliers, small businesses, and employees.

The situation isn’t just about losing jobs and projects; it’s about maintaining California’s historic leadership in the entertainment industry. While places like New York and Ontario ramp up their competitiveness, Los Angeles must reassess how it can incentivize productions to stay. Experts suggest that expanding California’s Film & Television Tax Credit Program could be one way to revive the region’s flagging fortunes.

For the first time in three years, Los Angeles saw a notable dip in theatrical movie production, capturing 8.7% fewer projects compared to the previous year. Despite a 24.4% increase in overall theatrical releases in 2023, Los Angeles lost ground to the United Kingdom, New York, and Georgia, which saw strong growth in this area. Meanwhile, streaming movie production also declined, with Los Angeles seeing a 22.7% drop compared to the industry’s overall 19.3% decline.

Over the last 30 years, competing jurisdictions have applied direct financial incentives and infrastructure investments to win attention from film producers and build stable film economies. As indicated in FilmLA’s study, rival jurisdictions now capture four out of every five film and television projects and their associated jobs.

According to the 2024 Otis College Report on the Creative Economy, 27 percent of the nation’s domestic film and television workforce resides in Greater Los Angeles. Given these workers’ heavy dependence on local filmmaking, reduced project output raises significant concerns.

“We’re now at a place where inadequate investment in this industry places other economic supports at risk,” Audley observed. “For each film industry supplier that closes his or her doors due to lack of steady work – those entrepreneurs no longer employ people, generate sales taxes or pay rent. Their former employees, lacking an income, then have no money for groceries, tuition and bills. When local industries decline the effects can be far-ranging, so this is definitely a problem California needs to address.”



“This report validates the lived experience of grips, camera operators, caterers, and various essential small business owners over the last two years,” said Lindsey P. Horvath, Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. “Our community members’ livelihoods are on the line, which is why Los Angeles County launched the Entertainment Business Interruption Fund, and we continue to explore ways to incentivize local production. FilmLA’s report underscores the urgent work required to save an industry critical to our local economy and identity as Angelenos.”

With the industry continuing to face challenges from the 2023 labor strikes and rapid technological changes, the future of Los Angeles as a production hub remains uncertain. But one thing is clear: action needs to be taken to support the industry before more losses occur.

Download the entire report here:



This article was brought to you for FREE. Independent Journalism is not. Please support Reel 360 News and Reel Chicago by donating here


Los Angeles Production

FilmLA’s recently released 2023 Scripted Content Study reveals concerning trends for Los Angeles, as the city continues to lose its stronghold on film and television production.

The study, which analyzes U.S.-produced, first-run, English-language scripted projects, shows that Los Angeles saw a 19.7% decline in its share of production projects, dropping from 228 in 2022 to just 183 in 2023. This drop has significant implications not only for the entertainment industry but also for the broader California economy.

Put another way, last year viewing audiences enjoyed 31 fewer TV series, seven (7) fewer TV movies, two (2) fewer theatrical films, and five (5) fewer streaming movies that were made in Los Angeles by working Californians.

The decline is part of a broader trend of U.S. and global jurisdictions capturing more of the production market, with places like New York, Ontario, and Georgia becoming increasingly competitive. In 2023, Los Angeles held only 18% of the total projects made across the industry, compared to 22% the previous year.

This loss was particularly pronounced in television production, which saw an 18.3% drop in total series released. Streaming series production in Los Angeles took a hit of 27.9%, while cable and broadcast series declined by 16.1% and 18.9%, respectively.

Paul Audley, FilmLA President, expressed concern about the broader impact on the state’s economy, noting that the entertainment industry contributes around $43 billion in wages. “How long can California subsist on an ever-thinner slice of a shrinking production pie?” Audley asked, pointing out that continued production losses could have far-reaching consequences for local suppliers, small businesses, and employees.

The situation isn’t just about losing jobs and projects; it’s about maintaining California’s historic leadership in the entertainment industry. While places like New York and Ontario ramp up their competitiveness, Los Angeles must reassess how it can incentivize productions to stay. Experts suggest that expanding California’s Film & Television Tax Credit Program could be one way to revive the region’s flagging fortunes.

For the first time in three years, Los Angeles saw a notable dip in theatrical movie production, capturing 8.7% fewer projects compared to the previous year. Despite a 24.4% increase in overall theatrical releases in 2023, Los Angeles lost ground to the United Kingdom, New York, and Georgia, which saw strong growth in this area. Meanwhile, streaming movie production also declined, with Los Angeles seeing a 22.7% drop compared to the industry’s overall 19.3% decline.

Over the last 30 years, competing jurisdictions have applied direct financial incentives and infrastructure investments to win attention from film producers and build stable film economies. As indicated in FilmLA’s study, rival jurisdictions now capture four out of every five film and television projects and their associated jobs.

According to the 2024 Otis College Report on the Creative Economy, 27 percent of the nation’s domestic film and television workforce resides in Greater Los Angeles. Given these workers’ heavy dependence on local filmmaking, reduced project output raises significant concerns.

“We’re now at a place where inadequate investment in this industry places other economic supports at risk,” Audley observed. “For each film industry supplier that closes his or her doors due to lack of steady work – those entrepreneurs no longer employ people, generate sales taxes or pay rent. Their former employees, lacking an income, then have no money for groceries, tuition and bills. When local industries decline the effects can be far-ranging, so this is definitely a problem California needs to address.”



“This report validates the lived experience of grips, camera operators, caterers, and various essential small business owners over the last two years,” said Lindsey P. Horvath, Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. “Our community members’ livelihoods are on the line, which is why Los Angeles County launched the Entertainment Business Interruption Fund, and we continue to explore ways to incentivize local production. FilmLA’s report underscores the urgent work required to save an industry critical to our local economy and identity as Angelenos.”

With the industry continuing to face challenges from the 2023 labor strikes and rapid technological changes, the future of Los Angeles as a production hub remains uncertain. But one thing is clear: action needs to be taken to support the industry before more losses occur.

Download the entire report here:



This article was brought to you for FREE. Independent Journalism is not. Please support Reel 360 News and Reel Chicago by donating here