We’ve been here and before and didn’t like it then either. The film production industry in the Greater Los Angeles area experienced a significant decline in the second quarter of 2023, according to an update from FilmLA, the partner film office for the City and County of Los Angeles and other local jurisdictions.
The decline in on-location film production amounted to 6,566 Shoot Days (SD), representing a -28.8 percent decrease compared to the same quarter in the previous year. This is the sixth consecutive quarterly drop in production reported by FilmLA.
FilmLA President Paul Audley emphasized the critical role of Greater Los Angeles as the North American epicenter of scripted television production and expressed concern about the far-reaching impact of the sector’s shutdown on the regional economy.
Audley stated, “Greater Los Angeles is the North American epicenter of scripted television production. Before long, this sector’s shutdown will be felt in every corner of the regional economy.”
He further commented on the importance of the studios and unions reopening their contract negotiations, acknowledging the high stakes for WGA and SAG-AFTRA members, as well as for the small business supply chain that future filming relies upon.
“Like all others watching with hope from the sidelines, we are eager to see the studios and unions reopen their contract negotiations. Much is at stake for WGA and SAG-AFTRA members, and also for the small business supply chain on which future filming depends,” Audley continued.
Feature Film Production
During the second quarter, feature film production experienced a decline of -18.9 percent, totaling 728 SD, which is -26.6 percent below the category’s five-year average. The majority of feature projects in production during April through June were smaller, independent productions.
Some of the titles included All That We Love, Father & Son, Goodrich, The Puritan II, and Unicorn. Notably, 3.2 percent of total feature production (23 SD) came from projects associated with the California Film and Television Tax Credit Program.
Commercial Production Down
Commercial production also saw a decrease last quarter, with a -22.4 percent year-over-year drop, resulting in 861 SD. While commercial production was not directly affected by the ongoing WGA or SAG-AFTRA labor actions, concerns about losing production to rival jurisdictions persisted.
The output in this category is down -37.8 percent compared to its five-year quarterly average. Locally shot automobile commercials included spots for Acura, BMW, Ford, Mini Cooper, Subaru, and Toyota, along with companies like AT&T, Delta Airlines, Paycom, and Verizon.
The aggregate Television category, a major employment driver in the region, experienced the steepest quarterly decline (-36.4 percent to 2,630 SD), reflecting the impact of the recent WGA strike.
REELated:
TV Dramas Drop
Recorded Shoot Days for TV Dramas dropped by -63.8 percent (to 360 SD) in the second quarter, while TV Comedy Shoot Days fell by -72.8 percent (to 84 SD) compared to the same period in 2022. These categories were the most heavily impacted by the ongoing WGA work action.
When compared with the January-March period, TV Dramas declined by -52.8 percent for April-June 2023, while TV Comedies dropped -72.8 percent using the same approach.
Before the halt of all scripted television production in Greater Los Angeles, TV shows being filmed last quarter included Grey’s Anatomy (ABC), S.W.A.T. (CBS), The Old Man (FX), Good Trouble (Freeform), Interior Chinatown (Hulu), and How to be a Bookie (HBO Max). Notably, 24.7 percent of the total output (89 TV Drama SDs) came from projects associated with the state’s film tax credit.
Unscripted Television Fares Better
By comparison, unscripted Television production fared better, experiencing a -22.9 percent drop (to 2,013 SD) in the second quarter compared to the prior year. However, the category remains up 26.5 percent over its five-year quarterly average, with TV Reality production rising by 24.5 percent from April to June 2023 compared to January to March. Notable local TV Reality productions included American Idol (ABC), Basketball Wives (VH1), The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (Bravo!), Buying Beverly Hills (Netflix), and Selling Sunset (Netflix).
FilmLA’s “Other” category, encompassing smaller shoots such as Still Photography, Student Films, Documentaries, Music and Industrial Videos, and other projects, experienced a decline of -23.7 percent (to 2,347 SD).
“The last time production levels were this low, we were in the middle of a global pandemic,” observed Audley. “Families and businesses affected then are again being tested today, lending urgency to the moment to sustain creative careers.”
