Los Angeles marks its second slowest production summer on record

Los Angeles Production
(Courtesy FilmLA)

The Greater Los Angeles film industry has faced another challenging period, marking its second slowest production summer on record, according to FilmLA’s latest report.

The total filming activity in the region fell by 5.0% in the third quarter of 2024, with only 5,048 shoot days (SD) logged. This lackluster performance contrasts sharply with the industry’s hopes of a rebound after the double industry strikes that largely paused scripted production in 2023.

Scripted television production in Los Angeles recorded 758 SD across TV drama, comedy, and pilot categories last quarter. While these numbers mark an improvement from the strike-affected 2023, the broader trend shows a disappointing performance compared to the region’s five-year averages.

On a more positive note, feature film production showed a significant increase, rising by 26.6% to 476 SD. This uptick provided some relief to LA-based crews, studios, and vendors. However, FilmLA President Paul Audley emphasized that industry output still falls short of post-COVID expectations:
“Only a few months ago, the industry hoped we’d see an overall on-paper gain in the third quarter, due to the strike effect. Instead, we saw a pullback and loss of forward momentum heading into the fall season that will make or break the year.”

Reality TV Production Declines

Reality TV production, which has been a significant player in LA’s unscripted content space, dropped dramatically. The sector recorded a 56.3% fall last quarter, contributing to the overall production slump in the region.

Reality TV’s 1,220 SD drop more than accounts for the aggregate loss seen across all filming categories in Los Angeles, revealing a sharp decline in demand for reality content.



Commercial Production Grows

In a rare bright spot for the industry, commercial production in Los Angeles grew by 7.4% last quarter, reaching 814 SD.

Despite this year-over-year growth, commercial production levels still lag behind the five-year adjusted averages. Brands like Adobe, Amazon, Google, Starbucks, and Subway were featured in recent commercials shot in the city.

California Film Incentive Keeps Some Projects Rolling

The California Film & Television Tax Credit Program continues to play a critical role in attracting productions to the region. During the summer, several series, including Forever, Matlock, and High Potential, were filmed in LA thanks to the state’s incentives. Long-running shows like S.W.A.T. and The Rookie also contributed to nearly a quarter of all TV drama SD last quarter.

FilmLA’s Audley called for an expansion of the program to ensure California remains competitive with other production hubs: “California’s film incentive is a proven jobs creator… but just as our competitors continue to innovate, California must do the same.”

As the year draws to a close, the fate of Los Angeles’ film industry largely rests on a strong fourth-quarter performance. With scripted production still below its potential and reality TV declining, the city’s film industry is at a crossroads. The outcome of this final production push will determine whether the year ends on a high note or continues the trend of slow recovery post-pandemic and post-strike.



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
(Courtesy FilmLA)

The Greater Los Angeles film industry has faced another challenging period, marking its second slowest production summer on record, according to FilmLA’s latest report.

The total filming activity in the region fell by 5.0% in the third quarter of 2024, with only 5,048 shoot days (SD) logged. This lackluster performance contrasts sharply with the industry’s hopes of a rebound after the double industry strikes that largely paused scripted production in 2023.

Scripted television production in Los Angeles recorded 758 SD across TV drama, comedy, and pilot categories last quarter. While these numbers mark an improvement from the strike-affected 2023, the broader trend shows a disappointing performance compared to the region’s five-year averages.

On a more positive note, feature film production showed a significant increase, rising by 26.6% to 476 SD. This uptick provided some relief to LA-based crews, studios, and vendors. However, FilmLA President Paul Audley emphasized that industry output still falls short of post-COVID expectations:
“Only a few months ago, the industry hoped we’d see an overall on-paper gain in the third quarter, due to the strike effect. Instead, we saw a pullback and loss of forward momentum heading into the fall season that will make or break the year.”

Reality TV Production Declines

Reality TV production, which has been a significant player in LA’s unscripted content space, dropped dramatically. The sector recorded a 56.3% fall last quarter, contributing to the overall production slump in the region.

Reality TV’s 1,220 SD drop more than accounts for the aggregate loss seen across all filming categories in Los Angeles, revealing a sharp decline in demand for reality content.



Commercial Production Grows

In a rare bright spot for the industry, commercial production in Los Angeles grew by 7.4% last quarter, reaching 814 SD.

Despite this year-over-year growth, commercial production levels still lag behind the five-year adjusted averages. Brands like Adobe, Amazon, Google, Starbucks, and Subway were featured in recent commercials shot in the city.

California Film Incentive Keeps Some Projects Rolling

The California Film & Television Tax Credit Program continues to play a critical role in attracting productions to the region. During the summer, several series, including Forever, Matlock, and High Potential, were filmed in LA thanks to the state’s incentives. Long-running shows like S.W.A.T. and The Rookie also contributed to nearly a quarter of all TV drama SD last quarter.

FilmLA’s Audley called for an expansion of the program to ensure California remains competitive with other production hubs: “California’s film incentive is a proven jobs creator… but just as our competitors continue to innovate, California must do the same.”

As the year draws to a close, the fate of Los Angeles’ film industry largely rests on a strong fourth-quarter performance. With scripted production still below its potential and reality TV declining, the city’s film industry is at a crossroads. The outcome of this final production push will determine whether the year ends on a high note or continues the trend of slow recovery post-pandemic and post-strike.



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