Greater Los Angeles may still lead the world in stage infrastructure, but according to FilmLA’s newly released Sound Stage Production Report, the region is feeling the impact of back-to-back disruptions. The 2023 dual strikes and an ongoing global content slowdown have significantly reduced L.A. sound stage occupancy and shoot days across the city and county.
The seventh edition of the annual report—based on data from 17 major studios representing 82% of certified stage space in L.A.—offers a sobering snapshot of a post-strike landscape where stage doors aren’t swinging open nearly as often.
After years of robust activity, where studio stages operated in the 90th percentile from 2016 to 2022, average occupancy dropped to 69% in 2023. And it didn’t stop there—2024 preliminary figures show a further drop to 63%.
That’s not just a stat—it’s a signal.
From Boom to Slowdown
The 1,225 projects filmed in 2023 across 477 stages generated 8,671 Stage Shoot Days (SSD)—a steep decline from 12,308 SSD in 2019, and only marginally better than the shutdown-ravaged numbers of 2020. It’s the lowest non-pandemic total since FilmLA began collecting this data.
The real gut-punch for the industry? A dramatic decline in episodic television, traditionally one of the biggest engines of sound stage usage. In 2023, episodic series accounted for just 20% of all stage-based production, down from 30% in previous years. With rising production costs, shorter seasons, and longer gaps between them, even high-budget shows are generating fewer workdays.
“Stage occupancy and stage utilization are not the same,” said FilmLA spokesperson Philip Sokoloski. “A set can only generate jobs when it’s under construction or in use. The drop in Stage Shoot Days shows the real loss of opportunity for the local workforce.”
Competition on the Rise
Meanwhile, other regions are aggressively scaling up. Over the past five years, production hubs like the United Kingdom, New York, Ontario, and Georgia have more than doubled their stage space and continue to attract producers with competitive tax incentives.
Chicago and Illinois were not mentioned in the report.
While Los Angeles County still leads with an estimated 8.0 million square feet of certified and uncertified stage space and 13 new projects in the pipeline, the city’s longtime dominance is no longer guaranteed. Without enough production volume, even the best infrastructure can sit underutilized.
“Jurisdictions that will thrive long-term,” Sokoloski explained, “will be those with coordinated efforts to attract and retain film production at the country, state, and local levels.”
Policy Response in Motion
California, to its credit, is taking steps. In March 2025, the California Film Commission approved a record 51 productions for incentives under the Film & TV Tax Credit Program.
Even more significantly, Governor Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers have proposed legislation to expand that program dramatically. Two bills—SB 630 (Allen) and AB 1138 (Zbur, Bryan)—aim to increase the annual cap from $330 million to $750 million. If passed, California’s program would become the second-largest in the nation, just behind Georgia’s uncapped offering.
The hope is to stem the production exodus and restore L.A. as the go-to destination for high-value television, film, and commercial work.
A Market in Transition
As the 2025 FilmLA report makes clear, the industry is in transition. The streaming boom of the late 2010s and early 2020s, which sparked record content production and stage builds, has now given way to market correction, platform consolidation, and fewer greenlights.
Yet despite these headwinds, L.A.’s combination of top-tier talent, facilities, and institutional knowledge remains unmatched. The challenge ahead is ensuring there are enough projects—and enough incentives—to keep those stages lit and crews employed.
FilmLA’s next update is expected later this year, and all eyes will be on whether the legislative moves underway in Sacramento can spark a rebound.
Until then, the numbers don’t lie: fewer productions, fewer shoot days, and more empty stages.
REELated:
FilmLA’s yearly report shows hope for L.A. production despite 5.6% decline
