FilmLA, the partner film office for the City and County of Los Angeles and other local jurisdictions, has released a report detailing the significant impact of work actions by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA on summer film and television production in Los Angeles.
The report reveals a sharp decline in on-location film production during the third quarter of 2023, with a 41.4 percent drop compared to 2022.
The report underscores the broader trend of declining on-location filming in the region, which has persisted for seven consecutive calendar quarters. The decline is not attributed solely to the recent labor disputes but represents a longer-term issue.
Paul Audley, President of FilmLA, emphasized the broader impact of this decline on the local economy and workforce. He stated, “Sobering as these statistics are, production numbers are not the ultimate testimony of the importance of this industry to our region. There’s a deeper testimony that comes to us through stories of families, businesses, lives, and jobs affected by the present downturn.”
The most significant losses were seen in scripted television production, with TV Drama production dropping 99.0 percent, and TV Comedy production dropping 99.4 percent compared to the same period in 2022. No filming took place for projects qualifying for the California Film & Television Tax Credit Program, and no TV Pilots were filmed during the quarter.
Feature film production also declined significantly, with a 54.6 percent decrease in the third quarter. Most Feature projects in production this summer were smaller, independent productions, among a few moving forward under SAG-AFTRA interim agreements. Projects included Adult Best Friends, Don’t Trip, Eyes in the Trees, From Ashes, Isaac, Lake George, Roses on the Vine, and Who Says You Can’t Go Home. As in the Television categories, no recent Features in production were associated with the California Film & Television Tax Credit Program.
REELated:
Reality TV, however, emerged as the primary production driver in the region, with a 23.2 percent decline for the quarter. Reality TV accounted for 97.3 percent of all television filming during the period, comprising 40.8 percent of all on-location filming. Local TV Reality productions included popular series such as Basketball Wives, Bite Stop, Dress My Tour, Real Murders of Los Angeles, Side Hustlers, and Vanderpump Rules.
Commercial production continued its decline last quarter with a -25.8 percent year-over-year drop to 758 SD. Though Commercial production is not directly affected by recent industry strikes, loss of production to rival jurisdictions is an ongoing concern.
Production output in this category was down -42.7 percent compared to its five-year quarterly average. Commercials that shot locally last quarter included spots for popular dining brands Chili’s, Chipotle, Dunkin’ Donuts, Jimmy John’s, McDonalds, Panera Bread, and Pizza Hut and Starbucks.
FilmLA’s “Other” category, which includes smaller shoots such as Still Photography, Student Films, Documentaries, Music and Industrial Videos, and other projects, declined by 29.8 percent.
Looking ahead, Audley expressed optimism regarding the recent progress in negotiations between the WGA and AMPTP. When negotiations conclude and production resumes under mutually agreeable terms, it is expected to be a welcome development for the industry.
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram
