Los Angeles Film and TV Shoot Days Keep Plunging As Local Officials Scramble for a Turnaround Plan

Los Angeles recorded fewer film and television shoot days from June to September, despite California expanding its tax credit programme to attract productions. The fall highlights the challenge of restoring local production as other US states and countries compete for work, with crews and businesses still facing a shortage of activity.

Shoot days were nearly 5 per cent lower than in the same period last year and 11 per cent below the previous quarter, leaving the total 36 per cent under the five-year average. Television production fell 3 per cent year on year to 1,400 days, while drama fell 9 per cent and comedy rose 143 per cent, largely through productions receiving credits. Feature filming edged up 2 per cent to 530 days, but commercials, which are ineligible for credits, dropped almost 16 per cent; New York’s production spend rose 87 per cent in the quarter, compared with California’s 17 per cent.