Written by new-contact on Jan 4, 2012. Posted in On Location

California location filming rises in 2011 despite big declines in fourth quarter

California saw a 4.2% rise in location filming for 2011, but the number of TV and feature production filming days fell sharply in the fourth quarter. During these three months TV production declined by nearly 11% and feature filming days by more than 25%.

Many TV productions moved out-of-state in 2011, with New York being the big winner because of its sweeter filming incentives. Feature production was helped by California’s filming incentives, but the fourth-quarter decline shows the competition posed by other states.

We must fight to keep and attract more feature films and high-value television series to keep our vendor companies and crews working and our region’s economy afloat.

Paul Audley, Film LA

On the plus side commercial filming was healthy, increasing by more than 4% over the year; an annual record. While all other production fell in the fourth quarter commercial filming grew by nearly 8%.

Paul Audley is President of Film LA: “While we are relieved to see annual gains in overall production days, we cannot take any growth for granted. We must fight to keep and attract more feature films and high-value television series to keep our vendor companies and crews working and our region’s economy afloat.”

California faces a major challenge appealing to TV productions looking for a long-term base. The state TV filming incentives were extended recently but only for 12 months, so TV projects can find much better deals elsewhere in the country.

(Image copyright: Massimo Catarinella)