Written by David Lewis on Nov 4, 2008. Posted in On Location

Economic climate hits Los Angeles on-location production

FilmL.A., the nonprofit organization that coordinates permits for filmed entertainment shot on-location in the City of Los Angeles, has announced that on-location feature film and commercial production experienced steep declines in the third quarter of 2008 while television gains buoyed overall production numbers.

Total permitted days of on-location filming decreased by 1% one between July and September 2008, compared to the same period in 2007. 12,948 days of on-location production were recorded, a modest decline from 13,072 days in the third quarter of 2007.

The year-to-date figure for all production is flat, with a gain of 0.4%. The static quarterly and year-to-date totals mask real challenges experienced by certain industry sectors. A closer look at the data reveals that feature production days were down 38 percent for the quarter, a drop influenced by months of uncertainty regarding industry contract matters.

“Most major studio feature films still shooting during the quarter completed production by the end of July, and only a few sought permits to film on-location in August and September,” said FilmL.A. Vice President of Communications Todd Lindgren. Year-to-date figures for features show a drop of 4 percent, continuing the category’s downward trend since its peak in 1996. Total annual feature film production days have declined 9 out of the last 11 years. .

From July through September 2008, permitted days of on-location commercial production dropped 24% compared to the same quarter last year. Commercials posted 1,095 production days, down from 1,434 in 2007. .

Year-to-date figures also show a decline of 9%, as advertising spending has been cut back as the economy’s strength has waned. .

Overall television production saw gains of 17%, to 6,959 days from 5,950 days in the third quarter of 2007. Within TV’s sub-categories, television dramas posted the largest gain – up 23%. Reality television followed with a 14% gain, while sitcoms and pilots dropped 7% and 45% respectively. Year-to-date overall television production days are up 7%. “Local on-location television production remains strong thanks to reality programming, which is typically not impacted by labor uncertainty and is the primary driver of television production in the region,” said Lindgren. “Roughly half of all television production days are reality shoots,” he added.