Hollywood's two strikes are history, but production has been slow to resume, especially on TV projects, in Los Angeles. According to the city/county film bureau, the number of filming days on site in the first quarter from January to March was only 6,823, a decrease of 8.7% compared to the first quarter.
FilmLA's quarterly report (read it here) cites double-digit losses in TV production as the main reason for the decline. TV production fell 16.2% year-over-year in the first quarter. The number of shooting days was 2,402, compared to 2,868 in 2023. Current levels of imaging appear to get much worse the longer the study period. This is because the five-year category average for TV increased by 32.8%.
Reality TV productions decreased by 18.6% in the first quarter to 1,317 shooting days, TV drama productions with a low location ratio decreased by 5.5%, and TV comedy productions with a low location ratio decreased by 51.5%. In 2023, little-produced TV pilots saw an 842.9% increase in quarterly production, but only 66 shooting days.
However, feature film production bucked the trend, with shooting days increasing slightly to 634 during the first quarter, completing 6.6% ahead of the 2023 period.
Film studios also blame a surge in production, series cancellations and reduced content spending plans, which are limiting industry output and work opportunities.
“Starting the first week of January, people were calling FilmLA and saying, ‘I’m still looking for a job. The phone doesn't ring. Is the industry back?’” said FilmLA Chairman Paul Audley. “Unfortunately, production is still slow and things are not what they used to be.”
“After enduring months without work or income, many people were hoping filming could resume quickly after the holidays. “Production didn’t really stabilize until March, and although it wasn’t up to our expectations, it wasn’t up to par.”
TV and web commercial production also decreased in the first quarter, with shooting days down 9.6% to 813 days. Production loss to other jurisdictions remains a concern, as local commercial production levels lagged the five-year average in the first quarter by nearly a third.
FilmLA's Audley added, “Job seekers sometimes ask how filming days and on-set days are connected to job creation in the industry.” She said, “After examining permit data and self-reported numbers of cast and crew members working on location, we found further evidence of delays in returning to work.”