Filming in Los Angeles hits record high for Q1

On-location film production in Greater Los Angeles saw a strong start this year, setting a new first quarter record with 9,832 Shoot Days (SD), according to FilmLA.

“The potential for another COVID-related cutback had us eyeing the first quarter with concern,” said Paul Audley, president of FilmLA, the film office of the City and County of Los Angeles. “But with strong protective protocols in place, the industry was in a good position to weather the post-holiday Omicron surge.”

Driving the increase has been television productions (up 18.7% over the same period last year to 4,470 SD), especially the TV dramas and TV reality series. Shows include American Horror Stories (FX), Little America (Apple TV+), Perry Mason (HBO), Promised Land (ABC/Hulu), S.W.A.T. (CBS) and The Flight Attendant (HBO Max).

Although episodic dramas were down -12.3% year-on-year compared to 2021 (1,279 vs. 1,459 SD), they were still 8.6% above the five-year category average.

Philip Sokoloski, vice president of integrated communications at FilmLA, told KFTV that the county is proving increasingly popular and that they're keen to attract more international productions from outside North America, stressing that they have great crew, studio facilities and locations, all at reasonable prices, and that FilmLA can help facilitiate all filming permits.

The California Film & Television Tax Credit program, overseen by the California Film Commission, has certainly helped drive local TV drama activity. Episodic TV dramas participating in this program generated 499 SD for the quarter — representing 39% of all activity in the category.

Despite a slight uptick in feature film production compared to last year (594 vs. 575 SDs), the sector remains 25.2% below its five-year category average. Locally filmed projects include Home Delivery, Love Me to Death, Rooming with Danger, and Netflix’s Me Time.