Los Angeles has seen a significant decline in film and TV production, with on-location shoot days dropping 22.4% compared to the same period last year, according to a report by FilmLA. The total number of on-location shoot days in the first quarter of 2025 totaled 5,295, down from 6,823 in the same period a year ago.
The decline is attributed to various factors, including technological and financial changes in the industry. Hollywood has been experiencing hard times due to global changes, leading to job losses that may not be reversed. The state’s cornerstone entertainment industry faces a reality where lost jobs may never come back.
The wildfires in January had temporarily halted productions but did not have a lasting effect on production levels. However, TV production declined by 30.5%, while feature films decreased by 28.9%. Commercial shoots also saw a drop of 2.1%.
Despite the decline, FilmLA reports that projects are expected to generate $580 million in economic activity and employ over 6,000 people. The industry’s tax credit program is under review, with Gov. Gavin Newsom proposing an increase to nearly double the current incentives.
Legislators have proposed bills to increase the state film tax credit to cover up to 35% of qualified expenditures for movies and TV series shot in the Los Angeles region. The move aims to lure productions back and create more jobs for local workers.
Source: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2025-04-14/filmla-report-first-quarter-2025