Dramatic Decline in Film and TV Production Hits Los Angeles

Liam James2 days agoLast Updated: 14 April 2025

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Los Angeles Film and TV Production Levels Plunge

Filming levels in Los Angeles are experiencing a downturn amid a global production crunch and increasing competition from other regions vying to host movies and TV shows.

The report from FilmLA, the nonprofit organization responsible for managing film permits in the city and county, revealed that the three-month period from January to March saw declines across all categories of production compared to the same timeframe last year. Specifically, filming in L.A. dropped over 22 percent, resulting in 5,295 shoot days during this period.

More than a year after the strikes, the entertainment industry has not returned to filming in L.A. as anticipated. The region’s shooting levels, already impacted by reduced content spending from most studios, marked the lowest figures recorded by FilmLA since it began tracking this data in 2017 (excluding the year 2020, when filming was halted due to the pandemic). In light of this significant reduction in production, California lawmakers are considering expanding the subsidy program for productions filming in the state.

The most concerning trend is the ongoing decline in shooting for TV shows, which have long been a cornerstone of L.A.’s production landscape. Filming for this category has plummeted an estimated 30 percent compared to the same period last year, and nearly 50 percent from the five-year average. Last quarter, only 13 TV pilots were filmed in L.A., marking the lowest number ever recorded by FilmLA.

Additionally, the film office highlighted a nearly 30 percent decline in production for TV comedies last quarter, resulting in only 110 shoot days. It is important to note that these shows are primarily half-hour series, which currently do not qualify for California’s tax credit program.

In an effort to remain competitive with other regions that are expanding the types of productions eligible for subsidies, California lawmakers have proposed changes allowing TV shows consisting of two or more episodes of at least 20 minutes to qualify. Other productions that might receive credits under the proposed revisions include sitcoms, animated films, series or shorts, and large-scale competition shows, with the exception of reality, documentary programming, and game or talk shows. These productions must have budgets of at least $1 million.

As the segment most affected in L.A.’s production economy, the decline in TV filming carries significant implications for industry workers. Last year, there were approximately 7,700 shoot days for TV shows, reflecting a decline of over 58 percent in just three years from its peak in 2021.

Feature film shooting in the region also fared poorly, with only 451 shoot days recorded, representing roughly a 29 percent decrease compared to the first quarter of 2024.

A recent report from FilmLA highlighted a substantial drop in soundstage occupancy over the past two years, underscoring the decline in filming activity in the region. Seventeen studios, which manage the majority of stages in L.A., reported average occupancy rates of 63 percent last year, down from 69 percent in 2023.

FilmLA also pointed out that the wildfires that affected the Pacific Palisades and Altadena had minimal impact on production levels. A recent analysis indicated that these areas hosted only about 1,400 shoot days over the past four years, which accounts for just 1.3 percent of all regional filming.

Approximately 545 filming locations were located within the burn zones of the fires, and these areas remain off-limits for shoots.

“The fires forced many productions to scramble and reschedule their shoots, displacing hundreds of industry workers from their homes,” said FilmLA Vice President of Communications Philip Sokoloski. “However, their impact on local filming levels appears to have been temporary.”

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