As a movie enthusiast, I’ve always harbored dreams of a career in the magical realm of cinema. From acting under the spotlight, penning stories that resonate with diverse spectators, to directing and shaping my creative vision, or contributing behind the scenes in departments like hair, makeup, costumes, or set design – working on a film set is an extraordinary adventure, distinct from any other experience I can imagine.
Many individuals hold the conviction that this vision will become a reality in the city that became famous for its film industry – Los Angeles, California.
I’ve noticed a shift lately, with film and TV productions migrating from LA to places like New York, Austin, and even Atlanta, or overseas. This trend seems to have resulted in a noticeable decline in local on-set production activity here in Los Angeles.
2024 concluded on an optimistic note, as regional production grew by 6.2%. Contrastingly, the number of filming days in the Greater Los Angeles area dropped by 22.4% from January to March 2025, according to FilmLA’s recent data.
Examining the information provided, it’s clear that television production involved approximately 1,670 shooting days, which represents a decrease of about 30.5%. On the other hand, feature film production saw a reduction to around 28.9%, with roughly 451 shooting days being recorded.
In early 2025, a catastrophic fire incident occurred in Southern California that hadn’t transpired at the end of 2024, specifically affecting the areas of Altadena and Pacific Palisades.
Although it’s commonly believed that the Los Angeles fires played a significant role in decreasing film production, Variety reported that according to FilmLA’s analysis, these specific locations made up just 1.3% of the total regional filming activities.
Just 545 movie shooting spots fell inside the restricted areas known as burn zones, which remain closed due to city and county directives.
In other words, this information doesn’t undo the overall destructive impact of the fires.
Regarding the fires, Philip Sokoloski, Vice President of Integrated Communications at FilmLA, stated that the loss of filming opportunities pales in comparison to the human toll, evacuation of residents, and property destruction caused by the Eaton and Palisades Fires.
He went on to say that “the fires forced numerous film productions to rearrange their schedules and left hundreds of industry professionals without a home. However, it seems the effect on local filming activity was only short-term.
It appears that other reasons for the decrease in production might stem from “reductions in global manufacturing and California’s continuous job losses to competing regions.
Apart from the current issues, Hollywood has encountered a variety of obstacles in recent times. Factors such as the 2023 labor disputes, the COVID-19 global crisis, and disruptions caused by the surge in streaming platforms have all contributed to this downward trend.
2021 stood out as a pinnacle for TV production nationwide, boasting an impressive total of 18,560 filming days annually within the Greater Los Angeles region.
2024 saw a dramatic reduction in shooting days compared to three years prior – from 7,716 days down by nearly 60%, representing a tumultuous journey the film industry has experienced throughout this past decade.
TV drama and comedy production saw significant drops during the first quarter of 2025, with a decline of 38.9% for dramas and 29.9% for comedies respectively.
In the previous quarter, less costly productions like still photography, student films, documentaries, music videos, industrial films, and various other projects experienced a decrease of approximately 20.2%.
Reality TV also saw a decline, going down 26.4%.
2023 witnessed a surge in reality TV shows due to the entertainment industry strikes. However, the following year, 2024, turned out to be one of the “least productive years for filming” in the Greater Los Angeles area.
There are efforts being made to solve this downturn and help increase production in the region.
Governor Gavin Newsom of California is considering an expansion of the California Film and TV Tax Credit Scheme.
This arises because labor unions, manufacturers, and performers are advocating for higher tax breaks in the industry, as Reuters detailed.
FilmLA intends to back a proposal that seeks to boost California’s film incentive fund to over $750 million annually, with suggested amendments aimed at making it more attractive for international productions.
Sokoloski of FilmLA shared the significance of doing whatever it takes to help LA’s film industry.
He clarified that, according to the California Production Coalition, an average daily location shoot contributes approximately $670,000 and around 1,500 jobs to the local economy.
Keeping that figure in perspective, it’s clear that each production contributes to job creation. Consequently, an increase in job opportunities tends to stimulate the industry.
He went on to clarify that according to the County of Los Angeles and Beacon Economics, there are approximately 10,500 entertainment-related businesses within the state. It’s crucial for California to hold onto these jobs, as giving them up to rivals would be detrimental to its economy.
It’s desirable that changes occur in the Southern California region, boosting the film industry and encouraging a larger number of productions to take place there instead of other places.
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2025-04-16 18:14