LA's Film, TV Shoots Hit Record Low

Hit hard by the recession and amped-up incentives to shoot elsewhere, on-location filming in Los Angeles has plummeted 56% in the first quarter to a record low, says the group that processes shooting permits. Commercial production, meanwhile, dropped 34%, the Los Angeles Times reports. TV shooting has surged, but that’s because the writers’ strike shut down production last year. Only five major studio films are slated to be shot in LA this year, down from 15 last year.

The entertainment industry was California’s worst-hit sector in January, shedding 22,000 jobs. “A combination of limited financing, reduced studio budgets, and reduced ad buying are all hitting Hollywood at the same time,” says an economist. And producers are being tempted away from California as some 30 other states offer tax incentives to shoot film and TV on their turf.
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