Local on-location film production declined in the second quarter of 2023, mustering 6.566 Shoot Days (SD) to finish down -28.8% for the quarter, measured year over year. The drop was accelerated by the ongoing WGA labor action, which began in May. SAG-AFTRA members were not yet on strike at the time this data was captured.
These numbers mark the sixth consecutive quarterly production drop reported by FilmLA, partner film office for the City and County of Los Angeles and other local jurisdictions, which recently issued an update regarding regional filming activity.
“Greater Los Angeles is the North American epicenter of scripted television production. Before long, this sector’s shutdown will be felt in every corner of the regional economy,” observed Paul Audley, President of FilmLA. “Like all others watching with hope from the sidelines, we are eager to see the studios and unions reopen their contract negotiations. Much is at stake for WGA and SAG-AFTRA members, and also for the small business supply chain on which future filming depends,” he added.
Feature film production fell -18.9% in the second quarter to 728 SD, -26.6% below the category’s five-year average. Nearly all feature projects in production from April through June were smaller, independent productions. Titles included “All That We Love,” “Father & Son,” “Goodrich,” “The Puritan II,” and “Unicorn.” A total of 23 of the 728 SD (or 3.2% of total feature production) came from projects associated with the California Film and Television Tax Credit Program.
Commercial production continued its decline last quarter with a -22.4% year-over-year drop to 861 SD. Though commercial production is not directly affected by the present WGA or SAG-AFTRA labor actions, loss of production to rival jurisdictions is an ongoing concern. Production output in this category is down -37.8% compared to its five-year quarterly average.
Meanwhile, the aggregate television category, which has long been a major employment driver in the region, saw the steepest quarterly decline (-36.4% to 2.630 SD), reflecting the impact of the recent WGA strike.
Recorded Shoot Days generated by TV dramas fell by -63.8% (to 360 SD) in the second quarter, and TV comedy shoot days fell by -72.8% (to 84 SD) compared to the same period in 2022. These are the categories most heavily impacted by the ongoing WGA work action. Viewed in a different way, TV dramas declined by -52.8% for April-June of 2023, as compared with January-March. TV comedies dropped -72.8%, using that same approach.
Before the halt of all scripted television production in Greater Los Angeles, productions filming last quarter included “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC), “S.W.A.T.” (CBS), “The Old Man” (FX), “Good Trouble” (Freeform), “Interior Chinatown” (Hulu), and “How to be a Bookie” (HBO Max). A total of 89 TV drama SDs – or 24.7% of the total output – came from projects associated with the state’s film tax credit.
Unscripted television production is doing better, by comparison. TV reality production dropped -22.9% (to 2.013 SD) in the second quarter, compared to the prior year. Nonetheless, the category is still up 26.5% over its five-year quarterly average, and TV reality production rose 24.5% from April-June 2023 compared to January-March. Local TV reality productions included “American Idol” (ABC), “Basketball Wives” (VH1), “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” (Bravo!), “Buying Beverly Hills” (Netflix), and “Selling Sunset” (Netflix).
“The last time production levels were this low, we were in the middle of a global pandemic. Families and businesses affected then are again being tested today, lending urgency to the moment to sustain creative careers,” Audley observed.
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