California’s film adn television industry is experiencing a mixed recovery, with new tax incentives aiming to boost production levels. Legislators have increased tax credits from 20 to 35 percent, primarily targeting TV shows to encourage filming within the state. This move is intended to stimulate job creation, a long-standing priority of the tax incentive scheme, as TV production has historically been a meaningful source of high-paying, unionized jobs for behind-the-scenes crews in California. the application period for the new program opened on july 7 for television productions and will open in August for films.
The “Stay in L.A.” movement, a grassroots campaign that emerged after January’s wildfires, is also credited with contributing to the return of feature film production.This movement advocates for productions to return to their conventional base in Southern California, organizing rallies and lobbying for policy reforms. The campaign’s message appears to have resonated with production executives, who have indicated that California’s subsidies need to be competitive enough to deter filming in other regions. The Entertainment Union Coalition has echoed this sentiment, urging studios to reaffirm their commitment to the communities and workers who have built the industry.
Despite these efforts, the overall production outlook in California remains challenging. Filming activity in Los Angeles saw a decrease of approximately six percent in the second quarter of the year compared to the same period in the previous year, according to a recent FilmLA report. Feature films were the most considerably impacted category.
In contrast, TV series production demonstrated stronger performance, with a 17 percent increase in filming levels. This marks the highest level of TV series shooting since the first quarter of the prior year,although it still falls 32 percent below the five-year average. Within TV production,dramas saw a 9.5 percent increase,and reality shows experienced a 29.5 percent rise. Notable TV productions filmed in Los Angeles last quarter include High Potential S2 (ABC), 9-1-1 S8 (Fox), and Lincoln Lawyer S4 (Netflix).
Paul Audley, President of FilmLA, expressed optimism about the future, stating, “While there is work ahead to bring Los Angeles-area production back to its full potential, we are optimistic and grounded in our mission to keep production affordable, accessible and straightforward.” He added, “We look forward to our continuing conversations with goverment officials and our partners in the industry to see the full fruition of the economic, cultural, and employment benefits that Los Angeles’s film ecosystem offers to our community.”
