Movies

Hollywood production rose at the end of a brutal 2024. But wildfires add new uncertainty

BBG News

Despite a significant increase in Hollywood productions during the final quarter of 2024, the overall decline experienced throughout the previous year could not be reversed, as indicated by a recent analysis.

The report published by the nonprofit organization FilmLA on Wednesday shows an overall growth of 6.2% in filming activities from October to December compared to the same period last year, as they monitor on-location shooting days in Greater Los Angeles.

5,860 shooting days were recorded during the last three months of 2024 compared to 5,520 in the same period a year before.

Hollywood Inc.

2024’s cinematic box office had a sluggish start, yet it gained momentum during the summer months and flourished in the autumn. However, despite this growth, earnings are still lagging behind pre-pandemic levels. What lies ahead for the future?

In summary, although the fourth quarter saw positive outcomes, overall filming days in 2023 were a decrease of 5.6% compared to 2023, amounting to 23,480 shoot days. This places 2024 as the second-least productive year according to FilmLA’s records. The most unproductive year was the disrupted 2020 due to the pandemic, as reported by FilmLA.

2025, as a movie enthusiast, I had eagerly anticipated a return to the familiar rhythm of cinema, hoping that the lingering impacts of the pandemic, the labor unrest of ’23, and the studio’s production cuts would be nothing but distant memories. However, the devastating Southern California wildfires and the widespread destruction of homes, buildings, and filming locations have cast a shadow of uncertainty over our hopes for normalcy once again.

In a statement, FilmLA President Paul Audley noted that no part of life in Greater Los Angeles has remained untouched by the recent wildfires. Numerous individuals involved in the local entertainment industry have been personally impacted by this disaster, and many cherished locations that are widely recognized across the nation may not reappear on our screens again.

Hollywood Inc.

With a current sluggishness in production, Hollywood workers are confronted by an additional challenge due to the aftermath of the Southern California wildfires.

The boost in the fourth quarter was primarily driven by a surge in feature film production, rising by 82.4% to a total of 589 shooting days, with independent films playing a significant role. Additionally, scripted television dramas saw a substantial increase, amounting to 528 days, which is over five times the total from 2023.

Commercial production had a slight increase of 2.3% to 763 shoot days.

Despite ongoing efforts to film reality TV in L.A., production levels have remained low for several months now. In fact, during the last quarter, there was a 45.7% decrease in shooting days, totaling only 774 days. Over the course of the entire year, this type of production saw a drop of 45.9%, with just 3,905 shoot days recorded.

As a movie enthusiast, I’m thrilled about Governor Gavin Newsom’s strategy to rein in excessive film production and bring it back home to California. His plan involves expanding our cherished Film & TV Tax Credit Program, which is music to my ears!

The plan aims to boost the yearly tax credit to a staggering $750 million, significantly higher than the present cap of $330 million. If successful, California would take the lead as the state with the most generous capped film incentive schemes, outpacing New York in this regard. In its midweek report, FilmLA has voiced its approval for such an expansion to the program.

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2025-01-15 23:31

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