Contact:
Philip Sokoloski
VP, Integrated Communications
(213) 977-8630
psokoloski@filmla.com
Danielle Walker
Communications Coordinator
(213) 977-8635
dwalker@filmla.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
California Film Incentive Sustaining High Value Film Activity in Los Angeles
Incentive-Qualified Projects Prop Up Local Feature, TV Drama Production Levels
LOS ANGELES – April 15, 2014 – FilmL.A. -- the official film office of the City of Los
Angeles, the County of Los Angeles and other area jurisdictions -- today updated its
regional on-location filming report. The update revealed that while overall film
production has declined nearly one percent so far in 2014 (13,265 PPD in 2014 vs.
13,361 PPD in 2013)*, projects retained with the aid of the California Film and
Television Tax Credit Program contribute mightily to regional production yields. This
past quarter, fully 25 percent of area Feature production and 22 percent of area TV
Drama production was generated by state-qualified projects.
Regional on-location Feature production increased 24.2 percent last quarter to 1,588
PPD, a testament to the value of California’s current film incentive. The category
outperformed its 5-year quarterly average by 39.4 percent, while still falling thousands
of PPD short of its peak in 1996. State-qualified Feature projects in L.A. included
Entourage: The Movie, Horrible Bosses 2, Los Altos, Me, Him, Her, Night Crawler, and
The Zone.
FilmL.A.’s interest in returning Feature projects to Los Angeles stems from their
significant employment and spending value. Los Angeles officials have repeatedly
argued that expanding California’s film incentive would accelerate growth in the
Features category.
"This report underscores the importance of our work to expand the film and television
credit program to create jobs and boost our economy,” observed Los Angeles Mayor
Eric Garcetti.
– MORE –
The Television production category, which remains the region’s largest measurable film
production driver, finished the quarter down 9.2 percent to 4,624 PPD. Television also
underperformed its 5-year quarterly average by 1.9 percent.
Nearly all TV subcategories posted declines, among them TV Dramas (down 7.9
percent to 1,160 PPD), TV Reality (down 9.1 percent to 1,446 PPD), TV Sitcom (down
18.4 percent to 496 PPD) and Web-Based TV (down 29.7 percent to 379 PPD). TV
Pilot production increased 1.5 percent to 467 PPD.
FilmL.A. researchers point out that the overall Television decline would have been much
steeper were it not for the local presence of incentive-qualified TV Dramas like Franklin
& Bash, Justified, Major Crimes, Murder in the First, Pretty Little Liars, Rizzoli and Isles,
Switched at Birth and Teen Wolf.
The Commercials category inched up 2.8 percent last quarter to 2,360 PPD, and the
Other category, which includes lower-economic value filming like student film projects
music videos, industrial films, etc., stayed flat with 4,693 PPD.
“This quarter’s report hints at what would be possible if California were to truly step up
and compete for new film projects and jobs,” noted FilmL.A. President Paul Audley.
“California’s Film & Television Tax Credit Program is in its fifth year; just imagine where
we could be five years from now if current efforts to expand the state’s incentive
program are successful.”
About FilmL.A.
FilmL.A. is a private, not-for-profit community benefit organization and the official film
office of the City and County of Los Angeles and an ever increasing roster of local
municipalities. Providing streamlined permit processing, comprehensive community
relations, marketing services, film policy analysis and more to these jurisdictions,
FilmL.A. works to attract and retain film production in Greater Los Angeles. Learn more
about FilmL.A. at www.filmla.com.
* On-location production figures are based on days of permitted production within the
jurisdictions served by FilmL.A. One permitted production day (PPD) is defined as a
single crew’s permission to film a single project at a single defined location during any
given 24-hour period. This data does not include production that occurs on certified
sound stages or on-location in jurisdictions not served by FilmL.A. For context,
production growth in any tracked category is measured against the same period in the
prior year and that category’s five-year rolling average. Overall figures include
production of feature films, television programs, commercials, documentaries, industrial
videos, infomercials, music videos, still photography, student films and miscellaneous
production.
– MORE –
TOTALS (YTD)
Quarter 4
Quarter 3
Quarter 2
Quarter 1
TOTALS (YTD)
Quarter 4
Quarter 3
Quarter 2
Quarter 1
1,260
1,260
1,160
1,160
-7.9%
-7.9%
-3.5%
-3.5%
2013
39.4%
39.4%
TV Drama
Comparisons
vs. Prev vs 5-Year
2014
24.2%
24.2%
1,588
1,588
1,279
1,279
2013
FEATURES
Comparisons
2014
vs. Prev vs 5-Year
608
608
2013
2,295
2,295
2013
2.8%
2.8%
6.5%
6.5%
496
496
-18.4%
-18.4%
17.5%
17.5%
TV Sitcom
Comparisons
vs. Prev vs 5-Year
2014
2,360
2,360
COMMERCIALS
Comparisons
2014
vs. Prev vs 5-Year
1,591
1591
2013
5,091
5,091
2013
-9.2%
-9.2%
-1.9%
-1.9%
1,446
1446
-9.1%
-9.1%
-15.8%
-15.8%
TV Reality
Comparisons
vs. Prev vs 5-Year
2014
4,624
4,624
TELEVISION
Comparisons
2014
vs. Prev vs 5-Year
460
460
2013
4,696
4,696
2013
467
467
2014
1.5%
1.5%
2013
13,361
13,361
2014
13,265
13,265
-0.7%
-0.7%
9.3%
9.3%
TOTAL
Comparisons
vs. Prev
vs 5-Year
16.7%
16.7%
539
539
2013
379
379
-29.7%
-29.7%
10.7%
10.7%
Web-Based TV
Comparisons
vs. Prev
vs 5-Year
2014
Calendar Year 2013-2014
Top Television Sub-Category Breakdowns
15.4%
15.4%
Comparisons
vs. Prev vs 5-Year
-0.1%
-0.1%
TV Pilot
4,693
4,693
2014
Comparisons
vs. Prev vs 5-Year
OTHER
Calendar Year 2013-2014
Production Days by Type w/ Historical Detail: 3 Mains / Other