TV Production Climbs, But Features and Commercials Continue to Lag Behind
Production activity in Los Angeles continued its downward trend in Q2 2025, but there are early signs that relief may be on the way.
According to a new FilmLA report, Greater Los Angeles logged 5,394 on-location shoot days between April and June—a 6.2% drop compared to the same period last year and part of a multi-year decline driven by post-strike recalibration, economic pressures, and heightened out-of-state competition. Yet amid the contraction, television showed unexpected resilience, posting its strongest quarter in over a year.
Television accounted for 2,224 shoot days, up 17% year-over-year and 25% over Q1. TV dramas (up 9.5%) and reality series (up 29.5%) led the charge. ABC’s High Potential, Netflix’s Lincoln Lawyer, Hulu’s Paradise, Apple TV+’s Shrinking, and Bravo’s Vanderpump Rules were among the series contributing to the surge—although overall TV production still remains 32.6% below the five-year average.
The feature film category, however, remains under pressure. Just 553 shoot days were recorded for narrative features, all of which were independently financed projects such as Animals, I’ll Take the Hamm, and Whalefall. While that figure represents a 22.6% increase from Q1 2025, it still marks a steep 21.4% year-over-year decline. Commercials continued their slide, falling 15.3% last quarter and sitting a full 38.3% below their five-year average—making it the weakest of FilmLA’s major production categories.
Behind the numbers, however, the industry is rallying. A broad coalition of studio and independent producers, guild members, and entertainment advocates lobbied the California legislature throughout the spring, pressing for policy reform amid mounting production losses. That effort paid off in June, when Governor Gavin Newsom signed a sweeping modernization of the state’s Film & Television Tax Credit Program into law.
The new legislation increases the available per-project incentive from 20% to 35%, raises the budget cap for eligible projects from $100 million to $120 million, and triples funding for independent films. Crucially, for the first time, California’s film tax credits will become refundable starting in the 2025–26 fiscal year—a move expected to boost access for indie producers and smaller content creators.
“FilmLA is elated with the news of the passage of the California Film & Television Tax Credit Program,” said FilmLA President Paul Audley. “We are grateful to our partners across the industry and in government who joined together to advocate for a stronger, modernized, and revitalized California where production can thrive once again.”
Whether the reforms will quickly reverse the multi-year decline in L.A. filming remains to be seen. But for the first time in several quarters, there’s a concrete reason for optimism. As studios, streamers, and production vendors recalibrate after the twin strikes of 2023, the coming year could signal a turning point in the state’s battle to remain the epicenter of global entertainment production.
