As Los Angeles grapples with the aftermath of devastating wildfires that displaced families and disrupted lives across the city, FilmLA’s 2024 On-Location Production Report provides a snapshot of an industry navigating unprecedented challenges. The report reveals a modest rebound in Q4 on-location production, with a 6.2% increase in shoot days compared to the same period in 2023, totaling 5,860. Despite these gains, 2024 closed as the second least productive year since 2010, reflecting a 5.6% decline in total annual production, highlighting the delicate balance between recovery and adversity.

Bright Spots in an Evolving Industry

Feature Film production emerged as a significant success story in Q4 2024, experiencing an impressive 82.4% increase in shoot days year-over-year. Much of this growth can be attributed to independent projects and the continued support of the California Film & Television Tax Credit Program, which accounted for nearly 20% of feature production shoot days. This progress translated to an 18.8% overall year-over-year gain in feature production, though it remains 27.6% below the five-year average.

Scripted Television Dramas also showed marked improvement, with output doubling compared to 2023. The tax credit program once again played a pivotal role, contributing to nearly 20% of production activity in this category. While encouraging, the annual total for scripted TV drama shoot days remains 36.6% below the five-year average, underscoring the lingering impact of broader industry challenges.

Persistent Struggles

Not all sectors of the entertainment industry shared the same level of recovery. Reality TV production, a historically resilient segment, experienced a staggering 45.7% drop in Q4 shoot days and a 45.9% annual decline. The report notes that reality programming is now 43.1% below its five-year average, reflecting shifting viewer preferences and the impact of the strikes earlier in the year.

Similarly, commercial production, while stable compared to previous quarters, continues to lag, standing 33.3% below its five-year average. As brands and agencies experiment with new advertising strategies, the sector faces hurdles in regaining its former momentum.