Feature Film Location Production Increases in Third Quarter

On-location film, television and commercial production increased by 3 percent in the third quarter, led by feature film production, according to figures released Tuesday by FilmL.A. The Hollywood nonprofit that coordinates location film permits in Los Angeles, unincorporated Los Angeles County and other jurisdictions, handled 9,734 on-location shoot days in July through September. In the same period a year earlier, it handled 9,455 shoot days. The four categories the group tracks all had shoot days go up in the third quarter, with feature films the highest at 11 percent to 1,301 shoot days. On-location television production increased by 1.8 percent to 4,095 shoot days. A shoot day is one crew’s permission to film at one or more locations during a 24-hour period. FilmL.A.’s data does not include activity on soundstages or studio backlots. Television was led by pilots, which had a 30 percent increase from 60 shoot days in the third quarter last year to 78 shoots days this year, and dramas, which had a 21.6 percent jump to 1,497 shoot days. Comedies decreased by 3 percent to 518 shoot days. FilmL.A. President Paul Audley again credited the state’s production tax incentives for creating an environment conducive to more filming in the Los Angeles region. Feature films receiving tax credits made up 197 shoot days, or more than 15 percent of the total shoot days in the third quarter. Films receiving credits included “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” “Against All Enemies” and “Birdbox.” TV dramas receiving tax credits made up 284 of the shoot days, or about 19 percent, while incentivized comedies made up 94 of the third quarter shoot days.