Television Powers Filming in Santa Clarita

The City of Santa Clarita issued more than 500 on-location filming permits last year, with television shows accounting for more than half the total. It marked the third year in a row the city has exceeded the 500 milestone. In all 548 permits were issued representing 1,366 film days in the city that brought in $33.1 million into the community. City officials credited the movie ranch overlay zone, local film incentives and the California Film and Television Tax Credit program with promoting production within its boundaries. Mayor Cameron Smyth said the city remains committed to keeping Santa Clarita a top choice for filming because it is a large part of the economy. “Local filming provides high paying jobs for thousands of local residents and supports hundreds of local companies involved in the entertainment industry,” Smyth said in a prepared statement. More than half of the filming days – 734 – were for television series that included “NCIS,” “Westworld” and “Santa Clarita Diet.” Feature films accounted for 239 film days with projects such as “A Wrinkle in Time,” “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk,” “Abilene” and “Sharknado Four: The 4th Awakens.” The city’s numbers do not include productions done on certified soundstages that do not require a film permit.