The days of filming feature films in Los Angeles are down, but overall filming records –

First-quarter filming in Los Angeles set a new record for the start of the year, despite a growing slump in feature film production.

Local film office FilmLA blamed the performances for the failure, which was lured by more attractive tax breaks in other jurisdictions and a lack of sound space on this side. According to a new report released Tuesday, feature film production in the first quarter of 2022 dropped 25% for a five-year average.

“It works great all over the world, but we’ve lost a lot over the years,” said Paul Audley, President of FilmLA. hollywood reporter.

While the pace of production has slowed since late last year, production is much higher than in the same period in 2021, when the spread of the Delta variant caused a voluntary delay in filming, reducing production to just 7,011. days. FilmLA reported that the first quarter of 2022 was the busiest first quarter with 9,832 days of filming. The last high-profile shootings were from January to March 2016.

TV filming, especially dramas and reality shows, spurred growth, the film says. Television production increased 18.7 percent over the same period last year.

According to the report, filming for feature films continued on a trajectory of steady decline. Despite a small increase in production from last year, the category is still 25.2% below its five-year average (FilmLA’s five-year average dropped in 2020, when production halted in Los Angeles from March to June. due to COVID-19). 19).

Products were filmed outside of California to enjoy more generous tax breaks. For example, Georgia offers a 30% tax break on its no-year program. The credit is also transferable, meaning projects can sell it to companies that have taxes. California remains just one of two states whose loans are largely non-transferable and non-refundable.

Audley noted that California’s tax breaks are less competitive than in other states, with a lack of soundstage space in Los Angeles leading to a decline in feature film production. He said, “If you have to shoot a performance art that needs six, seven, eight stages, it’s impossible to do it now.”

In July, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill (SB144) intended to address the shortage of soundstages. It includes a new $150 million loan to encourage kit building.

Projects filmed locally include Netflix I have time, ᲡDelivery, love me to death s dangerous room.

Television has become a mainstay of production in Los Angeles, filling the void left by feature film production. Audley said the first-quarter shoot record is, at least in part, a result of a production delay that shifted to filming locally after realizing that going elsewhere would be more expensive and problematic due to COVID-19 restrictions.

“As the COVID era continued, many products couldn’t get off their base,” Audley said. “They will have to be quarantined for two weeks if they go to other parts of the country. Those products ended up staying here in Los Angeles.”

Production for HBO Flight attendant In 2021, he moved from New York to Los Angeles.

FilmLA reports that episodic drama filming has seen an 8.6% increase from the five-year average due to significant demand for content on streaming platforms. Locally filmed TV dramas include FX american horror storiesApple TV+ little americahbo perry masonABC ᲐPromised Land and CBS’ SMASH

Tax breaks are one of the main drivers of local TV dramas choosing to film in Los Angeles. Tax-deductible transfers generated 499 filming days per quarter, representing 39% of the category’s total activity.

California increased its film and television tax credit program in July with an additional $180 million in incentives, on top of the $330 million already allocated to the industry. Part of the program specifically aims to encourage television productions to move to California.

As in recent quarters, reality show production continued to increase significantly. Category footage has increased by 71.7%, with 2,600 days of shooting since the start of the year. Projects filmed locally include Basketball wives, celebrity promissory note, family or boyfriend s People magazine is investigating.

See production cycles for it all [categories] “It’s not uncommon,” Audley said. “The explosion of reality shows is related to the Covid era, where they could have done these performances with fewer actors and crew and not have had too many problems.”