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Near-Total Loss for SoCal’s On-Location Filming Q2
A new report from FilmLA shows that the coronavirus health threat and stay-home orders dramatically reduced location shoots by 98% for film and TV production in Los Angeles in the second quarter. There were just 194 shoot days recorded between April and June.
That was the lowest filming level on record for the region’s major economic engine. By comparison, there were 8,632 shoot days recorded during the same period in 2019 across the three categories of production – film, TV and commercials.
FilmLA’s Paul Audley says, “The first shutdowns we saw in March were voluntary, and it was hoped they could be temporary. Looking back, it was hard to imagine the impact the pandemic would have on entertainment projects in progress, and the economic security of local cast, crew, and production vendors.” The group estimates L.A. has at least 5,000 small businesses, with 10 or fewer employees, that depend on the film industry.
Filming is slowly resuming as FilmLA reports about 14 film permit applications have come in each day since June 19. But there is a big gap to make up since that represents just 20% of the daily applications the group was receiving before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the region.
*Photo credit: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com
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- ◦Economy
