TV Fuels Growth in On-Location Production in L.A.

LOS ANGELES: On-location filming in the Los Angeles area was up 9 percent in the second quarter, thanks to a boost from television production and web-based shows, according to Film L.A.

Film L.A. called Q2 a period of recovery for filming on location in the city, as a five-year analysis shows consistent under-performance in key TV subcategories. Film L.A.’s television category grew 26.6 percent last quarter. It outperformed the five-year average by 8.9 percent.

The TV drama subcategory did under-perform its five-year average, however, by 12 percent this quarter. This is despite year-on-year gains of 29.3 percent. Web-based TV was up 63.1 percent year-on-year. TV pilots were up 51.8 percent and TV sitcoms were up 39.1 percent. Reality TV, which was up 6.4 percent year-on-year, is still the largest contributor to L.A.’s TV totals. Reality TV finished Q2 4.7-percent below its five-year average, though.

“The more we study these numbers, the more obvious is the need for historical context,” said Paul Audley, the president of Film L.A. “For production to increase 20, 40 or even 60 percent in a category during a single quarter is positive and significant, but it also demands we look at the record and see what’s been happening in those categories seasonally and over time.”

California’s Film and Television Tax Credit Program did its part to bring new projects to the Los Angeles region this past quarter. State-qualified Television projects generated 171 PPD (permitted production day) from March through June, comprising 22.7 percent of all TV drama activity. State-qualified Television projects in L.A. included Franklin & Bash, Lost Angels, Major Crimes, Perception, Pretty Little Liars, Rizzoli and Isles, Teen Wolf and Switched at Birth.