Los Angeles saw a drop in on-location production during the second quarter of the year, but television dramas provided a bright spot. According to a report from FilmLA, total shoot days in the region reached 4,711 for the April-to-June period. That is a 13% decrease compared to the same quarter last year and also lower than the 5,121 shoot days recorded in the first quarter.
Despite the overall dip, television production—the largest driver of filming activity—showed strong growth. TV dramas alone accounted for 1,607 shoot days in Q2, a 34% increase from the previous quarter. This boost suggests continued demand for scripted series in the area.
FilmLA, the nonprofit film permit office, tracks on-location filming in the Los Angeles area. The data includes feature films, TV shows, commercials, and other projects. While overall numbers fell, the rise in TV drama production is a positive sign for the local industry, which has faced challenges from production shifts to other states and countries.
The report did not provide specific reasons for the quarterly decline in total shoot days. However, industry observers often point to competition from other regions and changing production schedules as factors. The increase in TV drama shoot days indicates that Los Angeles remains a key hub for television production.