Scripted Production in LA Drops: What This Means for the Industry

 According to the latest data from FilmLA, only a fifth of scripted projects released in 2023 were filmed in the greater Los Angeles area. However, more than a quarter of industry workers still call LA home. Brandon Blake, our entertainment lawyer Los Angeles and industry insider from Blake & Wang P.A., looks at this thorny issue in greater depth.

                                                                         Brandon Blake

A Talent and Incentive Mismatch

As of 2023, 18% of scripted productions released were filmed in LA. This is a notable drop from 2022 (22%) and 2021 (23%). However, 27% of industry workers still operate from LA. Of course, some of that can be attributed to the strikes, but low tax incentives/rebates and high location costs are also key issues. Plus, the strikes weren’t local to LA alone, and other areas have maintained, or even boosted, their numbers in the same frame. In a state where entertainment is one of the primary industries, that’s a cause for concern. There are many livelihoods on the line, including those outside the entertainment industry itself.

Incentivizing Local Film

This is part of the reason LA County launched its Entertainment Business Interruption Fund to better support local workers. However, while that provides short-term relief, there’s a need for more long-term strategies, too.


As we’ve seen before, part of the issue is a general stagnation in LA's appeal as a filming destination. At a time when many other states are boosting their incentives for the entertainment industry, LA hasn’t done all that much to stay competitive—and in an area where high production costs are also found, there’s a need for a bit of an image overhaul.


Despite current challenges, LA’s rich entertainment history and talented workforce position it well for a resurgence. With strategic investments in incentives and infrastructure and its unmatched industry expertise, LA can reclaim its status as the premier filming destination. But the time is now, not down the line, when work has fled the state. Let’s hope to see a more positive turn-around and better focus on these issues in 2025 and beyond.




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