LA Film Production Declines 13.2% in Q3 2025, Incentive-Backed Projects Signal Hope

On-location filming in Larger Los Angeles continues to say no, although early indicators from California’s newly expanded Movie & Tv Tax Credit score Program recommend that restoration may very well be on the horizon. Can this actually provide a turnaround as LA movie manufacturing declines?FilmLA’s newest quarterly report, launched yesterday, paints one other difficult image for California’s manufacturing capital, following the prior decline in Q2 2025, which we additionally reported about. The group recorded simply 4,380 shoot days between July and September 2025, a 13.2% lower in comparison with the identical interval final yr. The decline spans most classes, but there are glimmers of progress as incentive-backed initiatives start to ramp up following the passage of Meeting Invoice 1138 (Zbur/Bryan) earlier this yr.Slight rebound in function movie manufacturing in comparison with the identical quarter final yr, however commercials took a tough hit. Screenshot from FilmLA Q3 2025 report.Characteristic movies rebound slightlyFeature movie manufacturing was one of many few optimistic notes of the quarter, climbing 9.7% year-over-year to 522 shoot days. In keeping with FilmLA, about 22% of these initiatives had been tied to the brand new tax incentives, an early indication that the expanded credit are beginning to achieve traction. Native productions included impartial titles resembling Animals, Misty Inexperienced, The Musical, The Seekers, and You Can’t Be Glad, all a part of a continued pattern towards indie-led shoots within the area.This modest rebound follows the steep 21.4% drop in function exercise reported in Q2 2025, when all native productions had been impartial. The advance means that the up to date tax credit score system could also be slowly reversing the exodus of productions to extra incentive-heavy areas.Tv stays the primary driver regardless of steep declineTelevision, historically Los Angeles’ strongest manufacturing phase, fell sharply by 20.7% to 1,441 shoot days, largely as a consequence of a big drop in actuality and sport present manufacturing. Actuality programming declined to 649 shoot days, down from 1,124 within the earlier quarter. Regardless of this, a number of well-known sequence continued filming domestically, together with Dancing with the Stars (ABC), The Worth is Proper (CBS), and Dinner Time Dwell with David Chang (Netflix).Steep decline in TV manufacturing in Los Angeles. Screenshot from FilmLA Q3 2025 report.TV dramas noticed a 19% decline to 545 shoot days, whereas comedy initiatives rose 41% to 79 shoot days, hinting at renewed range in scripted codecs. Excessive-profile titles filmed within the area included 9-1-1 Season 9 (Fox), Legal Minds Season 19 (CBS), Excessive Potential Season 2 (ABC), Bel-Air Season 4 (Peacock), Golf Season 1 (Netflix), and Shrinking Season 3 (Apple TV+).Decline in shoot days throughout the board in LA for TV manufacturing in all areas in Q3 2025. Screenshot from FilmLA Q3 2025 report.Commercials and different classes additionally slipCommercial manufacturing continued its downward trajectory, dropping 17.9% to 668 shoot days. FilmLA once more emphasised that this sector stays unprotected by any native or state-level incentives, making it a delicate indicator of California’s total manufacturing competitiveness. Current campaigns shot in LA included work for Lululemon, McDonald’s, Walmart, BMW, and Toyota.The “Different” class, which encompasses nonetheless pictures, pupil movies, documentaries, music movies, and on-line content material, additionally contracted, slipping 9.9% year-over-year to 1,749 shoot days.Cautious optimism as incentive-backed productions ramp upFilmLA’s Vice President Philip Sokoloski struck a hopeful tone regardless of the summer time slowdown. “We all know that it’s going to take a short time for brand new incentive-backed initiatives to get underway and be mirrored in our information,” he mentioned, noting that the workplace has already begun receiving calls from productions planning to tug permits underneath the brand new system.The California Movie Fee has authorized 22 initiatives to this point underneath the expanded program, 18 of that are tv sequence anticipated to shoot in Larger Los Angeles. These initiatives should start principal pictures inside 180 days of receiving their incentive award, suggesting that the affect of the brand new credit will develop into extra seen in early 2026.Lengthy-term pattern: LA movie manufacturing declinesWith complete exercise now 37% beneath the five-year common, Los Angeles’ movie economic system stays underneath strain. But, the gradual rise in incentive-linked shoots might mark the start of a turnaround, offered that state and native policymakers proceed efforts to take away manufacturing boundaries and streamline allowing.As Sokoloski concluded, “LA’s artistic trade is simply too necessary to let go with no battle.” FilmLA is now internet hosting trade listening classes to establish actionable coverage enhancements geared toward retaining extra productions and jobs in California.Are you at the moment engaged on an incentive-backed manufacturing in Los Angeles? Have the brand new tax credit made a distinction on your crew but? 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