Los Angeles, California loses film and television production to Georgia, New York and Canada. More Max Gorden from Fox Business.
Los Angeles has seen a decline in local film and television production, and some people are worried about the city. It could face the same fate that Detroit did in the automotive industry decades ago.
“When the automotive industry left Detroit, it really stuck out that city, and now there’s concern that the same could happen here in Los Angeles and Hollywood as film productions leave town.”
In a report released last week, Filmla said that films, television, commercials and other projects have produced and produced in the Los Angeles area in the Los Angeles area, only 5,300 filming dates in the first quarter of the year, a 22.4% drop from the same three months in 2024.
Los Angeles has seen a decline in local film and television production. (istock / istock)
It came from “a global decline in production and increased competition for film projects and work” from elsewhere, the nonprofit said.
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Los Angeles faced a massive wildfire in January, but according to Filmla, they had “a small impact on filming in the LA area” in the quarter.
Los Angeles production in Los Angeles in the first quarter of 2025 was lower than we saw in the first quarter of 2021.
The head of the Los Angeles location agency told Gorden that small businesses are having problems.
“A lot of the small businesses I know are sadly struggling to have to call it a day in this industry. I’ve hired countless people over the years, especially for the people who work here.
Industry experts are seeking more incentives to encourage productions from the California government to return and film as fewer restrictions are available from the California government.
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“People feel, ‘Well, why does Hollywood need handouts from the government? They’re all wealthy people, just like they’re rich.” That’s not true at all,” Location Scout Dale Dreher told Gorden. “This is my backyard. I live in South Los Angeles. I have lived here for 21 years. I’m worried about paying for the next home, just like everyone else.”

Los Angeles production in Los Angeles in the first quarter of 2025 was also lower than we saw in the first quarter of 2021. (istock / istock)
In late October, Gavin Newsom proposed increasing California’s film and television tax credit program to $750 million per year, representing an increase of $420 million from the currently allocated $330 million.
His office said at the time that “California can offer tax credits and outperform other states that seduce more entertainment industry projects into the Golden State.”
More recently, in February, state lawmakers introduced legislation to revamp California’s film and television tax credit program. In addition to increasing the entire program to $750 million, invoices will be eligible for tax credits, allowing each project to receive more tax credits, according to a press release.
According to the city’s economic workforce development division, the Los Angeles entertainment industry “contributes more than $30 billion to California and supports over 200,000 local employment.” It is also a major factor in city tourism.
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