Hollywood Film and TV Production Declines by 22% – One America News Network
OAN Staff Abril Elfi
4:55 PM – Tuesday, April 22, 2025
In Los Angeles, there has been a notable decline in movie and television productions, with shooting days down 22% in the first quarter of the year compared to 2024.
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“This is a reality. We are continuously losing our market share,” stated Colleen Bell, executive director of the California Film Commission. “Bold actions are necessary during these times.”
Governor Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) and Democratic legislators are advancing legislation aimed at considerably enhancing financial incentives to boost TV and movie production in the state.
For years, filmmakers have opted to move their productions away from Los Angeles to states and countries that offer more attractive tax incentives and financial returns. Furthermore, the rise of streaming services has significantly diminished the substantial profits that film productions previously enjoyed before platforms like Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, HBO, and Apple TV became widespread.
Streaming services have disrupted conventional film revenue structures in various ways, resulting in reduced earnings for many productions:
- Decrease in Theatrical Revenue: The availability of immediate or simultaneous releases on streaming platforms has led to fewer audiences attending theaters, which has significantly affected box office profits — traditionally a primary income source for films.
- Static Licensing Fees: Streaming services usually provide a one-time licensing fee or an upfront production budget, instead of allowing films to earn revenue based on ticket sales or syndication. This limits a film’s potential earnings, regardless of its popularity.
- Shortened Revenue Lifespan: Previously, films generated income over an extended period through theatrical releases, DVD/Blu-ray sales, television rights, and international distribution. Streaming condenses this revenue timeline, typically concentrating earnings into a brief window immediately post-release.
- Heightened Competition and Content Saturation: Streaming platforms release an overwhelming volume of content, making it increasingly difficult for individual films to capture attention and sustain viewer interest, thereby diminishing their long-term profitability.
Assemblymember Rick Zbur, who took office in November 2022 to represent California’s 51st Assembly District, shared his views on the situation.
“The governor’s proposal actually raises the tax credit from $330 million to $750 million,” said Assemblyman Zbur. “I believed we needed this two years ago; I’ve recognized that this has been a challenge. It seems we have struggled to inform legislators in other parts of the state about the crisis we presently face.”
Local and county film-permitting offices reported declines across all key filming categories during the specified period. Television production suffered the most, dropping by 30.5% to 1,670 shoot days in the quarter, while feature film production also saw a significant downturn, decreasing by 28.9% to 451 days.
A report from FilmLA indicated that these trends reflect not only global production reductions but also California’s ongoing loss of jobs to competing markets.
FilmLA further asserted that the wildfires which affected the Pacific Palisades and Altadena regions had minimal effect on filming activities in the Los Angeles area.
According to the organization’s most recent data, the affected areas facilitated 1,405 shoot days over the last four years, representing about 1.3% of all regional filming. Roughly 545 unique filming locations were located within the zones impacted by the wildfires, which remain restricted by orders from Los Angeles City and County.
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