Hollywood's Golden Age is Fading? A new report reveals a significant shift in the film industry: Los Angeles is experiencing a decline in scripted projects, while the U.K. is booming. Let's dive into the details.
Last year, L.A. saw 157 scripted projects filmed, a 14.2% decrease compared to 2023. This includes everything from TV shows (streaming, cable, broadcast) to movies for TV, theaters, and streaming platforms. But why the slowdown?
One major factor was the dual writers' and actors' strikes of 2023, which brought production to a standstill. And this is the part most people miss: studios also cut back after investing heavily in their streaming platforms. Overall, the total number of scripted projects released in 2024 was 857, down 13.4% from the previous year.
L.A.'s share of these projects also dipped slightly. In 2024, about 18.3% of scripted projects were made in the L.A. region, compared to 18.5% the year before. Back in 2022, that number was a more impressive 21.9%.
As FilmLA's Vice President of Communications, Philip Sokoloski, stated, "Ultimately, this study reveals little that California’s creative community does not already understand on a personal level."
While L.A. still leads in the number of scripted projects, the U.K. is rapidly gaining ground.
The U.K.'s Rise to Stardom
The U.K. is experiencing a surge in filming. Last year, a total of 39 scripted TV series were filmed there, a whopping 77.2% increase from 2023! Popular filming locations like Georgia, New York, Ontario (Canada), and British Columbia all saw decreases in this category. The U.K. also saw increases in streaming series (up 81.3% to 29 shows), cable shows (up 66.7% to 10 series), and streaming movies (up 23.1% to 16 films). However, theatrical movies saw a decrease of 38.5% to 16 films.
L.A.'s Response
In comparison, L.A. filmed 77 total scripted TV series last year, a 26.7% decrease. The region saw declines in streaming series (down 24.5% to 37 shows), cable shows (down 57.7% to 11 programs), and a slight decrease in broadcast shows (down 3.3% to 29). However, L.A. did see positive numbers in theatrical release movies, with 25 films shot in the region last year (up 19%), and streaming movies, up 70.6% to 29 films. Original TV movies filmed in L.A. were down 35% to 26 films.
What's Next for L.A.?
The report also mentions the impact of California's revamped film and TV tax credit program, which was bolstered earlier this year. But here's where it gets controversial: the effects won't be fully reflected in the filming data until next year. Hollywood studios and unions pushed for an increase to the annual amount allocated to the production incentive program, citing the impact of "runaway production" on local jobs.
So, what do you think? Is the U.K. poised to become the new Hollywood? Will California's tax incentives be enough to bring the film industry back to its former glory? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
