L.A. Television Production Experiences Significant Decline Amid Strike Concerns
Los Angeles witnessed a sharp decline in television production during the first quarter of 2023 due to industry retrenchment and growing apprehension about an impending strike, revealing a report from FilmLA.
The overall number of on-location production days dropped by 24% compared to the same period in 2022, with television being the hardest-hit segment, experiencing a decline of 35.8%.
President of FilmLA, Paul Audley, expressed his concern, stating, “The figures are even more alarming than anticipated.” FilmLA has reported year-over-year declines in the past three quarters as the initial surge in production after COVID-19 has subsided. However, Audley highlighted that studios are also reevaluating their content strategies, and the looming possibility of a Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike has led to a pause in decision-making regarding future productions.
“It's not just the Writers Guild,” Audley emphasized, noting that the Directors Guild of America (DGA) and SAG-AFTRA are also set to negotiate in the coming months. He added, “The industry is facing a series of unresolved issues before establishing a production schedule.”
Television production in the first quarter of 2023 experienced a significant decline compared to the same period in 2022, falling 24.2% below the five-year average.
Audley believes that production may rebound to some extent if the labor disputes are resolved but do not anticipate a return to the peak years of 2016 and 2017.
FilmLA relies on permit data to track on-location shoots in the Los Angeles region. While this data excludes production on studio lots, it is generally considered an indicator of broader industry activity.
Reality television, which falls outside the purview of the WGA, also saw a considerable decline of 37.8% compared to the first quarter of 2022 but remained above the five-year average. TV dramas experienced a drop of 40.4%, and TV pilots plummeted by 88.3%.
The decline in pilots can be attributed to the industry's shift towards straight-to-series orders. Audley explained that a significant portion of the year-over-year decrease is due to TV productions no longer categorizing their initial episodes as “pilots” if the show has already received a series order.
The WGA recently voted with an overwhelming 97.9% in favor of authorizing a strike, granting the union leadership the power to call for a strike after the current contract expires on May 1. Negotiations between the guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), representing major studios, have been ongoing since March 20 to reach a new agreement.
The guild advocates for improved terms regarding streaming residuals, a guaranteed minimum staffing level for writers' rooms, substantial increases in minimum compensation, and higher “overscale” pay for showrunners earning over $400,000 annually.
