Philip Sokoloski: Last News

The bad news continues for on-location production in Los Angeles, especially for television projects.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans Editor Soundstage occupancy in Los Angeles, which was in the 90% percentile from 2016-2022, fell to 63% in 2024. FilmLA‘s Sound Stage Production Report worked with 17 studios in the Greater Los Angeles area to source the data. The report includes detailed sound stage occupancy and stage and backlot filming data for all of 2023, new sound stage occupancy data for all of 2024, and a comparison of available stage space in Greater Los Angeles and major competing markets in 2025 and five years earlier.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer Film and TV production declined in Los Angeles over the last three months, as the recovery from last year’s strikes has stalled. FilmLA, which tracks production levels using location permit data, reported that overall production was down 12.4% compared to the same quarter last year. That decline was largely driven by a 57% drop in reality TV compared to the prior year.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer On Tuesday night, IATSE posted the news on Facebook that it had reached a tentative deal on a new overarching contract with Hollywood’s major studios and streamers. In commenting on the welcome news that the threat of another Hollywood strike has receded, members seemed less focused on the specific terms of the pact and more on whether the deal will help jumpstart TV and film production. “Cool, so these mega coporate studio conglomerates will make stuff and hire everyone again, right?… right?” wrote Shawn Montgomery.

Taylor Swift and Disney+ has been scrapped following complaints from locals.The three-day long shoot, which was supposed to happen this week, was set to take place at the iconic Hollywood sign in Los Angeles.However, residents of the local area reportedly complained about the commotion this would cause, increasing foot traffic and disrupting the peaceful environment.Filming was scheduled to begin today (March 13) ahead of Swift’s concert film, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version), being released on Disney+. See the trailer for the latest version of the concert film below.As per The Daily Mail, according to a permit given to neighbours informing them of the plan, the crew were scheduled to prepare for the shoot all day yesterday, followed by a full day (9am until 10pm) of filming, and a subsequent full day tearing down the set.The permit also informed residents that “aerial photography with remote control aircraft” would be used as part of the shoot, with drone activity taking place in the evening on March 13.According to TMZ (via The Daily Mail), various organisations and home associations complained about the plans, however an official reason for the shoot’s cancellation has not been provided.

For the second week in a row, no scripted TV series were shooting on location in Los Angeles due to the Writers Guild strike, according to data compiled by FilmLA, the city and county film permit office.

On-location production of scripted TV series has ground to a complete halt in Los Angeles due to the five-week-old Writers Guild strike, according to data compiled by FilmLA, the city and county film permit office.

On-location filming of scripted TV shows in Los Angeles has ground to a near-complete halt in the fourth week of the Writers Guild’s strike, according to data compiled by FilmLA, the city and county film permit office.

On-location filming in Los Angeles continues to nosedive amid the ongoing Writers Guild strike, plunging 51.5% last week compared with the same time a year ago. The WGA strike is now in its 23rd day with no signs of abating as films and TV shows shutting down production across the county.

Requests by scripted TV production companies to film on location in Los Angeles plummeted 51% in the first week of the Writers Guild’s strike compared to the same week a year ago, according to FilmLA, the city and county film permit office.