L.A.-Based Film Production Slips in '07

Los Angeles-based film production dipped in '07 in comparison to previous years.

Overall filming levels in L.A. slipped one percent last year, with six of eight tracked production categories posting annual declines.

Tepid performance for feature film, television and commercial production in the third quarter and fourth quarters all but erased the gains seen from January through June.  Scripted production suffered most-months before the Writers Guild strike forced many TV series to shut down mid-season, scripted TV projects and feature films were already tracking at a loss.

By the end of 2007, the region's primary film production driver-television-saw its 24.7 percent mid-year growth halved to 12.9 percent. Feature film production declined an overall 6.4 percent-the ninth annual decline for the category in eleven years.  Meanwhile, commercial production stayed flat with a yearly loss of 0.2 percent.

Last year, uncertainty related to industry contract talks and a November walkout by Hollywood writers helped cast a long shadow over film production in L.A.