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AirTalk

Despite ambitious incentive program, film and TV production in LA falls

By AirTalk Staff
Published Apr 17, 2017
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 18: Crew members set up a camera for the shooting of an auto insurance commercial on-location downtown on November 18, 2006 in Los Angeles, California. A report released this week by the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Institute of the Environment finds that the movie and TV industry is a major generator of smog, soot and greenhouse gas pollution. According to the report, trucks, generators, the dynamiting of sets, earthquake and fire special effects, and other activities by the industry produces140,000 tons of ozone and diesel particulate pollution each year. It is probably second only to petroleum refineries in air pollutant emissions, for which comparable data were not available, and is ranked third in greenhouse gas emissions for southern California. The entertainment industry generates $29 billion in revenue and employs 252,000 people in the region, and some industry officials have expressed a desire to further reduce pollution out of concern that stricter rules could drive more filming to other states and Canada. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
Crew members set up a camera for the shooting of an auto insurance commercial on-location downtown on November 18, 2006 in Los Angeles, California.
(
David McNew/Getty Images
)
Listen 26:07
Despite ambitious incentive program, film and TV production in LA falls

Film production in LA dropped more than one-third in the first quarter of 2017 compared to last year - the lowest level since 2012.

Production of TV pilots also dropped -- down 15.5 percent from the first quarter of 2016.

TV production has also slipped, though at under 1 percent.

California expanded its film and TV production tax credit program from $100 million to $330 million in 2014. AirTalk looks at what is behind the drop in production this year -- and whether the generous tax incentive program is accomplishing what it wants to do.

Guests:

Dominic Patten,  senior editor and Chief TV Critic at the news and entertainment site, Deadline; he authored the article, “On-Location Film Production In L.A. Falls To 5-Year Low & TV Dramas Dip In Q1”; he tweets

Kevin Klowden, managing economist at the Milken Institute, where he also directs the California Center

Joseph Henchman, vice president, Legal & State Projects, The Tax Foundation