MOVIE NEWS – Recent data from FilmLA shows a continuous decline in Hollywood production since 2023, affecting TV shows, reality TV, and feature films. This downward trend started before the Writers’ Strike, with the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) contributing to the slowdown. Despite the decline, efforts are underway to rejuvenate the industry, with major franchises such as Marvel, DC, and Star Wars leading the way.

FilmLA, a nonprofit organization responsible for issuing film permits in Los Angeles, reported a steady decline in production since 2023. The production report released in July 2024 compares the first two quarters of 2023 and 2024 across various categories, including feature films, reality TV, scripted and unscripted television, and TV series.

The impact of WGA and SAG-AFTRA activities became significant in July 2023, when actors went on strike. However, the production decline began before the Writers’ Strike. FilmLA’s chart illustrates the reduction in shoot days during the first two quarters of 2024 compared to the same period in the previous year, indicating a decrease in production volume.

In the first and second quarters of 2023, there were 7476 and 6566 shoot days, respectively. Comparatively, the first and second quarters of 2024 saw 6823 and 5749 shoot days, showing a noticeable drop in production. This report includes features, television, reality shows, and more.

While the numbers may not seem drastically different on paper, the analysis reveals a significant drop, especially since most categories contribute to the decline. Only a few categories have shown slight increases. Specifically, feature film production decreased by 3.3%, and commercial production dropped by 5.1%. These figures are overshadowed by the substantial decline in the television category.

The broader television category saw a 27.7% reduction in filming, with reality TV experiencing the most significant drop at 56.9%. However, subcategories such as scripted TV, TV dramas, and TV pilots saw increases in content production, ranging from 54% to 103%. Despite this, the employment impact of reality production is lower than that of scripted television.

Additionally, FilmLA’s chart shows that on-location filming has decreased by 33.4% over the past five years, supporting the seasonal average statistics. This one-third decline over the years is significant. Lower production volumes are expected to persist, especially with fewer opportunities in Hollywood still recovering from the strike’s aftermath.

Addressing Hollywood’s Production Decline

The reports highlight an undeniable reality: Hollywood has been in gradual decline for years, with audiences shifting to television. However, the rise of streaming services has brought viewers back to films and cinema.

Finding an immediate solution is challenging, as even experts struggle. We are entering a new era of cinema, with major franchises like Marvel, DC, and Star Wars experimenting to regain momentum. James Gunn and Peter Safran are rebooting DC, while the Marvel Cinematic Universe moves into a new phase.

Several Star Wars projects are underway, overseen by fan-favorite writers like Dave Filoni. Alongside other prominent franchises such as Alien, MonsterVerse, and Mission: Impossible, which have multiple projects in the pipeline, the future looks promising for a recovery in the world’s leading industry.

Sources: MovieWeb