WGA Strike Slashes LA's On-location Filming to Pandemic Lows

Headline: WGA Strike Plummets LA On-location Filming to Pandemic-Stricken Levels, Reveals Second Quarter FilmLA Report

Los Angeles, the North American hub of TV production and filming, is witnessing a drastic reduction in on-location shooting, following the Writers Guild Strike. As per the latest findings from FilmLA, the city and county film permit office, production levels have fallen to numbers last seen during the Covid-19 crisis.

For locally produced TV comedies, the second quarter of 2023 has seen a staggering 72.8% dip in on-location shooting days when compared to the same period last year. More concerning is the five-year average, portraying a bleak picture for comedies with a 77.1% drop. TV dramas and feature films are not immune to this hampering trend either. They registered declines of 63.8% and 18.9%, respectively, in shooting days.

FilmLA's Q2 report, covering April 1 through June 30, underlines the impact of the WGA strike, which began on May 2. The report doesn’t explore the effects of the SAG-AFTRA strike that kicked off on July 14. However, it warns that the third-quarter figures are likely to worsen if these strikes persist.

The detailed report points out that TV comedies that utilized local shoots totaled only 84 days in Q2, marking a decrease from 324 shooting days from last year. Moreover, none of these shootings in the current year’s Q2 received California tax incentives. Dramatic reductions were also noted in TV dramas' shooting days, touching 360 from 995 a year ago.

The report shares that TV comedies and dramas are most significantly impacted due to the WGA strike. The feature film sector saw less severe effects, with a dip less than 19% in on-location shooting days. Yet, alongside the dip in commercial and reality show productions, the overall scenario paints a worrisome picture for LA's film production landscape.

And just when you thought film drama was strictly on-screen…

In true Hollywood fashion, this scenario unravels with all the suspense and tension of a well-scripted drama. If you're familiar with the plot of, say, an apocalyptic thriller, you could understand the current climate in LA's filming industry. All the staples are present: a sudden, unexpected crisis (the strike), followed by unprecedented lows in on-location shooting.

Coincidentally, this drop in output seems to mirror the last season's box office trends: a slew of reruns with nothing fresh brewing in Tinsel Town. Real-life plot twist: the writers are not writing, the actors are not on sets, and the camera crews lack gigs. Even reality TV show production has slipped even though it remains unaffected by the strikes.

To the unsuspecting eye, these strikes may seem like a hiccup at best, but these harsh numbers expose an underlying subplot: the very essence of entertainment as we know it hangs in the balance. And so, Hollywood waits, in nail-biting suspense for the WGA members and SAG-AFTRA to resume contract negotiations.

To those unversed in Hollywood labor disputes, the Writers Guild taking to the picket lines may evoke a yawn. However, for those critiquing the plot, this is equivalent to a dramatic pause. It's painfully reminiscent of earlier episodes: re: The 2007 WGA strike: that left us pining for fresh entertainment.

But if we've learned anything from Hollywood movies, it's resilience and ultimate redemption. Here's hoping for the rebuttal of our protagonists: the WGA and SAG-AFTRA members: and an expedient resolution of the disputes. Hopefully, that happens before the credits roll on the third quarter. Otherwise, we might be forced to pause our popcorn purchase and resort to, gasp, books.