On Location Productions Show Gain in Jobs

Sherman Oaks has long been a favored locale for on-location filming of movies, TV shows and commercials, and the latest report from FilmLa indicates activity has been ramping up.

The not-for-profit organization, which handles permitting for filmed entertainment shot on-location in Los Angeles, said activity across all categories spiked by a combined 4.7 percent in the first quarter of 2011.

It is the fifth straight quarter on-location filming in Los Angeles has risen. That follows several years of declines in film and TV production in the city, which came as largely the result of production companies leaving the state for areas with more friendly business climates.

While the overall numbers were up during the first quarter, on-location filming of feature films,which has the biggest economic impact on a community, remained weak. FilmLA reported there were 880 permitted production days of feature films in L.A. in the first quarter, a 5.3 percent decline from last year’s corresponding period.

However, officials at FilmLA said they expect those numbers to improve moving forward as several feature films are slated to start production in the second quarter.

“We’re optimistic about a better set of numbers come July,” the organization said in a statement.

FilmLA officials said a major catalyst for the overall increase --and the expected increase in feature films--is the California Film & Television Tax Credit enacted in 2009, which provides incentives to keep film and television production in the state.

FilmLA said ten feature projects filmed on-location in Los Angeles used the incentive during the first quarter and that the tax credit now fuels 15 percent of the feature category totals.

There were also eight television projects that claimed the California Film & Television Tax Credit, which contributed 100 permitted production days.

Businesses and residents of Sherman Oaks have long benefitted economically from on-location filming. The area is home to several popular filming spots, including the Sepulveda Dam/Basin Recreational area; the Sherman Oaks Castle Park amusement center; the Sherman Oaks Galleria; and Woodley Ave. between Victory Blvd. and Burbank Ave., which has been the site of many car chase scenes.

Lisa Clayden, executive director of the Sherman Oaks Chamber of Commerce, called Sherman Oaks “the perfect place for film production.” She said on-location filming provides an economic boon to the community through a variety of means.

“The production company usually nicely compensates businesses, apartment complexes, and homeowners to rent out their home or facility for a shoot,” Clayden said. “The cast and crew are known to stay at local hotels, eat at restaurants, and relax at the bars in Sherman Oaks during production.

“It all generates revenue, stimulates the local economy and increases the profile of the area.”

Phillip Sokoloski, director of communications for FilmLA, said an increase in on-location filming provides a big impact to the regional economy as well. He estimated there are around 140,000 direct entertainment employees currently residing in Los Angeles and each of those provides 2.7 support jobs.

“Anytime you see an increase in filming in the Los Angeles area it means more people are working,” Sokoloski said. “That’s why it’s important production stay up and production increase.”