Among the pleasures of seeing the successful comedy Buddy “One of There Days” during the weekend was this toll of recognition at the sight of a real monument in Los Angeles on the big screen: tNorm’s restaurant on La Boulevard La Cienega,, Where the character of Keke Palmer from Keke Palmer, one of the best examples of the country of architecture in Googie style, works.
The film of the first feature film Lawrence Lamont, featuring Palmer and musician winner of a Grammy Szais an unusual creation of Hollywood, and not only because it is the kind of bright and original comedy that the studios do not make. (Until now, he has brought back $ 34.5 million over a budget of $ 14 million.)
It is also a reminder of the way in which few films that succeed are really shot in Los Angeles these days, despite the fact that studios and production companies are mostly still based here, notably Sony Pictures, Son Tristar unit and the Macro of Charles D. King, the companies responsible for “One of the days. “”
The Southern California entertainment economy has done a hit in recent years. The Covide-19 pandemic, two work strikes overlapping and the decline in excessive expenses during streaming wars have worsened a structural problem for the hometown of the cinema business: it costs too much to film here.
Film and television filming have leak For cheaper regions, seduced by generous tax incentives offered by states and rival countries. These threats have existed for a long time, but have recently renounced what certain officials now recognize as a territory of crisis.
According to data from the filmla non -profit agency, 2024 was the Second slower year For the production recorded in the Los Angeles region, only in force in 2020, the year of the coronavirus closed. The reality of reality TV has been particularly striking.
A recent survey of managers of the production monitoring company ProdPro class The most desired places to shoot. California classified sixth (Babordé by Toronto, the United Kingdom, Vancouver, Central Europe and Australia).
The devastation of forest fires, which destroyed the houses of many of the industry above and below the line, could be the last straw for certain workers who plan to take their talents elsewhere. Fires, in fact, underlined the lack of activity in relatively easy To find television productions which have been at least briefly closed by the disaster, such as “NCIS”, “Hacks” and “Abbott Elementary”. Movie, a lot less.
The difficulties are not only due to high work costs in Los Angeles. Globally, the number of cinematographic and television productions starting the main photography in 2024 has always lagged 11% late in the pre-package year for 2022, suggesting that a global entrenchment is largely responsible for the slow recovery. But it is clear that when production returns, it does it especially elsewhere.
And the atmosphere is not excellent in 2025. The leaders interviewed by ProdPro said that they expect the production volume to increase this year, but the vast majority said that the budgets would be the same (42 %) or slightly lower (39%). They examine several potential methods for reducing costs: yes, tax lightening was n ° 1 on the list, but other popular table options include shorter hours, digital workflows and fewer episodes.
Analysts and writers such as Scott Galloway of Nyu compared the fate of Los Angeles to the hollow of the American automotive industry in Detroit. If you look at the social media accounts of the members of the crew, these parallels do not seem as hyperbolic. There are surely similarities with sectors such as Manufacturing and agriculturewhich have also been pounded by global competition, technological disturbance and automation.
Some act. Last year, Governor Gavin Newsom proposed more than to double the California tax credit for film production at $ 750 million. It would probably help things, but only up to a point. California’s tax incentive program is currently not helping to cover the costs for talents above the line, which limits the amount that studios and streamers can save on individual productions.
Crew members do what they can campaign to get help. In the wake of Eaton fires, Hughes and Palisades, crew workers launched a petition calling for the tax incentive for the productions that shoot the county during the next three years as part of the overall rescue effort in the event of a disaster. The online petition also requires that studios and streamers are committed to “at least 10% more production in Los Angeles” during this period. But companies will follow the incentives.
Films like “Une Ouc Ets Days” tend to make the most of the fact that they are shooting in Los Angeles, with love with local clashes, restaurants and other places of interest to the point where it is difficult to Imagine them shoot elsewhere. I became even more nostalgic while revisiting the Ti West horror thriller “Maxxxine“, Which takes viewers on a guided tour in Los Angeles in the 1980s, amply making the Backlot Universal Studios. Like many films that present Los Angeles, “Maxxxine” concerns Hollywood’s favorite subject – himself.
These are fun examples, of course. But it would be good if it was easier to justify the shooting of a film in Los Angeles, even when the films literally do not concern the city or its export of signature. And be about it is not even enough in itself. The pilot of the program “Suits la” was shot in Vancouver, before moving to his homonymous city, attracted by a tax credit.
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Tins that we have written
The FCC demands that CBS News will turn around ‘60 -minute interview in the middle of the Trump trial. The latest development comes while Paramount Global Lawyers has engaged in talks to settle the Trump $ 10 billion trial in terms of modification of a “60-minute” interview with former vice-president Kamala Harris, a decision which should deeply concern those who care about press freedom.
‘Peril!’ And the “Wheel of Fortune” dispute degenerates while Sony moves to cut CBS. Sony, based in Culver City, said that she would send new episodes directly to the television stations, degenerating the dispute from the contract with CBS. CBS belonging to Paramount said that he would go to court to try to block the action of Sony.
The independent film market in Sundance was slow with a few offers in Park City. Indie Studio Neon broke the ice with the first agreement in Sundance, acquiring the horror film “Together”, with Alison Brie and Dave Franco. Netflix bought “Train Dreams”.
Sale of the Wicked Witch hat from the fraud trial “The Wizard of Oz”. A collector returned a hat worn by the wicked witch in the film “The Wizard of Oz” at auction Heritage. He now continues the auction house for fraud.
Women who accused Russell Simmons alleged that he owes them nearly $ 8 million. Several women who have accused the hip-hop magnate of sexual assault say that he failed to settle the complaints against him.
Media trips:
Number of the week
Comcast Corp. dropped last week after the company Lost more wide -band subscribers that Wall Street was waiting in the fourth quarter. Cablodistributors are faced with major competition from wireless operators who also offer home internet service.
Overall, income and profits have increased. The universal cinema studio had a solid district, powered by “Wicked” and other box office tubes.
The Peacock of the Philadelphia Cable Streaming Service Service had a quarter of SO-SO, without increasing the net subscriber, leaving the unit to 36 million paid accounts. (Although not to lose subscribers can count as a victory, since the company obtained a big boost from the Olympic Games earlier in the year.)
During the full year, Peacock lost Comcast 1.8 billion dollars, which was not a loss as significant as in 2023, although far from profitability.
Meanwhile, the media sector is preparing for a massive change while the company is preparing to turn its basic wired networks, with the exception of Bravo. Comcast leaders said 98% of Peac’s vision does not include the networks to be made.
Film filming
Film data show the rampant rental production to “normal” post-vacancy numbers, but are still declining significantly in annual sliding.
Finally …
Watch: “Cunk on life” (Netflix), “Do not look back” (1967) (Max)