Written by on Jun 14, 2012. Posted in On Location

Drama TV pilots continue exodus from Los Angeles filming locations

Los Angeles is still struggling to appeal to drama TV pilots, a new study from FilmLA has revealed. While the vast majority of comedy TV pilots filmed in Los Angeles over the past year, only 29% of drama pilots chose to shoot in the city, compared to more than 60% five years ago.

A lack of competitive location filming incentives is being blamed for the drama reduction. Multi-camera studio-set comedies are cheaper and easier to produce in Los Angeles. Dramas are often single-camera projects that need a lot more location filming and producers are finding better options elsewhere in the US.

Without a more competitive California tax incentive programme Los Angeles will find it hard to increase its share of total TV drama production.

Paul Audley, FilmLA

Paul Audley is President of FilmLA: “We think LA is settling into a new ‘normal’. Without a more competitive California tax incentive programme Los Angeles will find it hard to increase its share of total TV drama production.”

The California filming incentive has caused controversy, with authorities facing political pressure to direct funds to other areas of the economy. In the meantime, states like New York, Georgia, North Carolina and New Mexico have been appealing to more features and TV shows through more generous programmes of their own.