Location Shooting Flat in 2001

Filming of movies, TV shows, commercials and music videos on the streets of Los Angeles was flat in 2001. The torrid pace of the first half of the year was followed by a lull in the second, influenced by Hollywood labor negotiations.

According to permit figures released Monday by the Entertainment Industry Development Corp., the number of days spent shooting projects outside studio lots totaled 27,435 in 2001, down less than 1% from 2000.

EIDC spokesman Morrie Goldman said it is difficult to draw conclusions from the numbers because so many extraordinary developments occurred last year.

Production was accelerated in the first half of the year as a hedge against possible strikes by actors and writers, then slowed after settlements were reached because studios had stockpiled projects.

In addition, production was affected by the recession, studio cost cutting and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

“It was such an unusual year. I don’t think there’s anything we can say about 2001 other than we’re glad it’s 2002,” Goldman said.

Also making it difficult to compare last year’s figures to 2000’s was the six-month strike that year by actors against advertisers.

The EIDC numbers represent days of shooting in Los Angeles. They do not include shooting on studio lots, but nonetheless are a barometer of overall entertainment activity.

Film permits issued fell 1%, while TV permits dropped 2%. Commercials were up 13%, in part because the numbers in 2000 were off because of the actors’ strike. Shooting of music videos dropped 21%.