Carmageddon, schmarmageddon -- local filming activity surged last week in the L.A. area

Even with the logistical concerns surrounding last weekend’s closure of the 405 Freeway, overall local production around the Los Angeles area increased 14% last week compared with the same period a year ago, according to the latest numbers from FilmL.A. Inc.

The agency had issued an alert weeks earlier that permits near the construction would be treated case -by case. With the hoopla surrounding “Carmageddon,” most production activity during that weekend was clustered in the San Fernando Valley and downtown L.A.

Feature film production continued to be strong, climbing 23% for the week ending July 17. There were 146 production days last week compared with 119 days for the same week last year. (One production day is defined as a single crew’s permission to film at a single location in a 24-hour period.)

According to FilmL.A.’s statistics, feature film production in L.A. was up 8% for all of 2010 compared to 2009. Midway through this month, feature film production numbers are slightly ahead of 2010’s pace. COMPANY TOWN