L.A.-area film production rises 15% in third quarter
Amid a spate of gloomy reports about the state of the national economy, Hollywood offered some bright news this week: Local production activity rebounded sharply in the third quarter.
Overall shoots for on-location filming in Los Angeles and unincorporated areas of L.A. County jumped 15% in the three-month period ending Sept. 30, compared with the same time a year ago, according to FilmL.A. Inc., the nonprofit group that processes film permits.
The figures -– which reflect filming on streets and non-certified sound stages -– mark a turnaround from the second quarter, when production activity was virtually flat.
Fueling the increase was a surge in feature-film shoots, which generated 2,079 production days, up a whopping 50% from the third quarter of 2010.
FilmL.A. officials attributed the swell in part to California’s film tax credit, which allocated another $100 million in July to about 30 new projects.
RELATED:
On Location: “The Mentalist” TV drama joins film marketing effort
On Location: Prop house carves out unusual niche
-- Richard Verrier, Los Angeles Times
Photo: Director of photography Brandon Lippard lines up a shot for “Up in the Air.” Credit: File photo