On-location filming slows to a crawl in LA

Like the sputtering national economy, Los Angeles' production economy is sending out mixed signals. After staging two consecutive quarters of growth and a dramatic recovery from a severe slump last year, L.A.'s production sector has slowed significantly.

In the last 10 weeks, combined production days for the major categories was virtually flat compared to the same time a year ago, according to data from the FilmLA., the nonprofit group that handles film permits. One production day is defined as a crew's permission to film at a single location over a 24-hour period. On location filming for features has been especially lackluster, with production days falling about 9% between June 28 and Sept. 5 compared with the same period a year ago. A slowdown was anticipated by many in the industry, given that the engine driving a spike in feature-film activity this year — the state's fledgling film tax credit program — has been temporarily idled because the funds have run out.