from: Richard Verrier, LA Times —
The economy may be sputtering, but Los Angeles is abuzz with commercial shoots.
Overall filming on city streets and unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County climbed 13% last week over the same time a year earlier, thanks to a surge in commercial production from advertisers such as Sears, Lexus, Verizon and L’Oreal, according to the latest data from FilmL.A. Inc., which processes film permits.
On-location shoots for commercials generated 94 production days last week, a 67% increase over the same time a year earlier. Commercial filming activity rose 17% in the third quarter.
Feature film activity was virtually flat week, producing 106 days. The category jumped 50 % in the third quarter, fueled by a new crop of movies benefiting from the state film tax credit. Television shoots accounted for 306 production days, up 1.3% last week.
