L.A. Location Shoots At Low Point In 2009

On-location movie shoots in Los Angeles dipped nearly 30 percent in 2009, and all the local, location-based film, television and commercial productions comprised a 19.4 percent dip compared to 2008, marking a low point since records were kept in 1993.

The dire report from FilmLA was touted as fodder for efforts within City Hall to establish a film commission that would lobby Hollywood and possibly provide tax breaks and incentives for productions that stay at home. City Councilman Richard Alarcon has proposed establishing such a commission.

"This annual report reinforces the need for the positive steps being taken by the Los Angeles City Council and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to attract more filming to the City," said Paul Audley, president of FilmLA.

FilmLA reports that the negative movie productions numbers would have been higher had it not been for the California Film and Television Tax Credit, which the group credits for a fourth quarter production gain of 13.6 percent versus the same period in 2008.

Last year's film industry losers also included commercial shoots, down 12 percent and television, down 16.6 percent. Reality TV was down 24 percent and comedy was down 36.4 percent.