LA Film Production Is Down Again in 2026: What It Means for Crews, Brands & Indie Filmmakers

Marcus Hood· Founder & Creative Director Published October 5, 2026 9 min read

Quick Answer

Los Angeles on-location filming fell again in 2026, with shoot days down roughly 12% year-over-year in Q2 2026 even after California's expanded tax credit. Fewer than 25% of U.S. scripted series filmed in LA in Q1 2026, down from 40% in 2019. This means less crew work, more competition for brand shoots, and a harder path for indie films — but also opportunity for productions that can move efficiently.

Key Takeaways

1.LA on-location shoot days fell about 12% year-over-year in Q2 2026.
2.Fewer than 25% of U.S. scripted series filmed in LA in Q1 2026, vs. 40% in 2019.
3.Commercial shoots fell more than 23% in 2025 and are not tax-credit eligible.
4.Efficient, right-sized productions and brand work are where the opportunity is.

What the 2026 data says

The trend is unambiguous. LA on-location shoot days fell roughly 12% year-over-year in Q2 2026, even after California expanded its film tax credit. The full 2025 picture was already down — 19,694 shoot days, a 16.1% decline from 2024, with commercial shoots falling more than 23%. And in Q1 2026, fewer than 25% of U.S. scripted series filmed in LA, compared with 40% in Q1 2019.

There is a nuance worth noting: California film spend rose about 5% year-over-year in Q2 2026 per ProdPro, yet feature production in LA fell nearly 20%. More is being spent in California overall, but less of it is landing in LA — a sign that productions are taking the credit and filming elsewhere.

What it means for crews

For below-the-line crew, the contraction means fewer consecutive long-form jobs and more competition for each call. The crews that are staying busy are the ones who have diversified into commercial, brand, and content work — the shoots that are still happening even as scripted series leave. That is exactly the kind of work Relative Vision Studio produces, and why our crew mixes feature-film discipline with commercial speed.

What it means for brands

For brands, the silver lining is access. Crews and gear that were locked into long-form productions are now available for commercial and brand work, which means a well-run production can get feature-film-level craft on a brand timeline. The brands that win in this market are the ones that treat video as an ongoing program, not a one-off — which is the case for monthly content packages.

What it means for indie filmmakers

For indie filmmakers, the market is harder but not closed. With scripted work consolidating and budgets tightening, the path forward is leaner productions, clearer funding strategy, and using brand and commercial work to fund and sharpen the craft. Our own founder served as Associate Producer on the independent feature "She Reminds Me of You," which is the kind of hands-on, resourceful production the moment rewards.

Sources

Keep reading

From the Set — Marcus Hood

I have produced content for some of the biggest streamers and creators in LA, and I served as Associate Producer on the independent feature "She Reminds Me of You." What the 2026 numbers tell me is that the crew that can move between feature-film craft and commercial speed — without the drag of a full episodic schedule — is the crew that stays working. That is the model we built Relative Vision Studio around.

Sources

The Frame Weekly

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Los Angeles film production declining in 2026?

Yes. LA on-location shoot days fell roughly 12% year-over-year in Q2 2026, and full-year 2025 filming was down 16.1% from 2024 with commercial shoots falling more than 23%. Fewer than 25% of U.S. scripted series filmed in LA in Q1 2026, down from 40% in 2019.

What does the LA production decline mean for crews?

It means fewer consecutive long-form jobs and more competition for each call. The crews staying busy are the ones who diversified into commercial, brand, and content work — the shoots that are still happening even as scripted series leave Los Angeles.

Does California's film tax credit help LA production?

Partially. California film spend rose about 5% year-over-year in Q2 2026, but LA feature production fell nearly 20% in the same period — a sign that productions are taking the credit and filming elsewhere in California rather than in LA itself.

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Written by

Marcus Hood

Founder & Creative Director of Relative Vision Studio. Since 2010, Marcus has produced cinematic brand films, commercial video, and photography for businesses across Southern California — and served as Associate Producer on the independent feature "She Reminds Me of You."

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