EDITOR’S NOTE: Multimedia journalist Tara Lynn Wagner looked at how a historic Los Angeles restaurant, once featured in numerous films throughout the year, has seen a sharp decline in filming at the location. Click the arrow above to watch the full video.

LOS ANGELES — Regional activity for on-location filming in the Greater Los Angeles area declined by 22.4% in the first quarter of the year, officials announced Monday, citing a global decline in production, intensifying competition in other markets, and what was described as a "small" impact due to January's wildfires.

FilmLA, a partner film office for the city and county of Los Angeles and other local jurisdictions, reported that within the first three months of 2025 the region had a total of 5,295 shoot days compared to 6,823 shoot days in 2024, or a decrease of 1,528. All major filming categories tracked by FilmLA declined in the first quarter, with commercials coming closest to breakeven.

Officials had some concern that January's wildfires would worsen activity, but found it had only a "small effect" on LA area filming, FilmLA reported. A recent analysis by the office determined that the Pacific Palisades and Altadena areas had hosted 1,405 shoot days over the past four years, accounting for about 1.3% of all regional filming.

As a result of the fires, approximately 545 unique filming locations fell within burn zones and were closed off, by order of the city and county.

"Loss of filming opportunity in no way compares to the cost of the Eaton and Palisades Fires in terms of loss of life, resident displacement and property damage," FilmLA Vice President of Integrated Communications Philip Sokoloski said in a statement. "The fires sent many productions scrambling to reschedule shoots and displaced hundreds of industry workers from their homes."

"But their local impact on local filming levels appears to have been temporary," Sokoloski continued.

Feature films dropped by 28.9%, or 183 shoot days, from 634 shoot days in the first quarter of 2024 to 451 shoot days in Q1 2025. In the "Other" category — projects such as still photography, student films, documentaries, music and industrial videos — declined by 20.2%, or 569 shoot days, from 2,974 shoot days in Q1 2024 to 2,378 shoot days in Q1 2025.

Commercials were close to breaking even, decreasing by 2.1%, or 17 shoot days, from 813 in Q1 2024 to 796 in Q1 2025.

Meanwhile, television on-location filming fell by 30.5%, or 732 shoot days, from 2,402 shoot days in Q1 2024 to 1,670 shoot days in Q1 2025.

In 2021, TV production peaked in the region with an annual 18,560 shoot days. Three years later, there were 7,716 shoot days reported, representing an annual decline of 58.4%.

Broken down further, there was a reduction of filming for the following categories: TV drama on-location filming dropped by 38.9%, or 280 shoot days, from 720 shoot days in Q1 2024 to 440 shoot days in Q1 2025; comedy fell by 29.9%, or 47 shoot days, from 157 shoot days in Q1 2024 to 110 shoot days in Q1 2025; reality decreased by 26.4%, or 348 shoot days, from 1,317 shoot days in Q1 2024 to 969 shoot days in Q1 2025; and pilot dropped by 80.3%, or 53 shoot days, from 66 in Q1 2024 to 13 in Q1 2025.

According to FilmLA, the loss of television projects carries wide employment repercussions.

The California Production Coalition estimated that the average location shoot adds $670,000 and 1,500 jobs a day to the local economy. LA County and Beacon Economics also report that there are 10,500 entertainment- related businesses in the state that are impacted as well.

"Numbers like these make it plain: California can't afford to surrender any more work to its competitors," Sokoloski added.

FilmLA officials reiterated that as global production declines, industry stakeholders urge Gov. Gavin Newsom to expand the California Film & Television Tax Credit Program. Under Newsom's proposal, the state would increase the program to $750 million or more per year to incentivize film production in the state.

The film office also supports two proposed bills that would expand the tax credit program.

SB 620, introduced by state Sen. Ben Allen, D-Santa Monica, seeks to reduce runtime requirements for TV shows to become eligible for tax incentives from 40 minutes to 20 minutes. Animation films, series, shorts and large-scale competition shows with a minimum budget of $1 million would be added on the list of eligible projects.

The bill proposes a 35% tax credit for any production that shoots within 30-miles a so-called LA zone and other SoCal locations.

Assembly members Rick Chavez Zbur, D-Hollywood, and Isaac Bryan, D-Los Angeles, introduced AB1138, which aims to eliminate a "50% ownership or 10- year lease requirement" for productions using a certified sound stage, and instituting more flexibility into the tax incentive program.

Both bills will be heard by the Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports and Tourism Committee on April 22.