On-location TV commercial filming up for second week in row

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Is TV commercial production making a comeback in Los Angeles?

For months, local commercial production has been in the doldrums. Credit (or blame) the recession that has caused major advertisers like the Big Three auto companies to slash advertising budgets, resulting in fewer commercials made.

But, in a week that has seen several data reports suggesting that the recession may be easing, there are some signs that commercial production may be on the rebound, too. On-location filming for TV commercials generated 81 production days last week, up 26% from the same period in 2008, according to FilmL.A. Inc., which coordinates film permits (one production day is defined as a single crew’s permission to film a single project at a single location during a 24-hour period).

While two swallows do not necessarily a summer make, it nonetheless marked the second consecutive week that commercial filming was up over last year.

The shoots included commercials for the NFL, which shot along Langdon Avenue in the San Fernando Valley; Chase Bank, which filmed at the Wilshire Grand Hotel; and the AARP, which filmed throughout downtown last week.

Feature film production more than doubled over the same time a year ago, when activity virtually ground to a halt because of the standoff between the studios and the Screen Actors Guild, so comparisons are a bit skewed. TV production dropped 13% last week compared to 2008, despite shows getting ready for the new fall season.

-- Richard Verrier