In a positive turn for Illinois’ production community, the state witnessed a surge in U.S. Scripted Television series distribution U.S. Scripted Streaming Television series distribution. It maintained steady levels in U.S. Scripted Cable Television series distribution from 2021 to 2022.
A groundbreaking report from FilmLA Research has provided an in-depth analysis of U.S.-produced, first-run, English-language scripted projects distributed between 2021 and 2022. This report represents an evolution in FilmLA’s tracking methodology, offering valuable insights into the evolving industry and the locations utilized for U.S. scripted content creation.
Film LA President Paul Audley remarked, “The transformation our industry has undergone in recent years is profound. This study provides a crucial baseline for us to comprehend the challenges ahead.”
Traditionally, FilmLA released separate reports for the film and television sectors. This new Scripted Content Study amalgamates an analysis of various categories, encompassing television series (streaming, cable, and broadcast), original made-for-cable movies, first-run feature films in theatrical release, and original feature films for streaming services. The report covers approximately 1,000 projects meeting these criteria distributed each calendar year.
The report reveals that Greater Los Angeles remained the primary filming location for U.S. scripted content based on the number of hosted productions. However, it also notes that the region’s total production capture saw marginal growth (<1 percent) between 2021 and 2022. This contrasts the four (4) percent growth in total industry output and significant expansion in competing jurisdictions.
Both the UK and Georgia demonstrated year-over-year increases ranging from 50 to 200+ percent across multiple production categories, except for theatrical release movies, achieving substantial rates of production capture.
In 2022, Illinois saw the production of 14 series, marking a 40% increase from the ten series in 2021. In the overall production chart, Illinois secured the seventh position.
Illinois streaming experienced an impressive 250% surge in streaming series from 2021 to 2022, rising from two to seven. Overall, the state held the eighth position.
In terms of U.S. Scripted Cable Production, the same from 2021 to 2022, with two series produced each year. Overall, Illinois maintained the eighth position, situated between Italy and Massachusetts.
However, Illinois witnessed a 17% decline in U.S. Scripted Broadcast Production, as the number of series dropped from six to five from 2021 to 2022. Notably, Los Angeles and even famous British Columbia experienced similar 0.05% and 14% declines, respectively.
On a less positive note for Illinois Production, the state needed more studio film production. While independent films are notable, Illinois must catch up on substantial revenue from influential movies and effects-driven TV.
Examining the top 10 filming jurisdictions during the study period highlights Los Angeles and New York as the top two production centers for theatrical features. Nevertheless, the features filmed in these centers declined by 18 and 29 percent, respectively. In contrast, the numbers rose by 21 percent in the UK and 17 percent in California outside the Greater Los Angeles region.
Regarding movies made for streaming, Illinois featured on the chart but also experienced a 63% decrease in production. Streaming film production saw eight films produced in 2021, compared to three in 2022.
The film and television industry is undergoing substantial change as of the report’s release. The “Peak TV” era is winding down, and labor negotiations and concurrent industry strikes have profoundly impacted the 2023 production pipeline.
The impact of overlapping strikes by members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) is significant. Currently, pending the resolution of these labor agreements, all episodic television and studio feature films are on hold in Los Angeles, except some independent feature films and television series that are being produced outside the studio system.
The full repercussions of the strikes will not be fully understood until the following year. Looking ahead, it will be essential to assess the film and television industry’s competitive position in Illinois compared to its rivals.
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