Latest news with #CaliforniaProductionCoalition
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Filming in L.A. declines in 1st quarter
On-location filming within the greater Los Angeles area has taken a tumble within the first quarter of the year, according to a new report. It fell 22.24% from January to March 2025, according to FilmLA, a nonprofit that provides on-location film permits within the City and County of Los Angeles. Within the first quarter of 2025, 5,295 Shoot Days took place as opposed to 6,823 Shooting Days the same time in 2024. The nonprofit looked at the different filming categories and noted a decline in all of them. Commercial shoots within L.A. fell 2.1% and came 'closest to breakeven.' Ice Cube to be honored with Hollywood handprint ceremony Television production continues to be on the decline. So far this year, only 1,670 Shooting Days were logged, which is a decline of 30.5%. In 2024, 7,716 Shooting Days were tallied for the year. For context, in 2021, television production hit its peak with 18,560 Shooting Days for the year. Within three years this type of filming has fallen 58.4%. 'Each drop reflected the impact of global production cutbacks and California's ongoing loss of work to rival territories,' the report explained. Production of television dramas declined again by 38.9% with 440 Shooting Days. About 77 of those days, about 17.5%, were tied to the California Film & Television Tax Credit Program. Last year, Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a plan to expand the tax credit program, which incentivizes the production of films and television shows in California, by doubling the credit from $330 million to $750 million. FilmLA has been a staunch supporter of Newsom's expansion and are hoping to make the program 'internationally competitive' with bills SB630 and AB1138. 'The California Production Coalition estimates that the average location shoot adds $670,000 and 1,500 jobs a day to a local economy. And the County of Los Angeles and Beacon Economics report that there are 10,500 entertainment related businesses in the state,' said FilmLA VP of Integrated Communications Philip Sokoloski. TV Comedy production declined 29.9% with 110 Shooting Days. Reality Television declined 26.4% with 969 Shooting Days. 'Most TV Comedies are half-hour series, which are currently ineligible for California's film incentive. This makes them rich targets of opportunity for out-of-state competitors,' FilmLA said. 'Unscripted series had been a staple of the L.A. filming economy during the strikes of 2023. Last year's reality plunge delivered an unexpected shock and made 2024 the second-slowest year for filming in Greater L.A.' The 'other' category, which includes Still Photography, Student Films, Documentaries, Music and Industrial Videos, and other projects, dropped to 20.2% from last quarter. While many will assume January's Palisades and Eaton Fires caused the downfall, the report noted that the fires had 'only a small effect on L.A. area filming.' The region 'hosted 1,405 Shoot Days over the past four years – or roughly 1.3 percent of all regional filming.' '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,' noted Sokoloski. 'The fires sent many productions scrambling to reschedule shoots and displaced hundreds of industry workers from their homes. But their impact on local filming levels appears to have been temporary.' About 545 different shoots were within burn zones. Burn areas were 'off-limits' due to City and County 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Menendez Brothers' Family ‘Grateful' to Gavin Newsom for Seeking Risk Assessment Ahead of Clemency Decision
Cousins of Erik and Lyle Menendez said Thursday they are 'grateful' to Gov. Gavin Newsom and 'thrilled' that he asked the state parole board for a risk assessment, as he considers whether to grant the brothers clemency. The cousins, Anamaria Baralt and Tamara Goodell, held a Zoom press conference Thursday to discuss developments in the brothers' case. More from Variety Los Angeles D.A. Opposes Menendez Brothers' Bid for New Trial, Citing 'Lies and Deceit' Los Angeles D.A. Meets With Menendez Family as He Weighs Brothers' Case California Production Coalition Launches as Studios Ramp Up Efforts to Boost State Tax Credits They also said it was 'hurtful' to see Los Angeles D.A. Nathan Hochman's presentation last week, in which he cited a history of 'lies and deceit' in explaining why he opposes a new trial. The Menendez brothers have served 35 years in prison for the 1989 murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty. They are serving life without the possibility of parole. In recent months, their relatives have stepped up efforts to secure their release, arguing their brains were affected by years of childhood sexual abuse, and that their good works in prison show they have been rehabilitated. On Wednesday, Newsom discussed the Menendez case in a trailer for his new personal podcast, 'This Is Gavin Newsom,' a product of iHeartPodcasts. Promising that the podcast 'may even break some news,' he said he had requested the investigation of whether the brothers pose a threat to public safety. The governor did not give an indication of whether he is inclined to grant clemency to the brothers, though he said the investigation is part of a due diligence effort. 'We're incredibly grateful that Gov. Newsom is paying attention to this case,' Baralt said Thursday. 'For our family, it is a huge sigh of relief that someone in a seat of power is paying attention.' The Menendez brothers are due to have a resentencing hearing on March 20-21 in Los Angeles Superior Court in Van Nuys. The hearing was requested by D.A. George Gascón, who was defeated by Hochman in November. Hochman has yet to say whether his office is still committed to the request, which would lower the brothers' sentences to 50 years to life and make them immediately eligible for parole. But last week, Hochman did say he opposes the brothers' habeas corpus petition for a new trial. The brothers' appellate lawyers filed the petition in 2023, arguing that new evidence had come to light that substantiated their claims of abuse. Hochman cast doubt on that evidence in lengthy presentation, as well as in a companion video and an 87-page 'informal response.' He argued that the claims are part of a 'continuum of lies' that the brothers have told since the night of the murders. 'What we heard from the L.A. District Attorney's office felt very disparaging,' Goodell said Thursday. 'It felt like a continuation of the narrative from 1989. It was very frustrating.' Baralt said the feelings were amplified because she and dozens of other family members had met in January with Hochman, and shared their anguish about how the case has unfolded over the last several decades. 'It felt really hurtful to a lot of us,' she said. Shortly after taking office in December, Hochman transferred the two deputies — Brock Lunsford and Nancy Theberge — who had handled the Menendez case under Gascón. Baralt said that both deputies had been 'tremendous' and 'supportive' and were 'very well informed about trauma.' Goodell also said the family's relationship is 'completely different' with Hochman, compared to Gascón, saying Gascón 'seemed much more open to modern thought processes.' Hochman is expected to announce his position on resentencing in about two weeks. Newsom discussed the Menendez case on 'Politickin',' his other iHeart podcast, which he co-hosts with retired Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch and sports agent Doug Hendrickson. In a November episode, he said he would hold off on a clemency decision to allow Hochman — who had just defeated Gascón handily — an opportunity to review the case. 'It's the right thing to do — to hear from the new D.A. — before I make any decisions,' Newsom said. 'That's something, by the way, I haven't said publicly, but I think is important under the circumstance, out of respect not just to him, the new incoming D.A., but those that elected him rather overwhelmingly in Los Angeles.' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Grammy Predictions, From Beyoncé to Kendrick Lamar: Who Will Win? Who Should Win? What's Coming to Netflix in February 2025
