On-location production of commercials in the City of Los Angeles, unincorporated parts of L.A. County and other local jurisdictions declined 7.5 percent in the second quarter of 2011 as compared to the same period last year–1,484 permitted production days (PPD) in April-June of this year versus 1,604 for the same period in 2010. This decrease ended what had been a 21-month surge in on-location spot lensing.
The downturn in commercials contributed to an overall stall in on-location production in Greater L.A. which collectively increased just 1.1 percent in the second quarter of ’11 as stacked up against the Q2 performance of ’10.
The quarterly findings were tallied and reported on by FilmL.A., the not-for-profit community benefit organization that coordinates permits for filmed entertainment shot in much of the L.A. area.
Production in the TV category dropped 0.7 percent in the second quarter (4,024 vs. 4,052 PPD), led by losses in sitcoms (down 29.4 percent) and TV reality (down 12.9 percent) subcategories. The TV pilots subcategory was up 4.5 percent.
The TV drama subcategory (up 26.6 percent) had a surprisingly robust quarter due to heavy reliance by shows such as Hawthorne and Sons of Anarchy on uncertified soundstages for extended periods. Within FilmL.A.’s service areas, filming anywhere other than a certified soundstage or studio backlot requires a film permit.
On-location theatrical feature production increased four percent (1,604 vs. 1,542 PPD). Unlike every other quarter since July 2009, this past quarter the California Film & Television Tax Credit had only minor impact on local feature production totals. In 2009/2010, the state doubled its $100 million annual allocation to encourage filming in California. With less assistance available this year, only five incentivized feature projects filmed on-location in Los Angeles this past quarter, generating 117 PPD, or 7.3 percent of overall feature production. By comparison, the same quarter in 2010 saw 16 incentivized feature projects shooting locally, generating 423 PPD and 27 percent of feature production.
“We expect to see features get a boost as a new crop of incentivized projects hits the streets,” said Paul Audley, president of FilmL.A. “Unfortunately, the momentum we carried in television may be gone. A lot of the new shows you’ll see this fall won’t be filming in California. As a result, we’re expecting a lackluster second half of the year for TV.”
Apple and Google Face UK Investigation Into Mobile Browser Dominance
Apple and Google aren't giving consumers a genuine choice of mobile web browsers, a British watchdog said Friday in a report that recommends they face an investigation under new U.K. digital rules taking effect next year.
The Competition and Markets Authority took aim at Apple, saying the iPhone maker's tactics hold back innovation by stopping rivals from giving users new features like faster webpage loading. Apple does this by restricting progressive web apps, which don't need to be downloaded from an app store and aren't subject to app store commissions, the report said.
"This technology is not able to fully take off on iOS devices," the watchdog said in a provisional report on its investigation into mobile browsers that it opened after an initial study concluded that Apple and Google effectively have a chokehold on "mobile ecosystems."
The CMA's report also found that Apple and Google manipulate the choices given to mobile phone users to make their own browsers "the clearest or easiest option."
And it said that the a revenue-sharing deal between the two U.S. Big Tech companies "significantly reduces their financial incentives" to compete in mobile browsers on Apple's iOS operating system for iPhones.
Both companies said they will "engage constructively" with the CMA.
Apple said it disagreed with the findings and said it was concerned that the recommendations would undermine user privacy and security.
Google said the openness of its Android mobile operating system "has helped to expand choice, reduce prices and democratize access to smartphones and apps" and that it's "committed to open platforms that empower consumers."
It's the latest move by regulators on both sides of the Atlantic to crack down on the... Read More