FilmL.A.–the not-for-profit organization that coordinates permits for filmed entertainment shot on location in the City of Los Angeles, unincorporated parts of L.A. County and other local jurisdictions–reported that overall on-location filming declined 14.3 percent for the third quarter of 2009 as compared to the same quarter in 2008. There were 9,680 permitted production days (PPD) in July through September ’09 compared to 11,300 PPD tallied during the same period in ’08.
However, bucking that downward trend was activity on the feature film and commercialmaking fronts. For the latter category, which had seen four straight quarters of double-digit losses, there were 1,215 PPD in the third quarter of this year in Greater Los Angeles, a 10.2 percent increase over the 1,103 PPD registered from July through September ’08.
Even with that improved performance, location shoot days for commercials are still down 21-plus percent in ’09 when stacked up against ’08.
“Gains for the beleaguered industry sector are a welcome occurrence, because commercial production is such an important contributor to our local economy,” said Paul Audley, president of FilmL.A. “We hope this uptick is a bellwether of an improving national economy.”
As for the feature location lensing increase, the upswing was 25 percent-plus in Q3 ’09 versus the same three-month stretch in ’08. This marks the first time the feature filming category has not suffered double-digit losses in five straight quarters. Still, the third quarter ’09 gain must be viewed in light of last year’s drastically diminished feature production in the third quarter, after major studios had rushed to complete films ahead of a June 30, ’08 labor contract expiration. And even with a significant improvement this past quarter, features are still 37.4 percent down year-to-date as compared to the first nine months of ’08.
The TV category and all its subcategories reflect on-location filming in decline during the third quarter of ’09. Television production went down 21.4 percent this past quarter versus the same stretch in ’08. The subcategories’ quarterly losses spanned dramas (down nearly seven percent), sitcoms (a decrease of almost 48 percent), reality TV (down 20 percent) and TV pilots (a decrease of nearly 26 percent).
Director Hans Emanuel Joins Caviar For Commercials and Music Videos
Production company Caviar has signed director Hans Emanuel for U.S. commercial and music video representation. The film and advertising director fuses his keen--and Berlinale Film Festival Award-winning--eye for cinematic storytelling with a commercial background across multiple genres including beauty, automotive, dance, and visual effects-heavy projects, to produce creative for clients like Kia, Nivea, Nissan, L’Oreal, BMW and more.
Caviar executive producer Salim El Arja noted, “Hans has a unique ability to blend stunning visuals with heart and humor, rooted in his confidence as a craftsman. This allows him to focus on drawing exceptional performances from actors--including celebrities--and crafting films that are not only visually striking but also deeply engaging and often hilariously comedic. His sensibilities align perfectly with Caviar’s vision, and we’re excited to collaborate with him on work that pushes creative boundaries.”
Emanuel added, “Caviar is a renowned name, certainly since I began my career. They have a solid reputation for quality work, and I’ve always respected them as a company. Life is about where destiny makes you flow with the people you need; thanks to a series of projects, I was introduced to Florence Jacob with Caviar Paris first, and the rest is history. I feel they can support my career growth with their comedic expertise and filmmaking prowess.”
Prior to joining Caviar, Emanuel had been repped by production house Stadium. He was born and raised in Santa Monica, Calif., to a Mexican-German mother, benefiting from a culturally diversified upbringing that carried through his education interests. Knowing he wanted to be a filmmaker from the start, he began his career in the luxury and beauty field,... Read More