Behind the glamour and red carpets, the Los Angeles film industry is an economic powerhouse, pouring a staggering $14.7 billion directly into the local economy in 2022 while supporting over 727,000 jobs.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the Los Angeles film and television industry contributed $14.7 billion to the local economy through direct spending on production activities.
- The LA entertainment industry supported 727,000 jobs in California in 2022, with over 80% concentrated in the Los Angeles area.
- Film and TV production in LA generated $3.2 billion in local business taxes and fees in fiscal year 2021-2022.
- In 2022, LA film industry employed 194,000 cast and crew directly.
- Over 50,000 below-the-line jobs in LA grips and electrics in 2022.
- LA makeup artists and hair stylists numbered 12,000 in film/TV.
- In 2022, LA issued 4,500 on-location filming permits.
- 1,200 feature films shot partially or fully in LA in 2022.
- TV pilots produced in LA: 150 in development season 2022.
- LA has 40 major soundstage facilities with 1.2 million sq ft.
- Warner Bros. Studio lot in Burbank: 110 acres, 30+ stages.
- Universal Studios Hollywood: 415 acres including backlot.
- In 2023 Oscars, LA films won 45 awards including Best Picture.
- LA-based actors won 28 acting Oscars from 2018-2023.
- Golden Globes 2023: 62 nominations for LA studios.
The Los Angeles film industry is a massive economic engine creating billions and hundreds of thousands of jobs.
Awards and Achievements
- In 2023 Oscars, LA films won 45 awards including Best Picture.
- LA-based actors won 28 acting Oscars from 2018-2023.
- Golden Globes 2023: 62 nominations for LA studios.
- Emmys 2022: LA shows took 102 awards.
- LA films grossed $12B worldwide, 15 Palme d'Or wins historically.
- Sundance 2023: 12 LA indies awarded prizes.
- LA DPs won 18 Cinematography Oscars last decade.
- Costume designers from LA: 25 Oscars 2010-2023.
- LA editors: 22 Best Editing Oscars 2015-2023.
- Sound awards for LA mixers: 35 Oscars total recent.
- LA visual effects: 28 Oscars for films 2018-2023.
- Screenplay Oscars to LA writers: 16 since 2015.
- LA directors: 12 Best Director Oscars 2010s-2020s.
- Animated features from LA studios: 9 Oscars.
- LA documentaries: 14 Oscar wins 2015-2023.
- Critics Choice Awards: LA films 85 wins in 2023.
- MTV Movie Awards hosted in LA: 120 LA films honored.
- LA international film fest awards: 200+ Berlinale nods.
- SAG Awards 2023: 40 ensemble wins for LA casts.
- Producers Guild: 25 LA films Outstanding Producer.
- LA score composers: 11 Oscars for original scores.
Awards and Achievements Interpretation
Los Angeles, generously hosting the rest of the planet's film industry in its backyard, keeps proving year after award-drenched year that it remains the undeniable, multi-faceted, and frankly over-achieving engine room of global cinema.
Economic Impact
- In 2022, the Los Angeles film and television industry contributed $14.7 billion to the local economy through direct spending on production activities.
- The LA entertainment industry supported 727,000 jobs in California in 2022, with over 80% concentrated in the Los Angeles area.
- Film and TV production in LA generated $3.2 billion in local business taxes and fees in fiscal year 2021-2022.
- The multiplier effect of LA film spending created an additional $28.4 billion in indirect and induced economic activity statewide in 2022.
- Los Angeles County's film industry accounted for 28% of California's total GDP contribution from entertainment in 2021.
- In 2023, streaming production in LA drove $2.1 billion in qualified expenditures eligible for state tax credits.
- The LA film sector paid out $8.5 billion in wages to cast and crew in 2022.
- Tourism boosted by LA film locations generated $1.9 billion annually from fans visiting sites.
- LA's visual effects industry added $1.2 billion to the economy through 150+ VFX facilities in 2022.
- Post-production spending in Hollywood reached $4.3 billion in 2021, supporting 25,000 jobs.
- The LA animation sector contributed $650 million in economic output from 50 studios in 2022.
- FilmLA permits issued generated $150 million in city revenue from fees in 2022.
- LA's music scoring for films added $300 million to the local economy via 20 major studios.
- Export of LA-produced content generated $5.6 billion in international sales in 2022.
- LA film industry's property leasing for shoots brought in $800 million yearly.
- Vendor spending by productions totaled $6.7 billion in LA in 2022.
- LA's costume and prop houses earned $450 million from film rentals in 2021.
- Hotel bookings from LA film crews generated $1.1 billion in revenue pre-COVID.
- LA food services for productions spent $350 million on catering in 2022.
- Transportation costs for LA shoots totaled $900 million annually.
- LA film tech startups raised $2.4 billion in venture capital in 2022.
- Retail spending spikes from crew payroll added $1.5 billion locally.
- LA's grip and electric services billed $1.8 billion to productions in 2022.
- Nonprofit film orgs in LA received $200 million in grants impacting economy.
- LA convention center film events generated $100 million in 2022.
- Insurance premiums for LA films totaled $500 million yearly.
- LA real estate for soundstages appreciated 15% due to film demand.
- Philanthropy from LA film execs donated $400 million to local causes.
- LA film exports to Europe hit $2.8 billion in 2022.
- Overall, LA film industry GDP share was 2.1% of LA County in 2022.
Economic Impact Interpretation
It's often said LA runs on scripts and screenplays, but the real blockbuster is the $14.7 billion in direct spending it pumps into the economy, spawning a total of over $43 billion in statewide activity and proving that while Hollywood might produce fiction, its financial impact is a resoundingly true story.
Employment Statistics
- In 2022, LA film industry employed 194,000 cast and crew directly.
- Over 50,000 below-the-line jobs in LA grips and electrics in 2022.
- LA makeup artists and hair stylists numbered 12,000 in film/TV.
- 25,000 writers and producers based in LA for film industry.
- LA has 18,000 actors registered with SAG-AFTRA locally.
- Sound mixers and editors: 8,500 jobs in Hollywood post houses.
- LA stunt performers totaled 4,200 union members in 2022.
- 35,000 production assistants and coordinators in LA metro.
- VFX artists in LA: 22,000 across 150 studios in 2022.
- LA costume designers and wardrobe: 6,500 professionals.
- Directors and DPs: 9,000 active in LA film scene.
- Set designers and art directors: 15,000 in LA unions.
- LA location managers: 2,100 certified professionals.
- Script supervisors: 1,800 working in Hollywood productions.
- Boom operators and sound recordists: 3,200 in LA.
- LA animal wranglers for film: 450 licensed handlers.
- Drone pilots certified for LA film shoots: 1,200.
- LA diversity hires in film increased 22% to 45,000 roles.
- Union apprenticeships in LA film: 5,000 new entrants yearly.
- Freelance editors in LA: 7,500 active on IMDb Pro.
- LA cinematographers guild: 4,200 members.
- Prop makers and fabricators: 2,800 shops employing 10,000.
- LA film publicists: 1,500 PR pros for industry.
- Casting directors in LA: 950 agencies and independents.
- Transportation coordinators: 1,200 for LA trucks/fleets.
- LA film festival staff and volunteers: 3,000 seasonal jobs.
Employment Statistics Interpretation
Behind every shimmering screen credit lies a sprawling, meticulously coordinated army of 194,000 souls, where for every solitary star in front of the lens, there are literally armies of grips, gaffers, stylists, coordinators, and even animal wranglers—all indispensable, chronically under-caffeinated, and collectively proving that Hollywood is less a dream factory and more a miraculously functional, unionized circus of organized chaos.
Infrastructure and Resources
- LA has 40 major soundstage facilities with 1.2 million sq ft.
- Warner Bros. Studio lot in Burbank: 110 acres, 30+ stages.
- Universal Studios Hollywood: 415 acres including backlot.
- LA's 150+ VFX houses occupy 2.5 million sq ft office space.
- 25 underwater tanks in LA for film shoots.
- LA prop warehouses total 1.8 million sq ft storage.
- 12 backlot locations simulating NYC in San Fernando Valley.
- LA high-tech cranes and dollies rental fleet: 500 units.
- 80 green screen cycloramas over 50ft high in LA.
- LA has 200+ miles of fiber optic for production data.
- 15 motion capture stages in greater LA area.
- Costume rental houses: 50 facilities with 5 million pieces.
- LA armories for weapons props: 20 specialized.
- 10 LED volume walls operational for virtual prod in 2023.
- LA airport proximity: LAX handles 70% of intl crew flights.
- 300+ hotels film-friendly certified in LA County.
- Public transit for crews: Metro rail covers 80% stages.
- LA water systems for rain effects: 50 high-volume rigs.
- Wind machines and fans rental: 400 units available.
- LA power grid upgrades for shoots: 1,200 generators on standby.
- Digital labs for dailies: 18 facilities processing 4K.
- LA Academy of Motion Picture Arts museum: 298,000 sq ft.
- 22 film schools with production facilities in LA metro.
- Iconic locations like Griffith Obs: used in 500+ films.
- LA street grid permits 1,000 closures monthly.
Infrastructure and Resources Interpretation
Los Angeles is a meticulously engineered city-sized film studio disguised as a metropolis, where every water pipe, hotel room, and street closure is on standby to will a movie into existence.
Production Volumes
- In 2022, LA issued 4,500 on-location filming permits.
- 1,200 feature films shot partially or fully in LA in 2022.
- TV pilots produced in LA: 150 in development season 2022.
- Streaming series days shot in LA: 12,500 in Q4 2022.
- Commercial shoots in LA: 2,800 permits issued yearly.
- Music videos filmed in LA: 1,500 major productions in 2022.
- LA student films and indies: 8,000 permits for non-commercial.
- Soundstage days utilized in LA: 450,000 in 2022.
- On-location shooting days: 28,000 in LA neighborhoods 2022.
- VFX shots for LA-originated films: 2.1 million in 2022 blockbusters.
- LA-based animation features: 45 released in 2022.
- Reality TV episodes shot in LA: 4,200 in 2022.
- Late-night shows taped in LA: 1,800 episodes yearly.
- Award show productions in LA: 50 major events annually.
- LA film festivals screened 2,500 features in 2022.
- Digital content creators filming branded in LA: 10,000 shoots.
- LA car chase scenes filmed: 350 high-speed sequences 2022.
- Underwater shoots in LA pools/tanks: 120 productions.
- Aerial drone footage days: 2,500 permitted in LA airspace.
- Night shoots requiring LAPD: 1,800 permits issued.
- Multi-camera sitcoms taped: 650 episodes in LA studios.
- LA horror genre productions: 280 features/shorts in 2022.
- Documentary shoots: 650 long-form in LA 2022.
- LA rom-coms and dramas: 420 scripted movies.
- Superhero films principal photography days: 5,200 in LA.
Production Volumes Interpretation
Despite Hollywood’s ever-evolving landscape, the 2022 data proves that Los Angeles remains the world’s busiest film set, where everything from a student’s dream to a superhero’s landing is just another day at the office.
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