2013 Feature Film Production Report © 2014, FilmL.A. Research 6255 W. Sunset Blvd., 12th Floor ● Los Angeles, CA 90028 ● 213.977.8600 ● www.filmla.com
2013 Feature Film Production Report
2014, FilmL.A. Research
6255 W. Sunset Blvd., 12th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90028 213.977.8600 www.filmla.com
AboutthisReport
ThisreportistheproductofindependentresearchconductedbyFilmL.A,Inc.FilmL.A.isLosAngelesregionalfilmoffice,servingtheCityandCountyofLosAngelesandaneverincreasingrosteroflocalmunicipalities.Providingstreamlinedpermitprocessing,comprehensivecommunityrelations,marketingservices,filmpolicyanalysisandmoretothesejurisdictions,FilmL.A.workstoattractandretainfilmproductioninGreaterLosAngeles.IntegraltoFilmL.A.sworkisongoingresearchintothebenefitsthatlocalfilmingbringstotheLosAngelesregion.Tothatend,thecompanymaintainsaninternalresearchdivisiondevotedtotheproduction,collectionanddisseminationofinformationregardingtheU.S.filmproductioneconomy.OnbehalfofeveryoneatFilmL.A.andthosewhodependonlocalentertainmentproductionfortheirlivelihoods,wethankyouforyourinterestinthisreport.Ifyouhaveanyquestionsaboutthecontentherein,theauthorswelcomeyourinquiries.
AdrianMcDonald,LeadResearchAnalystFilmL.A.Research
6255W.SunsetBlvd.,12thFloorHollywood,CA90028
213.977.8636
www.filmla.com
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ExecutiveSummaryThisstudyistheresultofapproximatelysixmonthsofindependentresearchperformedbyFilmL.A.,Inc.,thefilmofficeforthegreaterLosAngelesregion.ItbeganwithadesiretobetterquantifythenegativeeffectsofrunawayproductiononCaliforniassignaturefeaturefilmindustry.FilmL.A.Researchendeavoredtotrackthemoviesreleasedin2013todeterminewheretheywerefilmed,whytheyfilmedinthelocationstheydid,andhowmuchwasspenttoproducethem.Topreparethereport,FilmL.A.aggregatedinformationpresentedinmediareportsandpublishedstudies,mostparticularlyreportsfromU.S.statesandforeignjurisdictionsthatoperatepubliclytransparentfilmincentiveprograms.Otherinformationwassourcedfromfilmproductioncompaniesandstudiosthemselves,aswellasinterviewswithindustryprofessionals.Thisreportprovidesevidencetodemonstratethattheavailabilityoffilmincentivesheavilyinfluencesfeatureproducerschoiceoffilminglocation.ItfurtherarguesthattheproliferationofoutofstatefilmincentiveprogramshaserodedCaliforniasonetimedominanceofthefeaturefilmproductionindustry.ThereportconcludeswithadiscussionofthechangingemploymentprospectsofCaliforniabasedfilmworkers,particularlybelowthelinephysicalproductionemployees,filmproductionvendors,recordingmusicians,visualeffectsartistsandanimators.Casestudiesillustratingtheincreasinglyglobalscopeoffeaturefilmproductionarealsoincluded.StudyMethodology
ThisstudyfocusedonfilmsthatwereproducedbythesixmajorstudiosinSouthernCalifornia("Majors",includingDisney,WarnerBros.,NBCUniversal,Paramount,Sonyand20thCenturyFox)andfiveofthebestknownindependentstudios("MiniMajors",includingDreamworks,Lionsgate,WeinsteinCo.,FilmDistrictandRelativity).
Atotalof108liveactionandanimatedmoviesreleasedin2013weretrackedforthisstudy.TopFilmingLocations
Fromanationalperspective,theUnitedStateshostedprincipalproductionfor70ofthefilmsinthestudy,whichrepresentsashareof65percent.Canadawasaverydistantsecondwith15movies,whichrepresentsa15percentshare.
Rankinglocationsintermsofthemostnumberoffilmsthatwereprimarilyproducedineach,Louisianarankedfirstwith18movies.CanadaandCaliforniatiedwith15moviesapiece,followedcloselybytheUnitedKingdom,whichhosted12.RoundingoutthetopfivelocationswastheStateofGeorgia,whichhosted9films.
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Ofthe10animatedfeaturesinthestudy,theUnitedStateshostedsix(California:4,Texas:1,Connecticut:1).OfthefouranimatedfilmsproducedoutsidetheUnitedStates,twoweremadeinBritishColumbia,onewasmadeinIndiaandonewasproducedinFrance.
RunawayProductionImpactonCalifornia Withoutexception,everycompetingproductioncenterthathostedprimaryproductiononone
ormorefilmsofferedsignificant,uncapped,filmincentiveprograms.Themostcommonformoffilmincentiveisrefundableortransferabletaxcreditsthatcanoffsetalargeportionoftotalprojectspend.
In1997,CanadianProvinceswerethefirstlocationstooffersignificantfilmtaxcreditincentives.TheCanadianmodelwasquicklycopiedaroundtheworld.By2013,morethan40USstatesandadozenforeigncountriesofferedfilmincentiveprograms.
Fifteenyearsago,Californiasshareofthetop25movies(includingbothanimated&liveaction)attheworldwideboxofficewasacommanding68percent.After15yearsofunabatedrunawayproduction,Californiasmarketshareofthetop25animatedandliveactionfilmsdroppedtojust24percentin2013.
Excludinganimatedfeatures,Californiasmarketsharefortop25liveactionfilmssufferedevensharperdeclines.In1997,64percentofthetop25liveactionmoviesattheworldwideboxofficewerewhollyorprimarilyproducedinCalifornia.By2013,Californiasshareofthetop25liveactionmovieshadfallentojust8percent.
Ofthe26liveactionmoviesinthisstudywithbudgetsover$100million,justtwo(TheHangoverPartIII&StarTrek:IntoDarkness)weremadeprimarilyinCalifornia.
PostProductionandVisualEffects
OneofthecommonmythsaboutrunawayproductionisthatCaliforniaremainsthebeneficiaryofthebulkofpostproductionandvisualeffectswork,regardlessofwhereprincipalphotographytakesplace.Thisbeliefisincorrect.
AccordingtotheVisualEffectsSociety,44ofthetop50moviesofalltimewereVFXdrivenfilms.
Over15yearsago,amajorityofthetopvisualeffects(VFX)companieswerebasedmainlyorentirelywithinCalifornia.Becauseofinternationalcompetitionandthelureoffilmincentivestailoredspecificallyforanimationandvisualeffects,CaliforniasVFXindustryhascollapsed.
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TheonlymajorVFXhouseleftinCaliforniacapableofemploying1,000effectsartistsisIndustrialLight&MagicintheSanFranciscoBayArea.Inearly2014,ILMannounceditwasdoublingthesizeofitsworkforceinVancouver,BritishColumbiato200people.Inaddition,ILMannouncedtheopeningofanewfacilityinLondonthatwillemploy200artistsforworkontheforthcomingStarWarsfilms.
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Introduction:2013wasayearfortherecordbooks.HollywoodquietlysetanewannualrecordattheU.S.domesticboxofficebytakingin$10.9billion.Worldwide,boxofficereceiptsexceeded$30billionfrom622featurefilmsreleasedtheatricallywithinthe2013calendaryear.Butnotallfeaturefilmsarecreatedequal.Roughlyhalfoftheglobalboxofficerevenuesfor2013stemfromtheyearstop50films.Ofthe622moviesreleasedin2013,fewerthan160hadproductionbudgetsexceeding$1millionandfewerthan100hadbudgetsexceeding$15million.Inshort,relativelyfew2013filmsaccountedforthemajorityof2013boxofficerevenues.Inmostcases,thetopgrossingfeaturefilmsalsohadthelargestproductionbudgets.Inafirstofitskindstudy,FilmL.A.Researchendeavoredtotrackthemoviesreleasedin2013todeterminewheretheywerefilmed(seeAppendixBforlocationmaps),whytheyfilmedinthelocationstheydidandhowmuchwasspenttoproducethem.Tonarrowourfieldofstudy,FilmL.A.focusedonfilmsthatwereproducedbythesixmajorstudiosinSouthernCalifornia("Majors",includingDisney,WarnerBros.,NBCUniversal,Paramount,Sonyand20thCenturyFox)andfiveofthebestknownindependentstudios("MiniMajors",includingDreamworks,Lionsgate,WeinsteinCo.,FilmDistrictandRelativity).Thisyieldedastudysampleof108featurefilms(10animated&98liveaction).Mostofthefilmswereproducedin2012or2013,but23wereshotin2011orearlier.Ofthe108movies(seeAppendixCforcompletelist)releasedbytheMajorsandMiniMajors,reportedproductionbudgetsrangedfrom$1.25millionto$225million.Theaverageproductionbudgetinthesamplewas$71million.Viewedstrictlyasbusinessventures,thesearethefilmsthatmattermost,notonlytothestudiosbehindthem,butalsotothelocaleconomieswheretheyareproduced.Forthedozensofstatesandnationsnowcompetingforashareofthefilmproductionindustry,these108filmsrepresentover$7.6billionindirectproductionspendingandtensofthousandsofhighwagejobsinawidearrayofprofessions.FilmingLocations:WorldwidefilmaudiencesoftenthinkofCaliforniaasthehomeofthefilmandtelevisionindustry,buttodaythisbeliefisrootedmoreinhistorythaninfactwithrespecttofeaturefilms.Today,featurefilmsproducedbyU.S.companiesarefilmedthroughouttheglobe.Evenonanindividualfilm,principalphotographycanandoftendoesspanmorethanonelocation.Accordingly,FilmL.A.workedtoidentifybothprimaryproductionlocationsandsecondaryproductionlocationsforstudiedfilms.Forreasonsdescribedahead,thiswasadifficulttask.Intheend,ourresearchdeterminedthatnearly20differentU.S.statesandforeigncountrieswereusedasprimaryproductionlocationsamongthisstudy's108films.Fromanationalperspective,thegoodnewsisthattheUnitedStatesservedastheprimaryproductionlocationfor65percent(70count)ofthe108filmsFilmL.A.studied.FromaCaliforniaperspective,thingslookalittledifferent.Just14percent(15count)ofthefilmswereprimarilyproducedinCalifornia,causingthestatetoslipbehindLouisianaintotaltrackedprojects.
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Louisiana'semergenceasafilmproductioncenterhappenedquickly.Afterjust10yearsofinvestmentinthefilmindustry,thePelicanStatesurgedaheadofCalifornia,thenation'sonetimefilmproduction
capital.Louisiana,whichsomehavetakentocallingHollywoodSouth,isnowoutpacingtherealHollywoodbyakeymeasureoffilmproductionvolume.Canadaalsohostedalargenumberoffilmsinthisstudy.Sincethelate1990's,CanadahasbeenoneofCaliforniasstrongestfilmproductioncompetitors.CaliforniaandCanada(asawhole)eachlanded15trackedprojects(BritishColumbia,OntarioandQuebeceachhostedfivefilms).RoundingoutthetopfiveproductioncentersweretheUnitedKingdomwith12filmsandthestateofGeorgiawithnine.Surprisingly,NewYorkwastheprimaryfilminglocationforjustfourfilmsinthestudy,butitwasusedasasecondarylocationforseven.Conversely,Californiaservedasasecondaryfilminglocationfortenfilmsinthestudy.FilmingEmployment:Determiningthetotalemploymentimpactofthe108filmsisthisstudyprovedanunexpectedlydifficulttask.
65%
14%
11%
2%2%
5%
1%
Intl.Shareof108SurveyedFilms,2013
USACanadaUnitedKingdomNewZealandAustraliaEurope(nonU.K.)India
ProductionCenter MoviesLouisiana 18Canada 15California 15UnitedKingdom 12Georgia(USA) 9OtherUS&PuertoRico 9Massachusetts 5NewYork 4NorthCarolina 4NewMexico 3Connecticut 3NewZealand 2Australia 2France 1Germany 1Hungary 1Bulgaria 1India 1Belgium 1Malta 1
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Differencesinhowmotionpicturejobsaretrackedfromregiontoregionmakeinterjurisdictionaljobcreationscomparisonsnearimpossible.Toestimatethenumberofpeoplewhoworkedoneachtrackedproject,FilmL.A.employedcountsofcreditedcast&crewroleslistedforeachfilmbyBaselineStudioSystemandIMDbPro.Inall,FilmL.A.foundthatmorethan84,000creditedroles(filmjobs)werecreatedbythe108filmsinthisstudy.
Oneimportantcaveattobearinmindisthatonepersonmayfillacreditedroleonmorethanoneprojectinthisstudy.ActorHughJackman,forexample,wasacastmemberonthreeofthemoviesinthestudy(TheWolverine,PrisonersandMovie43).Hence,Mr.Jackmanheldthreeofthe84,000creditedroles.Thesamejobcountingchallengesurfaceswithkeyproductionvendors,likevisualeffectsorpostproductionhouses.AperfectexampleofthisisBurbank,CaliforniabasedStereoD,whichspecializesin3Dconversion.StereoDservedasapostproductionhousefornineofthefilmsinthisstudyandemployedanywherefromafewdozento200ormorepeopleonprojectslikePacificRimandStarTrek:IntoDarkness.Insomecases,individualswhoworkatStereoDarecreditedwithworkingonasmanyasfivetoseventrackedfilms.Clearly,amorerobustanduniformwaytomeasurefilmproductionjobgrowthisneeded,butexpertsdisagreeaboutwhichyardsticktouse.
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
16,000 14,170 13,690 13,032
8,566
5,694 5,6394,143 3,569 3,410 2,968 2,547
1,519 1,406 1,096
Moviesof2013:CreditedJobCountsinTopLocations
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What'sinaFilmJob:DifferencesinHowEmploymentfromFilmingisCalculated
IntheUnitedStates,mostjurisdictionsseekingtoattractfilmprojectsmakesomekindofefforttotrackthejobstheycreateintheprocess.Unfortunately,thenumberofdifferentcountingmethodsinusemakescomparingjobgrowthacrossjurisdictionsnearimpossible.Whilevariousjurisdictionsreportemploymentcountsforspecificprojects(orreporttotaljobcountsintheaggregate),theydifferintheirjobcountmethodologies.Forexample,NorthCarolinaofficialsreportthetotalnumberofpeoplewhoworkonfilmprojectsintheirstate,regardlessofhowlongthosejobslast.AbackgroundactorwhoworkedasingledayonIronMan3wouldbecountedasholdingonejob,thesameasthedirector,whoworkedonthefilmeverydayandwaspaidsubstantiallymore.Nevertheless,fromatotaljobcountperspective,manywouldcountthisastwojobs.Officialsinsomestates,likePennsylvania,attempttodoonebetterbycalculatingthenumberofFullTimeEquivalent(FTE)jobscreatedbylocalfilming.Usingthismethod,althoughatotalof4,057peopleworkedon2009sLawAbidingCitizeninPennsylvania,thenumberofFTEjobscreatedwas544.NewMexicousesadifferentapproachaltogetherandreportsthenumberoffilmworkerdays.WhilethisissimilartotheFTEapproachintermsofobtainingamoreaccurateemploymentpicture,thestateonlyreportsthenumberintheaggregate,makingitimpossibletoknowhowmanyworkerdaysamovielikeTheLoneRangerrackedupwhileshootinginthestate.
ProductionSpending:Beingabletoestimatethenumberofdirectproductionjobsfilmingcreatesishelpful,butsoisknowinghowmuchproducersspendwhenfilmingonlocation.Inadditiontofilmcrewwages,expendituresofferinsightintohowlocalproductionvendorsandsuppliersbenefitfromaproduction'spresence.Moneyspentonfilmproductioncirculateswithinalocaleconomy,eventuallyprovidingbenefitstoindividualsandbusinessesthatareunaffiliatedwiththefilmproductiondirectly.Ofcourse,servingasaprimaryshootinglocationfora$100millionfilmprojectdoesnotmeanagivenjurisdictionwillseethefilmsentirebudgetspentwithintheirborders.EvenforCaliforniabasedfilms,thiswouldtodaybearareoccurrence.Determiningwherefilmmakersspendtheirbudgetsisverydifficult,giventhatfullproductionbudgetsareneverdisclosed,excepttohiredauditors.Complicatingmattersfurther,mostfeaturefilmsproducedtodayusemultiplejurisdictionsthroughouteverystageofdevelopment(forexamples,refertoAppendixA:CaseStudiesinGlobalFilmProduction).Locationspecificspendinginformationformoviesthatshotinoneormorelocationsisonlyreadilyavailableforfilmsproducedinstatesorcountriesthat:A) offerfilmincentives;B) requireauditsofqualified
productionspending,and;C) choosetomakethatinformation
publiclyavailable.
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Theproliferationofgovernmentprogramsdesignedtoattractfilmproductionhasledtooneveryusefuldevelopmentforfilmindustryresearchers.Today,itispossiblealthoughstillratherdifficulttocompareproductionspendingacrossdifferentjurisdictions.1OureffortsstartedinLouisiana.Louisianaisamong
thehandfulofstatesthatreportonlocalfilmproductionspending.ItdoesthisbyreviewingauditedfinancialssubmittedbyfilmproducersasaconditionofobtainingtheLouisianaMotionPictureInvestorTaxCredit.AccordingtotheLouisianaOfficeofEconomicDevelopment(LED),15ofthe18trackedmoviesproducedinLouisianasubmittedcompleteauditsbytheendof2013.AccordingtoFilmL.A.sresearch,thetotalbudgetvalueofthese15filmswasapproximaely$764million.Louisianasreportedshareofthatspendingtotaled$587million,or77percentoftotalbudgetvalue.
AssumingthatpercentageholdsforallLouisianafilming,estimatedtotalspendingwouldreach$750millionifallofLouisianas18trackedfilmswereincluded.Thesametechniquecanbeappliedtoestimateproductionspendinginotherstates.ObtainingasimilarnumberforCaliforniarequiresadifferentapproach.First,accordingtotheLosAngelesEconomicDevelopmentCorporation(LAEDC),92percentofallproductionspendinginCaliforniaiswhollysourcedfromwithinthestate.Thisfigureappliestoliveactionfilms.Becauseofthestatesmassiveinfrastructureanddeepvendorsupplybase,veryfewgoodsorpeopleneedtobeimported
1Percentagesources:2012BritishColumbiaFilmCommissionProductionStatistics;CMPAProfile2012Report;2013BritishFilmInstituteStatisticalYearbook.Georgiasspendingestimatestemsfroma2010economicimpactreportcommissionedbytheMPAAandpreparedbyMeyersNorrisPenny(MNP).
Location Movies BudgetValue(millions)
Amount/PercentSpentinLocation
Canada 15 $1,267 $887million(70%)U.K. 12 $1,171 $843million(72%)California 15 $1,083 $1.001billion(91%)Louisiana 18 $976 $750million(77%)Georgia 9 $415 $261million(63%)NorthCarolina
4 $274 $145million(53%)Michigan 1 $200 $105million(53%)Pennsylvania 2 $185 $109million(59%)Florida 1 $25 $21million(84%)
CaliforniaProject Budget Incentive JobsMonstersUniversity $200 Ineligible 1117StarTrek:IntoDarkness $185 Ineligible 2074Frozen $150 Ineligible 426TheCroods $135 Ineligible 350Turbo $135 Ineligible 350TheHangoverIII $103 Ineligible 553GangsterSquad $75 Yes 616SavingMr.Banks $35 Yes 351TheIncredibleBurtWonderstone
$30 Yes 340
BattleoftheYear $20 No 317TheCall $15 Yes 421Movie43 $6 No 979InsidiousChapter2 $5 Yes 320ThePurge $3 No 194FillyBrown:ThisisMyLife
$1.25 No 158
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intoCaliforniatosustainlocalfeaturefilmproduction.Forbiggerbudgetanimatedmovies,productionoccursmostlyinCalifornia.2WhileCaliforniasshareofproductionspendingontheseanimatedmoviesmaybeatornear100percent,FilmL.A.haschosentoapplyamoreconservativeestimateof90percent.TheLureofIncentives:Industryexpertswidelyagreethatfilmtaxincentivesaretheprimarycauseofrunawayproduction.Withoutexception,thetopfilminglocationsarerecognizedproductioncenterswithmodesttorobustfilmindustryinfrastructureandtalent.However,withtheexceptionofCalifornia,allofthetopfivelocationsalsooffersubstantialuncappedfilmincentiveprograms.Location FilmIncentive TypeofBenefitLouisiana 30%ofqualifyinglocalspendincludingthepayrollfor
residentsandnonresidents,and5%additionalforresidentpayroll
Partiallyrefundable,fullytransferablefilmtaxcredits;canbetransferredtothestateofLouisianafor85%offacevalue
Georgia 20%ofthebaseinvestmentinthestate,plus10%ifthequalifiedproductionactivitiesincludeaGeorgiapromotionallogoincredits.
Fullytransferabletaxcredit
UnitedKingdom
2025%ofallqualifyinglocalUKspend RefundabletaxcreditBritishColumbia(Canada)
33%ofqualifyingBritishColumbia(BC)laborexpenditures;DigitalAnimationorVisualEffects(DAVE)Creditbonus:17.5%additionalcreditonqualifyingDAVElabor
Refundabletaxcredit
Ontario(Canada)
25%ofqualifyingOntarioexpenditures(notlimitedtoONlabor);Bonuses:ComputerAnimationandSpecialEffects20%ofqualifyinglaborrelatedtodigitalanimationandspecialeffectswork
Refundabletaxcredit
Quebec(Canada)
25%ofqualifyingQuebec(QC)expenditures(notlimitedtoQClabor);Bonuses:QCComputerAnimationandSpecialEffectsTaxCredit=20%additionalcreditonqualifyinganimationandspecialeffectsQClabor
Refundabletaxcredit
CaliforniahasitsownFilm&TelevisionTaxCreditProgram,enactedin2009.Incomparisontotheprogramsofferedbyotherstates,theCaliforniaFilm&TelevisionTaxCreditProgramissubjecttotwosubstantiallimitations.First,asofthetimeofthisreport,California'sprogramhasanannualcapof$100millioninavailabletaxcredits.Second,featurefilmprojectswithbudgetsinexcessof$75millionarecompletelyineligiblefortheprogram.Foraprogramintendedtohelpreverserunawayproduction,Californiasincentiveentirelyignoresfilmprojectscarryingthegreatesteconomicvaluewiththegreatestpropensitytorunaway:bigbudgetfeatures.
2TheprimarystudiofacilitiesforPixar,WaltDisneyAnimationandDreamWorksarealllocatedinCalifornia.
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OtherthanStarTrek:IntoDarknessandTheHangoverPartIII,Californiahostedjustnineotherliveactionmoviesinthisstudy,whichenjoyedacombinedbudgetvalueof$194millioninspending.Fiveofthesefilms(accounting$161millioninspending)wereonlyabletofilminCaliforniabecauseofthestatestaxcreditprogram.ThereisamisperceptionthatrunawayproductionhappensbecauseCaliforniaistooexpensiveandlocationslikeGeorgiaorBritishColumbiaaresimplycheaper.ButasVansStevenson,seniorvicepresidentforgovernmentaffairsattheMPAAnotedinJanuary2014,Californiaisactuallylessexpensivetofilmthanmostofitscompetitorsonalevelplayingfieldfreeofgovernmentincentives:
Letssaythegrosstotalbudgetofabigtentpoleis$251million.IfyoutakethatfilmtoVancouver,forexample,thatsamepicturebeforecreditwouldbe$259$260million.Youvegotthe(extra)costofhotelsandhousingforcastandkeycrewyoubringfromL.A.,aswellaspeopleyouhireontheground.Buttheincentivethereisworthabout$18million.Soyourereducingthatbudgetfrom$251to$241million.Thatsabigsavings.InPontiac,Michigan,itwouldbe$270milliontogothere.Butthecreditisalmost$35million,soinsteadof$251youredownto$235million.AndinCalifornia,anymovieover$75milliondoesntqualifyforthecredit,soifyoureshootingatentpoleyougetnocreditinCalifornia.
Filmincentiveawardamountstoindividualproductionswereavailablefor38ofthemoviesinthisstudy.Inall,these38moviesreceivedatleast$495millionincreditsfromvariousstateandnationalgovernments.Movie Incentive
Amount(millions)
PrimaryLocation
Secondary Budget JurisdictionReportedSpending(millions)
TheGreatGatsby $85 Australia $190 TheWolverine Australia:$26 Australia Japan $100 Australia:$80Peeples Connecticut:
$2.85Connecticut NewYork $11 Connecticut:$9.5
TheBigWedding $8.3 Connecticut $30 $27.70Pain&Gain $2.97 Florida $35 $14.8BeautifulCreatures $12.3 Louisiana $50 $39.30BullettotheHead Louisiana:$10.6 Louisiana NewYork $40 Louisiana:$34.4G.I.Joe:Retaliation Louisiana$30.4 Louisiana British
Columbia$125 Louisiana:$98
12YearsaSlave $4.9 Louisiana $22 $15.482Guns Louisiana:$17.63 Louisiana NewMexico $61 Louisiana$57.5BrokenCity $8.4 Louisiana NewYork $35 Louisiana:$27.5EndersGame Louisiana:$17.85 Louisiana California $110 Louisiana:$58.24EscapePlan $16.6 Louisiana $40 $53.80TheButler $7.9 Louisiana $30 $24.90NowYouSeeMe Louisiana:$14.37 Louisiana NewYork,
Nevada$75 Louisiana$46.3
OlympusHasFallen $17.7 Louisiana $70 $57.57Parker Louisiana:$8.16 Louisiana Florida $31 Louisiana:$26.66
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Movie IncentiveAmount(millions)
PrimaryLocation
Secondary Budget JurisdictionReportedSpending(millions)
August:OsageCounty
Oklahoma:$5 Oklahoma $37 $37LoneSurvivor NewMexico:$4.5 NewMexico $40 NewMexico$18
(estimated)Snitch $4.4 Louisiana $25 $14.30TexasChainsaw3D $4.9 Louisiana $20 $15.77Oldboy $5.3 Louisiana $30 $17R.I.P.D. $26.6 Massachusetts $130 $106.36OztheGreatandPowerful
$39.8 Michigan $200 $104.80
TheHobbit:TheDesolationofSmaug
$25.8 NewZealand $217
IronMan3 NorthCarolina:$20;Florida:$1.6
NorthCarolina Florida,LosAngeles
$200 NorthCarolina:$81Florida:$6.25
SafeHaven $4.2 NorthCarolina $17 $17.20TheConjuring $4.2 NorthCarolina $20 $16.99Paranoia $6.8 Pennsylvania $35 AfterEarth Pennsylvania:
$20.4;Utah:$1Pennsylvania CostaRica,
CA,UT$150 Utah:$4.8 million;
PA:$82million;CA:$2
GangsterSquad $9.9 California $75 $75TheIncredibleBurtWonderstone
$4.8 California LasVegas $34 California:$33
TheCall $1.4 California $15 $12SavingMr.Banks $2.4(est) California London $36 N/AInsidiousChapter2 $1.2 California $5 N./A47Ronin Hungary:$3.8 UK Hungary,
Japan$175 Hungary:$19
Thor:TheDarkWorld
UK:$17.3 UK Iceland $170 Rush UK/Germany:$9 UK Germany $54 TheLureofLocations:Areexoticlocationsstillalureforfilmmakers?Itseemsunlikely.Intoday'sfeaturefilmbusiness,creativeconcernsandrealisminfilmsettingaretrumpedbyeconomicrealities.FilmsthataresetinCalifornia(oranyotherlocation)arefilmedinalternatelocationsworldwide.Furthermore,thenaturaladvantagesforfilminginCalifornialikeadiverselandscape,goodweather,askilledworkforceandnetworkoflocalsupportservicesarenowseenasirrelevantoravailablefromoneofCaliforniasmanycompetitors.
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ForCaliforniastatepolicymakers,thispresentsaspecialchallenge.Forexample,onepopularbutweakcriticismoftheCaliforniaFilm&TelevisionTaxCreditProgramisthatitissomehowwasteful,becauseoffearsthatitmaybenefitprojectsthatwouldjustfilminCaliforniaanyway.Thisviewisdemonstrablyfalse.Forexample,theproducersofSavingMr.Banksoriginallyplannedtoshootsubstantial
portionsoftheirfilminAustralia,butunexpectedlyfailedtoqualifyforthe40percentproducersoffsetincentiveofferedthere.ThefilmwaseventuallyawardedataxcreditinCalifornia.HaditnotbeenawardedtheCaliforniaincentive,itsunlikelytheproductionwouldhaveremainedinthestate.OrconsiderTheCall,amoviefeaturinga911callcenteroperatorthatissetwhollyinLosAngeles.AfterbeingwaitlistedforfilmcreditsinCalifornia,thefilmmakerscommencedpreproductionworkin
Toronto,Ontariototakeadvantageofincentivesthere.ThefilmeventuallycametoLosAngeles,butonlyafteritwaspulledoffCalifornia'sincentivewaitlistatthe11thhour.Asthechartshows,moviessetinCaliforniacaneasilybefilmedinotherstatesornations.LikeproducersonTheCall,whenfilmssetinCaliforniaareunabletoutilizethestatesfilmincentive,mostfilmoutsidethestate,takinghundredsofmillionsinproductionspendingandthousandsofjobstootherlocations.
ProjectsSetinCalifornia
PrimaryFilmingLocation Budget(millions)
Battle:LosAngeles(2011)
Louisiana30%incentive
$100RiseofthePlanetoftheApes(2011)
Vancouver,BritishColumbia33%incentive
$93
RockofAges(2012) Florida20%incentive,$8millionprojectcap.
$75
ThisistheEnd(2013) NewOrleans,Louisiana $32Elysium(2013) Vancouver,BritishColumbia
33%incentive$115
IronMan3(2013) NorthCarolina25%incentive
$200TheInternship(2013) Georgia
30%incentive$58
Godzilla(2014) Vancouver,BritishColumbia33%incentive
$160(est.)
Taken3(2014) Georgia30%incentive
$50(min.est)
Location Movies SetinLocation PartiallySet SetElsewhereLouisiana 18 2 2 14Canada 15 0 0 15California 15 9 0 6U.K. 12 5 2 5Georgia 9 1 0 8Massachusetts 5 3 0 2NorthCarolina 4 1 0 3NewMexico 3 0 0 3NewYork 4 4 0 0
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Number of Top 25 Live-Action Movies Filmed in California: 1997-2013
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
No.
ofM
ovies
AccordingtodataprovidedtoFilmL.A.bytheCaliforniaFilmCommission(CFC),from20102013atotalof77filmprojectsappliedforbutwerenotawardedaCaliforniastatefilmincentiveandthenwentontocompleteproduction.Mostoftheseprojectsfledthestate;morethan66percent(51count)oftheseprojectseventuallyfilmedoutsideofCaliforniainplaceswereincentiveswereavailable.Thecombinedbudgetvalueofthese77projectswas$1.08billion,with85percentofthatspentbyprojectsfilmedoutsideCalifornia.ThelossfortheCaliforniaeconomyexceeded$914million.California'sDiminishingReturns:Excludinganimatedmovies,31ofthe108filmstrackedinthisstudyhadbudgetsover$75million.JusttwoofthesefilmedinCalifornia:StarTrek:IntoDarkness($185million)&TheHangoverPartIII($103million).GiventhefinancialsuccessoftheHangoverfranchiseand(mostly)Californiasettingforthethirdfilm,TheHangoverPartIIIwasnotforcedtochaselucrativeincentivesandfilmelsewhere.TheprimaryreasonStarTrek:IntoDarknessfilmedinCaliforniawasduetotheinsistenceofDirectorJ.J.Abrams.NowthatAbramsisalsodirectingthenewStarWarsmoviesintheUnitedKingdom,ParamounthassignaledtheywillshootthenextStarTrekfilmoutsideCaliforniaaswell.Lookingaheadto2014releases,justtwoliveactionmovieswithestimatedbudgetsabove$100millionshotprimarilyinCalifornia:CaptainAmerica:TheWinterSoldierandInterstellar.SojustwhendidCalifornialoseitsgriponbigbudgetfeatures?Thecollapseunfoldedquickly,overaperiodofalittlemorethanadecade.
In2013,roughly75%oftheboxofficemarketsharebelongedtotheMajors.AddingintheMiniMajors,moviesproducedbythese11studiosaccountedforover93%oftheworldwideboxofficein2013.Themoviesproducedbythesestudioshavethelargestbudgetsand,typically,thehighestgrosses.In2013,21ofthetop25moviesattheworldwideboxofficehadbudgetsover$100million.Onlyonemovieinthetop25hadabudgetbelow$75million,whichwasTheConjuringat$20million.Forcompetingfilmingcenters
acrosstheworld,hostingashareofprincipalproductionofthesetop25moviespromisesmassiveeconomicbenefits.Thecombinedbudgetsofthetop25moviestotaledmorethan$3.5billionin2013.
14
Fifteenyearsago,Californiasshareofthetop25movies(includingbothanimated&liveaction)attheworldwideboxofficewasacommanding68%;forliveactiononly,Californiassharewas64%.After15yearsofunabatedrunawayproduction,Californiasmarketshareofthetop25animatedandliveactionmoviesdroppedtojust24%in2013.Excludinganimatedfilms,Californiasshareofthetop25moviesin2013collapsedtojust8%.Thisisabreathtakinglysteepandrapiddecline.Californiasmarketsharein2013comparedto1997isabysmalbyothermeasuresaswell.In1997,ofjustthetop25moviesattheboxoffice,17weremadeinCalifornia.ThatstwomorethanweremadeinCalifornia(15)outofall108moviesincludedinthisreport.FilmL.A.sanalysisofthetop25moviesattheworldwideboxofficeechoesthefindingofaDecember2013studyconductedbytheLosAngelesTimes.AccordingtotheTimes,whichlookedatprimaryandsecondaryfilminglocationsforthetop1003boxofficemoviesfor1997&2012,Californiassharedroppedby60%,from57movieswhollyorpartiallyshotinthestatein1997tojust23in2012.Theanalysisaboveservestohighlightaverybasic,yetfundamentallyimportant,point:bigbudgetmoviesaresimplynotbeingmadeinCaliforniaanymore.Thisisn'trunawayproduction,it's"ranawayproduction."A. OnLocationFeatureProductionIntheLosAngelesregion,oneofthemainmeasuresoffilmproductionactivityisFilmL.A.Research'sQuarterlyOnLocationProductionReport.ThereportsdetailthenumberofPermittedProductionDays(PPDs)foronlocationfilminginareasservedbyFilmL.A.WhilethenumberoffeaturePPDswasupto6,996in2013fromanalltimelowofjust4,976in2009,the2013levelsarestill50percentbelowthepeakhighin1996,theyearbeforethefirstsignificantCanadianfilmtaxcreditstookeffect.AcloserlookattheliveactionfeaturefilmingpermitdatarevealsadeclineintheeconomicvalueoftheaverageL.A.basedfeature.Ofthe584uniquefeaturefilmsthatshotonlocationintheLosAngelesregionin2013,just21hadcrewsof100peopleormore.Morethan500oftheprojectsemployedcrewsofjust40orfewerpeople.The21movieswithcrewsof100ormoreaccountedfor8%(533PPDs)ofallonlocationfeaturefilminginL.A.in2013.UnderscoringtheimpactoftheCaliforniaFilm&TelevisionTaxCreditProgramwasthefactthatfourofthe21movieswithcrewsover100peoplewerestateincentivized.Ofthe533PPDsattributedtothe21movieswithcrewsof100ormore,38%oftheactivitywasfromthefourincentivizedmovies.AccordingtotheIndependentFilm&TelevisionAlliance(IFTA),roughly400independentfilmsareproducedeachyearwithbudgetsof$50millionorless,andfortheseprojectstheaveragecrewsizeis30people.Althoughthismaynotlooklikemuchonaperprojectbasiscomparedwithalargebudgetfeature,thecumulativejobimpactofindependentfilmproductionissignificant,asisthecumulativebenefitofindependentproductionspending.
3TheLosAngelesTimesstudyexcludedanimatedmovies,inadditiontorereleases,documentariesandliveperformances.
15
Unfortunately,aswithlargerbudgetprojects,themajorityofindependentfilmswithbudgetsbetween$1millionto$50millionarefilmedoutsideofCalifornia.Oneofthefewexceptionswas2011sDrive,acriticallyacclaimedindependentfilmthatwasabletoshootinCaliforniaundertheFilm&TelevisionTaxCreditProgram.DrivefilmedextensivelyonlocationinLosAngeles,pouring$16millionintotheCaliforniaeconomyandemployingacrewof110andacastof60.B. AnimatedFeatureProductionManyanimatedfeaturefilmsareproducedeachyearinCalifornia,andtheyareincludedinthisstudybecausetheywouldbeconspicuousbytheirabsence,andbecausetheysustainnumerousCaliforniabasedenterprises.In2010,forthefirsttimeonrecord,thenumberoftop25animatedfilmsproducedwithinCaliforniaexceededthenumberoftop25liveactionmoviesproducedinCalifornia,atrendthatcontinuedin2012and2013.AndwhilethepresenceofanimatedmoviesproducedwithinCaliforniahasbuoyedthestatesoverallfeatureproductionmarketshare,thisadvantageisbeginningtodiminish.Ofthe10animatedmoviesreleasedin2013thatwerepartofthisstudy,justfourwereproducedinCalifornia.
Movie PrincipalLocation BudgetFrozen California $150MonstersUniversity California $200Turbo California $135TheCroods California $135Epic Connecticut $100FreeBirds Texas $55Planes Mumbai,India $50DespicableMe2 France $78EscapeFromPlanetEarth Vancouver,BritishColumbia $40CloudyWithaChanceofMeatballs2
Vancouver,BritishColumbia $78
CompetinganimationstudiosinotherUSstates(e.g.,ReelFXCreativeStudiosinTexasandBlueSkyStudiosinConnecticut)andnations(e.g.,PranaStudiosinIndia,IlluminationStudiosinFranceandRainmakerStudiosinCanada)arechippingawayatCaliforniasanimationleadershipposition.Inadditiontonewanimationstudiosinotherpartsoftheworld,CaliforniaisalsofacingcompetitionfromstateandnationalgovernmentsseekingtorelocateexistinganimationfacilitiesawayfromCalifornia.ExtremelygeneroussubsidiesinVancouver,BritishColumbiaenticedPixarAnimationandSonyPicturesImageworkstoopensatellitelocationsintheProvincein2010.WhilePixarannouncedplanstocloseits100personVancouverfacilityin2013,SonyImageworksdecideddoublethesizeofitsstudiospaceinthecityandgrowitsVancouverworkforcefrom100peopletomorethan250.InJanuary2014,SonyImageworksannouncedlayoffsatitsSouthernCaliforniafacilityandthatitwasshiftingmorepositionstoVancouver.AstheworkforceinBritishColumbiagrows,itshrinksinCalifornia.In2012,DreamWorksAnimationannouncedplanstoopenastudioinShanghai,ChinawiththeformationofOrientalDreamWorks,ajointventurewithtwostateownedChinesemediacompanies.Roughlyonethirdoftheworkon2015sKungFuPanda3willoccurinChina,andOrientalDreamWorks
16
firstoriginalanimatedmoviewillfollowin2017.DreamWorksCEOJeffreyKatzenbergsaidthesizeofthestudioinChinacouldeventuallysurpassDreamWorksheadquartersinGlendale,California,whichemploysmorethan2,000people.Itappearsthatjobgrowthishappeningintheanimationworld,butitshappeninginplaceslikeChina,notCalifornia.C. VisualEffectsWork(VFX)FilmL.A.isawareofawidelyheldbeliefthatwhileCaliforniamayloseoutonprincipalphotographyduetorunawayproduction,thestateisstillthebeneficiaryofthebulkofpostproductionandvisualeffectswork.Simplystated,manybelievethatsomehow,filmworkjustcomesbacktoCalifornia.Mountingevidencedemonstratesthatthisisnottrue.TheUKandCanadahavebothusurpedCalifornia(andtheUnitedStates)asglobalcentersforVFXwork.ThisisaconcernforCaliforniabecausethebiggestbudgetfeaturesspendmuchoftheirproductionbudgetsonpostandVFX.Ananalysisofthe25liveactionmovieswithbudgetsover$100millionrevealsthatalmosthalfofthetotaljobsonthesemovieswenttoVFXartists.TrackingandcountingVFXjobsisparticularlychallenging.BoththeVFXindustryandthemajorVFXcompaniesthemselveshavegoneglobal.Historically,thebulkoftheVFXindustryandthemajorVFXhouseswereconcentratedinSouthernCalifornia,butthisisnolongerthecase.MostofthemajorVFXhousesnowoperatewithmultiplesatellitelocationsallovertheworld.ThehotlocationsforVFXworkarealloutsideofCalifornia(andtheUS).Vancouver,Montreal,London,Singapore,India,AustraliaandNewZealandarejustsomeofthelocationsboomingwithgrowthwhileCaliforniasVFXsectorwithersaway.Consideranexample.In2012,IndustrialLight&Magic(ILM),thelargestremainingCaliforniavisualeffectscompany,openedanewofficeinVancouverandhiredroughly100VFXartiststoworkonseveralcontractedprojectsinBritishColumbia.InJanuary2014,ILMannounceditwoulddoublethesizeofitsVancouverworkforcefrom100to200employees.ILMalsoconfirmeditwasopeningafacilityinLondontoperformworkonTheAvengers:AgeofUltron,followedbytheforthcomingStarWarssequels,whichwillfilmprimarilyintheUnitedKingdom.WhileILMinsistsithasnointentionoferodingitscoreworkforceinCaliforniabyopeningbranchesinVancouverandLondon,mostreportedgrowthatthecompanyisoccurringoverseasinincentiverichdestinations,insteadofinCalifornia.WiththerecentcollapseofotherCaliforniaVFXcompanieslikeRhythm&HuesandDigitalDomain,whicheachemployedmorethan1,000peopleattheirpeak,ILMisnowCaliforniasonlyremainingVFXpowerhouseinastatewheretheVFXindustrywaspioneered.VFXandanimationcompanieslikeILMandPixarAnimationarebothlocatedinNorthernCalifornia,whereatleastfornowtheycontinuetoemploythousandsofhighskillandhighwageworkers.
17
Movie TotalJobs4
VFXJobs PrimaryVFXLocations/Jobs SecondaryVFXLocations/JobsTheLoneRanger 1478 394 California,241 London/Vancouver,141ManofSteel 2215 1438 NewZealand,Weta:359 MPC,London/Vancouver,308;DoubleNegative,
London,290;California,Legend3D,150TheHobbit:TheDesolationofSmaug
2720 1153 NewZealand,Weta:1153
OztheGreatandPowerful
1096 520 SonyPicturesImageworksVancouver/California:283
LumaPictures,California,40;ThirdFloor,London/California,60
IronMan3 2,500 1,322 NewZealand,Weta,511 California:260;Vancouver:123;Germany:87;UK:102;Australia:24
JacktheGiantSlayer 1605 607 DigitalDomainVancouver/California
Vancouver;UK
WorldWarZ 1899 606 UK CaliforniaPacificRim 1938 1158 ILMCalifornia&Singapore:
464;StereoD(Burbank):189Montreal;Canada;China
TheGreatGatsby 1282 556 Australia:314 California;UK;VancouverStarTrekIntoDarkness
2074 1081 ILMCalifornia207;StereoD(Burbank):247
ILMSingapore,BatonRouge,Frankfurt,Burbank,London,Berlin,ShanghaiandBaseFx,China
47Ronin 1793 825 UK:599 California;VancouverThor:TheDarkWorld 2142 1142 UK:672 LumaPicturesL.A.&Melbourne;Method
StudiosL.A./Vancouver;DoubleNegativeSingapore;PranaStudiosMumbai
Fast&Furious6 1282 606 UK:400 Singapore;Vancouver;California;ChinaWhiteHouseDown 986 359 UK;Vancouver;Montreal California;India;GermanyAfterEarth 1102 318 California;Germany;Australia Pennsylvania;MexicoOblivion 1260 441 California
R.I.P.D. 1269 653 California VancouverGravity 848 488 UK:392 AustraliaTheHungerGames:CatchingFire
1869 595 NewZealandWeta:121;DoubleNegativeUK/Singapore:242
Australia;Montreal;California
G.I.Joe:Retaliation 1626 681 California;UK;Vancouver Singapore;ChinaElysium 940 346 Vancouver:264 California;NewZealandEndersGame 1041 490 Vancouver:319 Spain;CaliforniaTheSmurfs2 872 495 Vancouver France;Montreal;IndiaTheHangoverPartIII 553 36 California TheWolverine 1,391 560 NewZealandWeta:233 Australia;CaliforniaTotal: 37,781 16,870
D. Music&ScoringWorkJustaswithprincipalphotographyandVFX,Californiadoesnothavealockonthejobsandspendingthatgotowardcreatingfilmscores.Onalargebudgetmovie,musicalscoringcangenerate$250,000ormoreinwagesandprovidejobsfor80100ormorestudiomusicians.Fewerthanhalfofthefilm4BaselineStudioSystem,supplementedwithinformationfromIMDBpro,wasusedtocalculatetotaljobcountsandVFXjobcounts.
18
02468
1012141618
Louisiana Canada UK California
TopLiveActionLocations:No.ofMovies
projectsinthisstudy(43)werescoredinCalifornia.Atleast26movieswerescoredinLondon,makingtheU.K.Californiasclosestcompetitorformusicandscoringwork.Scoringforasinglemediumbudgetmoviecanhaveasignificanteconomicimpactforthelocaleconomyandputhundredsofpeopletoworkeitherpreparingequipmentforthescoringsessionorperformingintheorchestraforthescoreitself.Trackingthesejobsisnearimpossible,asmusiciansarerarelyincludedinafilmsfinalcredits.Forthe$35millionSavingMr.Banks,filmmakersput120musiciansandsupportpersonneltoworkforatotalof178hoursofscoring.E. FilmProductionVendorsWhenCalifornialosesliveactionmovies,italsobeginstolosethevendorcompaniesthatmakeupthecoreofthestatesfilmbusiness.TherearethousandsofsuchfirmsinCalifornia.Manyaresmallbusinesseswithfewerthantenemployees.OnevendorusedonSavingMr.BankswasChefRobrtMotionPictureCatering.WhileworkingonSavingMr.Banks,thissinglevendorutilized83subvendorsoverthecourseoftheproduction.LikemanyfilmindustryvendorsinSouthernCalifornia,ChefRobrtMotionPictureCateringhasbeencompelledtooperateincompetinglocationslikeGeorgiaandLouisiana.StarWaggons,whosetrailervehiclesusedtobesynonymouswithfilmingonCaliforniastreets,nowhassatelliteoperationsinNewMexico,LouisianaandGeorgia.CaliforniabasedIndependentStudioServices(ISS),whichspecializesinproprentalsandgraphicwork,hasopenedsatellitelocationsinsixcompetingstatesandafacilityintheUnitedKingdomaswell.AccordingtoISS,thecompanynowderivesover50percentofitsrevenuefromitssatellitelocationsoutsideCalifornia.ConclusionAllsectorsofCaliforniasfilmindustryareunderheavyassaultfromdomesticandinternationalcompetitors,alleagertopermanentlycaptureasliceoftheHollywoodpie.ThenegativeeconomicimpactforCaliforniaiswellintothebillionsofdollarsonanannualbasis.Thespeedatwhichrunawayproductionishappeningandthesubsequenterosionofastateindustrycomposedofover6,000corebusinessesisdizzying.Fifteenyearsago,Californiacouldclaimmoretop25boxofficefilmsthanonecanfind
SavingMr.Banks Jobs WagesMusicPreparation 16 $26,278ScoringMusicians 104 $167,390Total 120 $193,668
19
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
UK Canada Louisiana California
TopLiveActionLocations:Spending
Millions
1,000
3,000
5,000
7,000
9,000
11,000
13,000
Louisiana UK Canada California
TopLiveActionLocations:Jobsamongall108filmsincludedinthisstudy.In2013,Californiasremainingproductionshareiswhollyproppedupbytheproductionofbigbudgetanimatedfeatures.Tobesure,thespendingandjobsfromtheseanimatedmoviesarecriticaltothestateserodingfilmindustry,andweinnowaywishtodiscountthem.However,theindirectimpactofanimatedfilmproductionisrelativelysmallcomparedtoliveactionmovieproduction.ByFilmL.A.estimates,leavingoutanimatedmovies(andtheirassociatedjobs&spending),Californiadoesnotrankinthetopthreejurisdictionsintotalliveactionfeatureprojects,spendingorjobs.Californianowranksadistantfourthplaceplayerinallthreemeasures.ThisisclearlynottheHollywoodendingthatCaliforniafilmpioneershadinmind.
20
StudyMethodology:Thegoalofthisstudywastodeterminewhereeachofour108trackedfilmswasproduced,whytheyfilmedinaparticularlocation(s),howmuchtheyspent,wheretheyspentitandthelocaleconomicimpacttheycreated,whenknown.Thatprovedtobenoeasytask.TrackingOverseasFeatureProductionGiventhetremendouseconomicimportanceofthe100+bigbudgetmoviesreleasedbytheMajorsandMiniMajorseachyear,thereislittlepubliclyavailableinformationaboutwhereandhowthebillionsofdollarsittakestoproducetheseprojectsarespent.InplaceslikeCanada,theUKandothers,regularreportingandtrackingoffilm&televisionproduction(muchofitfromtheUS)isagovernmentconcernatthenationallevel.Projectleveldataforthe108specificmoviesincludedinthisstudywasnotdisclosedtoFilmL.A.bytherelevantgovernmentagenciesinthevariousforeignnationsthathostedthem,specificallytheUKandCanada.However,thesheervolumeofspendingdataanddetailedaggregatebreakoutsfordifferenttypesofactivityreportedbyCanada,theUK,AustraliaandNewZealandprovidedawealthofinformationthatwasusefulforthisstudy.TrackingDomesticFeatureProductionHistorically,filmproductionwasnotwelltrackedintheUnitedStates,eitheratthefederalorstatelevel.Fortunatelyforresearchers,theproliferationofdomesticfilmincentiveprogramsresultedintheformationofnewstateauthoritiestooverseethem.Thishascreatedapatchworkofhighlydetailed,publiclyavailablefilmingreportsthatdidnotpreviouslyexist.Thequalityandtransparencyoffilmindustrydatavariesconsiderably,however,fromstatetostate.Fortunately,detailedinformationfromkeystates(includingCalifornia,Louisiana,Massachusetts,Pennsylvania,NorthCarolina,ConnecticutandMichigan)thathostedmanyofthe108moviesinthestudywasavailable.Withoutthiscoreinformation,producingausefulstudywouldhavebeenextremelydifficult,ifnotimpossible.Somestates(Louisiana,NorthCarolinaorMichiganareexamples)requirerigorousauditsandopenlyreportspecificsincludinghowamuchaspecificfilmspentinthestate,reliablebudgetnumbers,howmanyresidentornonresidentworkersand/orbusinessesproductionshireorpay,andevenhowmuchstatemoneywaspaidundertheincentiveprogramtospecificproductionsbyname.LouisianasDepartmentofEconomicDevelopment(DED)wasextremelyhelpfulinrespondingtomultipledatarequests.WhiletheinformationobtainedfromLouisianaisnotreadilyavailableonline,itisreadilyavailabletoanyonewhocontactsDEDdirectly.AttheotherendofthespectrumarestateslikeNewMexico,whichunhelpfullyonlyreportonfilmproductionspendingandemploymentintheaggregate.TheStateofGeorgia,whichrecentlysurpassedLouisianainannualproductionspending,isperhapstheworstoffenderintermsofreportingandtransparency.TheonlyinformationGeorgiareleasesarethe
21
titlesofselectprojectsthatfilmedinthestateandtheaggregateamountofallproductionspendingfrommajormoviesdowntoTVcommercials.LackofconcretedatamaystempartlyfromthefactthatGeorgiasfilmincentiveprogramdoesntrequireaspendingaudit.Ofthetop10statesforfilmandtelevisionproductionactivityintheUS,Georgiaistheonlystatelackinganauditrequirement.TrackingUsingOnlineDatabases&MediaOutlets:Therearenowseveralrobust,credibleandvaluableonlinedatabasesthatofferemploymentinformation,budgetestimates,shootinglocations,studioinvolvementandboxofficeperformance.Typically,thesedatabasesrequirepaidsubscriptions.Allonlinedatabases(paidorunpaid)ourresearchersconsultedforthisstudyarelistedinthesourcessectionbelow.Inaddition,variousspendingamounts,budgetinformationandfilmincentiveawardamountsforseveralofthemoviesinthisstudywasreportedbycrediblemediaoutletsand/ordisclosedbyfilmmakersthemselves.Accordingly,thisinformationwasincludedtohelpsupplementthestudy.Sources:AnnualFilmTaxCredit/TransparencyReports:BritishColumbiaColoradoConnecticutFloridaLouisianaMassachusettsMichiganNewYorkNewZealandNorthCarolinaOntarioPennsylvaniaQuebecTexasUnitedKingdomUtahOnlinedatabases:BaselineStudioSystemBoxOfficeMojoIMDbProOther:AmandaLeeMcDonaldAllenMaris,VisualEffectsProducerTheAnimationGuild,I.A.T.S.E.Local839AmericanFederationofMusicians,Local47BritishColumbiaFilm&Media
22
BritishFilmInstituteCaliforniaFilmCommissionCanadianMediaProductionAssociationChefRobrtMotionPictureCateringConnecticutDepartmentofEconomicDevelopmentDreamWorksAnimationIllinoisFilmOfficeIndustrialLight&MagicLosAngelesEconomicDevelopmentCorporationLouisianaDepartmentofEconomicDevelopmentLumaPicturesMajornews&mediaoutletsMotionPictureAssociationofAmericaScreenAustraliaWarnerBros.
23
APPENDIXA:CaseStudiesinGlobalFilmProductionAfterEarthAccordingtoarecentLosAngelesTimesreport,SonysAfterEarthfilmedinNorthernCaliforniafornearlytwoweeksandspentroughly$2millioninHumboldtCounty.SincethescoreforthemoviewasrecordedinLosAngelesandsomeoftheVFXworkwasdonebyCaliforniabasedVFXhouses,itslikelythetotalamountofmoneyspentbytheproductioninCaliforniaexceededthe$2milliontheTimesreported.Butnotbymuch.FilmingonAfterEarthoccurredprimarilyinPennsylvania,withsecondaryfilminginUtahandCostaRicainadditiontoCalifornia.SincePennsylvaniaandUtahofferfilmtaxcreditsanddisclosewhoreceivesthem,theexactamountofinstatespendingandthenumberofjobscreatedisamatterofpublicrecord.CostaRica,ontheotherhand,lacksanincentiveandhasnowayoftrackinghowmuchamovielikeAfterEarthspentwhileshootingthere.Finally,theamountofAfterEarthsbudgetthatwasspentonvisualeffectsatcreditedVFXhousesinMexico,GermanyandAustraliaisnotpubliclyavailable,butit'sprobablyquitesubstantial.Withanestimatedbudgetof$130to$150million,andonly$90millioninproductionspendingaccountedfor,thefullproductionpictureforAfterEarthremainsaglobalmystery.ManofSteelAnotherbigbudgetmoviethatfilmedpartiallyinCaliforniawasWarnerBros.$225millionManofSteel.ForManofSteel(filmedprimarilyinVancouver,BritishColumbia),locationfilminginCaliforniaoccurredover10daysatEdwardsAirForcebaseandtheMojaveDesert.AccordingtoWarnerBros.,theproductionspent$1.8millionforthe10dayshoot,or$180,000perday.TheothersecondaryfilminglocationforManofSteelwasthestateofIllinois.EventhoughIllinois
24
didnothostprimaryproductionforasinglesurveyedfilminthisstudy,thestateshowedthatservingasasecondaryfilminglocationforabigbudgetmoviecanbelucrative.ManofSteelshotonlocationinNorthernIllinoisfromearlyAugusttomidSeptemberin2011.Inlessthantwomonths,theproductionpumped$25millionintothelocaleconomyandsupported1,605Illinoisjobs,including720crew,54cast,30productionofficestaffand801backgroundactors.IronMan3PerhapsthemostperfectexampleofthenewglobalfilmproductionmodelisIronMan3,thehighestgrossingmovieworldwidein2013.Althoughthevastmajorityofthefilm'sprincipalphotographyoccurredinNorthCarolina,lessthanhalf($81million)ofitsestimated$200millionbudgetwasspentthere.SecondaryfilminglocationsincludedMiami,LosAngelesandChina.
WhileshootinginMiami,Floridaforatotalof20productiondays,IronMan3spentover$6million,including$1.2milliononlodgingforatotalof7,500roomnights.AccordingtotheFloridaOfficeofFilm&Entertainment,theproductionsupportedatotalof4,966positions,withmostofthemgoingto4,505backgroundplayers.ThemajorityofthefilmsextensiveVFXworktookplaceinNewZealand,BritishColumbiaandLosAngeles.SecondaryVFXworkalsooccurredwithvendorsinSydney,Australia;Munich,Germany;London,EnglandandLosAngeles.ThemusicforIronMan3waswrittenbyacomposerinLosAngelesandthenscoredbymusiciansinLondon,England.ThedismantlingofproductiononthismovietodomesticandinternationallocationsisparticularlydisconcertingconsideringthatbothIronManandIronMan2werefilmedalmostwhollywithinCalifornia.
ForamovielikeIronMan3,thevastmajorityofthemoneyspentonthebudgetcanhappeninfarflunglocationswheretheproductionscameraswon'tcaptureasingleframe.ForaneffectsladenbigbudgetmovielikeIronMan3,roughly3040percentofthebudgetandjobscommonlygotowardcomputergeneratedVFX.Inextremecases,foramovielikeAvatar,VFXcanconsumeupto50percentofthebudget.
25
Oftheroughly1,019VFXjobscreditedonIronMan3,just21percent(231jobs)wereCaliforniabased.Mostofthosejobs,roughly148positions,werefilledbyDigitalDomainsVenice,Californiafacility.AsofDecember2013,DigitalDomaincloseditsfilmdivisioninCalifornia.Those148jobsenjoyedbyCalifornianswouldbelongtosomeoneinsomeotherstateorcountryifIronMan3weretofilmnow.
NewZealand56%Vancouv
er13%
Munich10%
London11%
Australia3%
California7%
IronMan3:CGIVFXJobLocations
26
27
AppendixB:
28
29
30
AppendixC:Movie YearMade Budget PrimaryLocation SecondaryLocations FilmIncentive Credited
JobsPrimaryVFXLocations/Jobs
SecondaryVFXLocations/Jobs
MusicScoringLocations
Setting
12YearsaSlave
2012
$22 Louisiana Yes 366 NewOrleans,WildfireVFXThisshouldbeunderFoxSearchlight.
CraftyApesLA,CA Louisiana
2Guns 2012 $61 Louisiana(06/25/201208/16/2012);
Albuquerque,NewMexico,USA(08/20/2012);SantaFe,NewMexico,USA(08/20/2012)
Louisiana&NM
1009 PrimeFocusIndia Mexico,USSouthwest
21andOver 2011 $10 Washington China Yes,WA 594 WashingtonState
42 2012 $31 Georgia Alabama YesGA&AL 687 HammerheadShermanOaks,CA
UK
47Ronin 2011 $175 UK Hungary,Japan Yes,UK&Hungary
1793 UK,599 DigitalDomainVenice&Vancouver,MPCUK,FramestoreUK,Milk(London)
UK Japan
AGoodDaytoDieHard
2012 $92 Hungary Serbia Hungary 846 MethodstudiosVancouver,BC;FoxStudiosinhouseunitBurbank,CA
Pixomondo(Burbank,LosAngeles,Beijing,Shanghai)UPPPrague,ScanlineVFXL.A/Vancouver
LosAngelesAFM47
Russia
AboutTime 2012 $12 UK Yes 333 PrimeFocus,London UK
AfterEarth 2012 $150 Pennsylvania,(04/09/201204/18/2012);
CostaRica(02/06/201202/22/2012);NorthernCalifornia,USA(04/23/201205/02/2012);Utah
PA;UT;Australia
1102 California,Germany,Australia
Pennsylvania,Mexico LosAngelesAFM47
futuristicEarth
AmericanHustle
2013 $40 Massachusetts NewYorkCity Yes,MA. 637 CraftyApes LA,CA NewJersey
Anchorman:TheLegendContinues
2013 $50 Georgia NewYorkCity Yes,GA 467 LosAngelesAFM47
NYC
August:OsageCounty
2012 $37 Oklahoma LosAngeles Yes,OK 228 UK Oklahoma
BattleoftheYear
2011 $20 California Germany,France France,Germany
317 LosAngeles,CA2houses
LosAngeles,France
31
Movie YearMade Budget PrimaryLocation SecondaryLocations FilmIncentive CreditedJobs
PrimaryVFXLocations/Jobs
SecondaryVFXLocations/Jobs
MusicScoringLocations
Setting
BeautifulCreatures
2012 $50 Louisiana Yes 607 Method,SantaMonica,CA
Pixomondovariousofficesworldwide,PixelMagicBurbankandBatonRouge,ScanlineLosAngeles
UK SouthCarolina
BrokenCity 2012 $35 Louisiana(11/27/201101/26/2012)
NewYork,NewYork,USA(11/02/201111/26/2011)
Yes:Louisiana 470 DigikoreVFX,India NewYork
BullettotheHead
2011 $40 Louisiana NewYork Yes,Louisiana 518 Method LosAngeles
NewOrleans,Louisiana
CaptainPhillips 2012 $55 Malta Massachusetts,Virginia Yes,Malta;MA&Virginia
780 DoubleNegative UK Nvizible,UK Los AngelesAFM47
Somalia
Carrie 2012 $30 Toronto,Canada Yes 490 Toronto,Ontario Maine
CloudywithaChanceofMeatballs2
20122013 $78 Vancouver,BC California635
SonyPicturesImageworksVancouver,BC,CulverCity,CA
UK fictional world
DeadManDown
2012 $30 NewYork Yes 399 reliancemediaworksMumbaiandLosAngeles
NewYork
DespicableMe2
20112013 $76 France 539 IlluminationMcguffFrance
LosAngelesAFM47
fictionalworld
Elysium 2011 $115 Vancouver,BritishColumbia,Canada(07/25/201110/17/2011);
MexicoCity,Mexico(09/28/201112/12/2011)
Yes,BC 940 Vancouver,264 California,NewZealand
UK LosAngeles&space
EndersGame 2012 $110 Louisiana(02/24/201206/09/2012)
LosAngeles,California,USA(MotionCapture)(06/10/201206/15/2012)
Louisiana 1041 Vancouver,319 Spain,California UK space
Epic 20092011 $100 Connecticut 815 BlueSky,Connecticut LosAngelesAFM47
fictionalworld
EscapefromPlanetEarth
2012 $40 Vancouver,BC Yes 578 Rainmaker,BC UK animated/fictional
EscapePlan 2012 $40 Louisiana Louisiana 600 Hydraulx Vancouver floatingprison
EvilDead 2012 $17 NewZealand Yes 301 EastCoastUS
Fast&Furious6
2012 $160 UK Spain,Germany YesUK&Spain
1282 UK,400 Singapore,Vancouver,LosAngeles,Beijing
UK,Spain
32
Movie YearMade Budget PrimaryLocation SecondaryLocations FilmIncentive CreditedJobs
PrimaryVFXLocations/Jobs
SecondaryVFXLocations/Jobs
MusicScoringLocations
Setting
FillyBrown:ThisisMyLife
2011 $1.25 California N/A 158 LosAngeles
FreeBirds 2012 $55 Texas 550 Dallas,Texas fictionalanimated
Frozen 20122013 $150 California NA N/A426
WaltDisneyFeatureAnimationBurbank,CA
LosAngelesAFM47
Fictionalworld
G.I.Joe:Retaliation
2011 $125 Louisiana Vancouver,BritishColumbia,Canada(08/05/201108/09/2011);
YesBC&Louisiana
1626 California,UK,Vancouver
Singapore,China LosAngelesAFM47
WashingtonDC;SouthCarolina
GangsterSquad 2011 $75 California Yes 616 HammerheadShermanOaks,CA
zoic LosAngelesAFM47
L.A.
Getaway 2012 $18 Bulgaria Georgia Yes 725 Sofia,Bulgaria
Gravity 2011 $130 UK Yes 848 UK,392 Australia UK Space
GrownUps2 2012 $70 Massachusetts MA 735 Zoic?,R&H 40shots,CreativeCartel
LosAngelesAFM47
MA
GrudgeMatch 2013 $40 Louisiana Yes 479 LosAngelesAFM47
Pittsburgh
Hansel&Gretel:WitchHunters
2011 $50 Germany Yes 825 HammerheadShermanOaks,CA
Pixomondo LA,Burbank,GermanyStereoD(Burbank,India)did3dconversion
LosAngelesAFM47
fictionalworld
IdentityThief 2012 $34.60 Georgia Yes 388 Vancouver,BC LosAngelesAFM47
Colorado&Florida
InsidiousChapter2
2013 $5 California Yes 320 FracturedFX,LosAngeles
LosAngeles
IronMan3 2012 $200 NorthCarolina Florida,LosAngeles,China NorthCarolina&Florida
2,500 NewZealand,Weta,511
123Vancouver87Munich102London24Australia260California
UK California;Miami;Tennessee
JacktheGiantSlayer
2011 $195 UK Iceland YesUK 1605 DigitalDomainVancouver/California
Vancouver,UK UK Fictionalland
KickAss2 2012 $28 UK Toronto,Ontario,Canada(09/06/201209/23/2012);
UK;Ontario 582 NvizibleLondon LosAngelesAFM47
NewYork
LaborDay 2012 Massachusetts Yes 329 NewHampshire
33
Movie YearMade Budget PrimaryLocation SecondaryLocations FilmIncentive CreditedJobs
PrimaryVFXLocations/Jobs
SecondaryVFXLocations/Jobs
MusicScoringLocations
Setting
LeeDanielsTheButler
2012 $30 Louisiana Yes 427 PixelMagic,TheMolecule
WashingtonDC
LoneSurvivor 2012 $40 NewMexico Yes 590 ILMSingapore Afghanistan
Mama 2011 $15 Toronto,Ontario Yes 525 Mr.X(Toronto),Cubica(officesinMadridandBarcelona)
CustomFxBarcelona,DeluxeToronto,UserT38(Madrid)
Hungary Pennsylvania
ManofSteel 20112012 $225 BritishColumbia,Canada(09/21/201101/20/2012);
Plano,Illinois,USA(08/01/201109/08/2011);SugarGrove,Illinois,USA(08/08/201108/12/2011);Chicago,Illinois,USA(09/07/201109/17/2011);EdwardsAirForceBase,California,USA
Yes:Illinois,BC
2215 NewZealand,Weta:359
MPC,London/Vancouver,308;DoubleNegative,London,290;California,Legend3D,150
LosAngelesAFM47
Kansas,fictionalcityofMetropolis
MonstersUniversity
20122013 $200 California No 1117 California LosAngelesAFM47
Fictionalworld
Movie43 2010 $6 California NewYork N/A 979 PrimeFocus India;HydraulxSantaMonica
LosAngeles
Nebraska 2012 $13.50 Nebraska SouthDakota Montana 163 LosAngeles&Oregon
Nebraska
NowYouSeeMe
2012 $75 Louisiana,USA(01/16/201203/26/2012)
NewYorkCity,NewYork,USA(03/27/201204/08/2012)LasVegas,Nevada,USA(04/09/2012)
Louisiana 1600 ModusFX,Montreal ILMSingapore,RodeoFXMontreal,ImageEngineVancouver,BC
UK LasVegas,Paris,NewOrleans
Oblivion 2012 $140 LouisianaBatonRouge(03/16/201205/25/2012);NewOrleans,Louisiana,USA(03/26/201204/10/2012
NewYork,NewYork,USA(06/11/201206/22/2012);Iceland(06/23/201207/03/2012);Mammoth,California,USA
YesLouisiana 1260 DigitalDomainVenice;PixomondoBatonRouge,London,LosAngeles,Shanghai,Stuttgart,Toronto
LosAngelesAFM47
futureearth
Oldboy 2012 $30 Louisiana(10/08/201211/29/2012)
Yes 414 Slovakia unnamedUScity
OlympusHasFallen
2012 $70 Louisiana Louisiana 1009 WWFXBulgaria/BatonRouge,Louisiana
Scanline GhostVFX(Denmark)BaseFx(China)
WashingtonDC
OneChance 2012 $12 UK Italy UK 267 UK
34
Movie YearMade Budget PrimaryLocation SecondaryLocations FilmIncentive CreditedJobs
PrimaryVFXLocations/Jobs
SecondaryVFXLocations/Jobs
MusicScoringLocations
Setting
OztheGreatandPowerful
2011 $200 Detroit,Michigan YesMI 1096 SonyPicturesImageworksVancouver/California283
LumaPictures,California,40;ThirdFloor,London/California,60
LosAngelesAFM47
Kansas,fictionallandofOz
PacificRim 20112012 $190 Toronto,CA Yes 1938 ILMUSandSingapore,464;StereoD,189
Montreal,Canada;Beijing,China
LosAngelesAFM47
SanFrancisco,China
Pain&Gain 2012 $35 Florida Yes 450 ILM,BaseFX,Rodeo LosAngelesAFM47
Florida
Paranoia 2012 $35 Pennsylvania Yes 417 Australia,NewYork NewYorkCity
Parker 2011 $31 NewOrleans,Louisiana,USA(08/01/201109/19/2011)BatonRouge,Louisiana,USA(08/05/201108/09/2011)
BocaRaton,Florida,USA(09/20/201109/20/2011)PalmBeach,Florida,USA(09/22/201109/30/2011)
Louisiana,Florida
786 ModusFX,Montreal Hungary Florida,Ohio
Peeples 2011 $11 Connecticut NewYork Yes,CT 244 2GDigitalLA TheHamptons,NY
PercyJackson:SeaofMonsters
2012 $90 BritishColumbia NewOrleans,Louisiana,USA(06/29/201207/12/2012)
Yes,BC&Louisiana
1498 Rhythm&Hues ElSegundo,CA(Reallytheyhadtheirworktakenaway(actually,plentyofitwascompletedthere))(Rhythmdeliveredcloseto700shots)
FramestoreUKMPCWetaDigitalWellington,EmbassyVancouver,MethodLosAngeles
LosAngelesAFM47
NewYork,fictionallands
Planes 20112012 $50 India California N/A685
PranaStudios,Mumbai,India
DisneytoonStudios,Glendale,CA(Pranastudiosdidalloftheshots)
LosAngelesAFM47
Fictionalworld
Prisoners 2013 $30 Georgia Pennsylvania,Connecticut Yes,GA 500 LumaPictures SantaMonica,CA
UK Pennsylvania
R.I.P.D. 20112012 $130 Massachusetts Yes,MA 1269 California Vancouver LosAngelesAFM47
Boston,MA
Red2 2012 $84 Montreal,Quebec,Canada;UK,France
Quebec,UK 1400 ILMSanFrancisco,CA MethodStudiosVancouver,BC;MPCUKandBangaloreLumaPicturesSantaMonica,CA
UK London,Paris
35
Movie YearMade Budget PrimaryLocation SecondaryLocations FilmIncentive CreditedJobs
PrimaryVFXLocations/Jobs
SecondaryVFXLocations/Jobs
MusicScoringLocations
Setting
Riddick 2012 $38 Montreal,Quebec Quebec 575 MethodStudiosVancouver/LA;MokkoMontreal;EntityFX,Vancouver,LosAngeles
MethodStudios LosAngeles;ComenVFXSantaMonica,CA;ModusFXMontreal
Space
Runner,Runner 2012 $30 PuertoRico Yes 548 CostaRica
Rush 20112012 $54 UK Germany UK,Germany 1196 DoubleNegative UK pixomondo,Stuttgart UK,Germany
SafeHaven 2012 $17 NorthCarolina Yes 289 ComenVFX SantaMonicaCA
NorthCarolina
SavingMr.Banks
2012 $35 California London,England 1day Yes 351 LumaPictures SantaMonica,CA
LosAngelesAFM47
LosAngeles
ScaryMovie5 2012 $20 Georgia Yes 390 Zoic,Atmosphere,Solid(Montreal),RezIllusion
N/A
Snitch 20112012 $25 Louisiana Yes 334 LionVisualEffects,LosAngeles
Missouri
StarTrekIntoDarkness
2012 $185 California SanFranciscoBayArea,California
N/A 2074 ILMSanFrancisco,207;StereoD,247
ILMSingapore,BatonRouge,Frankfurt,Burbank,London,Berlin,ShanghaiandBaseFx,China
LosAngelesAFM47
SanFrancisco,Ca;outerspace
Temptation 2011 $37 Georgia Yes,GA 462 CraftyApesLA,CA Louisiana WashingtonD.C.
TexasChainsaw3D
2011 $20 Louisiana Yes 564 Texas
TheBestManHoliday
2013 $17 Toronto,Ontario Yes 193 ThiswasascreenGemsshow.Mr.X(NY/Toronto)
LosAngelesAFM47
NewJersey
TheBigWedding
2011 $30 Connecticut Yes 347 NewEngland
TheCall 2012 $15 California Yes 421 ArsenalFX,LosAngeles LosAngeles
TheConjuring 2012 $20 NorthCarolina Yes 419 PixelMagic,Lafayette,LouisianaANDLosAngeles,CA
LosAngelesAFM47
RhodeIsland
TheCounselor 2012 $25 UK Spain UK 485 MPC Bangalore UK Mexico,Texas,London,Chicago
TheCroods 20112012 $135 California N/A 350 Glendale,CA UK fictionalworld
TheDeliveryMan
2012 $22 NewYork,NewYork Yes 427 LosAngeleshomestudio(AFM47)
NewYork
36
Movie YearMade Budget PrimaryLocation SecondaryLocations FilmIncentive CreditedJobs
PrimaryVFXLocations/Jobs
SecondaryVFXLocations/Jobs
MusicScoringLocations
Setting
TheFifthEstate 2013 $26 Belgium,Germany,Iceland
Germany,Iceland
428 Phosphene NYC BrainstormDigitalNYC
NY VariousEuropeannations
TheGreatGatsby
2011 $190 Australia Yes 1282 Austrailia,314 California,UK,Vancouver
UK NewYork
TheHangoverPartIII
2012 $103 California LasVegas,NV;Arizona 553 California LosAngelesAFM47
California,Mexico,LasVegas
TheHeat 2012 $40 Massachusetts Yes 440 FuriousFX,Burbank,CA;BrainstormDigital,NY
LosAngelesAFM47
Boston,MA
TheHobbit:TheDesolationofSmaug
20112012 $217 NewZealand Yes 2720 NewZealand,WETA:1153
UK fictionallandofMiddleEarth
TheHungerGames:CatchingFire
20122013 $130 Georgia(09/10/201211/20/2012)
Oahu,Hawaii,USA(11/201212/2012);RingwoodStatePark,NewJersey,USA
1869 NewZealand,UK,Singapore
Australia,Montreal,California
UK fictionalworld
TheIncredibleBurtWonderstone
2012 $30 California LasVegas(5days) YesCA 340 Australia LosAngelesAFM47
LasVegas
TheInternship 2012 $58 Georgia SanFranciscoBayArea,California
Yes,Georgia 456 FactoryVFX,NewOrleans,Louisiana
LosAngelesAFM47
BayArea
TheLastStand 20112012 $45 NewMexico Yes,NM&Utah
900 BaseFx,CraftyApesLA,CA
Arizona
TheLoneRanger
2012 $215 NewMexico Utah(15days),Colorado,California,Arizona
Yes,NM&Utah
1478 California,241 London/Vancouver,141
LosAngelesAFM47
Texas
TheMortalInstruments:CityofBones
2012 $60 Toronto,Canada Yes 590 Toronto,Ontario4houses
NewYorkCity
ThePurge 2012 $3 California N/A 194 MethodStudiosLosAngeles(whenitwasVigilandia)
LosAngeles
TheSecretLifeofWalterMitty
2012 $90 NewYork,NewYork NewYork,Iceland NY,Iceland 1019 Framestore,NYandLondon
MPCVancouverincludingSupetakingovertheclientside.Rhythm&Hues(handfulofshots)
LosAngeles NewYork
TheSmurfs2 2012 $105 Montreal,Quebec; Paris,France France;Quebec
872 Vancouver France,Montreal,India
LosAngelesAFM47
France
TheWolfofWallStreet
20122013 $100 NewYork,NY Yes 702 ScanlineVFX LosAngeles,CA,Vancouver
NYC
37
Movie YearMade Budget PrimaryLocation SecondaryLocations FilmIncentive CreditedJobs
PrimaryVFXLocations/Jobs
SecondaryVFXLocations/Jobs
MusicScoringLocations
Setting
TheWolverine 2012 $100 Australia(07/30/201208/24/2012);Kurnell,Australia(07/30/201208/24/2012);
Tokyo,Japan(08/25/201209/2012);Tamamura,Japan(08/25/201209/2012)
YesAustralia 1,391 NewZealand,233 Australia,California LosAngelesAFM47
Japan
TheWorld'sEnd
2012 $20 UK Yes 600 DoubleNegativeLondon
UK UK
ThisIstheEnd 2012 $32 Louisiana Yes 580 ModusFX,Montral,QC,Canada,afewshotsinLA
HammerheadShermanOaks,CA
LosAngelesAFM47
LosAngeles
Thor:TheDarkWorld
20122013 $170 UK Iceland YesUK,Iceland
2142 UK,672 LumaPictures SantaMonicaLumaPicturesMelbourneMethodStudiosLosAngeles/VancouverDoubleNegativeSingaporePranaStudiosMumbai
UK FictionalrealmsofAsgard;London
Turbo 20122013 $135 California N/A 350 Glendale,CA UK Fictionalworld
TylerPerry'sAMadeaChristmas
20122013 $25 Georgia 420 CraftyApesLA,CA LosAngeles Atlanta,Georgia
WarmBodies 2011 $30 Montreal,Quebec Yes 725 LookFXVancouver Pennsylvania
We'retheMillers
2012 $37 NorthCarolina(07/23/201209/15/2012)
NewMexico,USA(09/20/201210/03/2012)
Yes,NC&NM 361 LosAngelesAFM47
Arizona,Colorado,Mexico,NewMexico
WhiteHouseDown
2012 $150 Montreal,Quebec WashingtonD.C Quebec 986 UK,Vancouver,Montreal
California,India,Germany
LosAngelesAFM47
WashingtonDC
WorldWarZ 2011 $190 UK(07/11/201108/14/2011)Glasgow,Scotland,UnitedKingdom(08/15/201108/31/2011);Edinburgh,Scotland,UnitedKingdom(08/15/201108/31/2011)
Valletta,Malta(06/19/201107/10/2011);ThreeCities,Malta(06/19/201107/10/2011);Hungary;
YesUK;Malta,Hungary
1899 UK SanFrancisco UK Pennsylvania;SouthKorea;Israel;UK