The once-bustling soundstages of Los Angeles are eerily quiet, and it’s not just the echo of empty spaces that’s concerning. The latest data from FilmLA reveals that soundstage occupancy rates in early 2025 hovered at a mere 62%, a marginal dip from the already disappointing 63% in 2024. Personally, I think this isn’t just a number—it’s a symptom of a deeper malaise in the entertainment industry. What makes this particularly fascinating is the stark contrast with the pre-2022 era, when occupancy rates consistently hit 90% or higher. It’s as if the industry hit a wall, and the reverberations are still being felt.
One thing that immediately stands out is the impact of the ‘Great Netflix Correction’ of 2022 and the dual strikes of 2023. These events weren’t just blips; they were seismic shifts that disrupted the production pipeline. While the number of projects filmed in 2024 increased by 5%, the total shoot days dropped by 8%. From my perspective, this disconnect highlights a troubling trend: productions are becoming leaner, but not necessarily more robust. What many people don’t realize is that this shift disproportionately affects scripted television, which saw a 23% decline in shoot days. This isn’t just about fewer shows—it’s about fewer jobs for writers, actors, and crew members who form the backbone of the industry.
What this really suggests is that the industry is still reeling from a period of rapid contraction and cost-cutting. The expansion of California’s film and television tax credit program and initiatives from L.A. Mayor Karen Bass are steps in the right direction, but they feel like band-aids on a bullet wound. If you take a step back and think about it, L.A.’s 8.3 million square feet of soundstage space—more than the U.K. and Ontario combined—is a double-edged sword. It’s a testament to the city’s infrastructure, but it’s also a reminder of how much space remains unfilled.
A detail that I find especially interesting is the timing of this downturn coinciding with the opening of new soundstages like Cinespace Studios and the upcoming Echelon Studios. These projects were likely greenlit during the industry’s boom years, but now they’re entering a market that’s far less hospitable. This raises a deeper question: will these new spaces attract productions, or will they become monuments to overconfidence?
In my opinion, the challenge isn’t just about filling soundstages—it’s about reimagining the industry’s future. Streaming platforms are no longer the gold rush they once were, and traditional television is struggling to adapt. What’s needed is a paradigm shift, one that leverages L.A.’s unparalleled infrastructure while addressing the root causes of the slowdown. This could mean diversifying content, embracing new technologies, or even rethinking the production model itself.
Ultimately, the quiet soundstages of L.A. aren’t just a problem for studio executives—they’re a reflection of an industry at a crossroads. The question isn’t whether the productions will return, but whether the industry can reinvent itself to fill the silence. Personally, I think the answer lies not in waiting for a rebound, but in creating a new kind of momentum. The infrastructure is there; now it’s up to the industry to find its voice again.
