93 Days and $20.2 Million: The Economic Impact of One Film

Film Works shares the breakdown of a recent feature's budget

Posted on Thursday, September 1, 2011

Earlier this month, the people behind Film WorksL.A. decided to take a look at what local businesses in Los Angeles California stand to lose when a single motion picture chooses to film outside the region.

Thanks to the generosity of one major studio (which asked to remain nameless), Film Works secured the following top-level expense breakdown for a major motion picture filmed on-location in Los Angeles.

From September to November 2009, the picture in question spent a total of 93 days on location and hired 43 cast members, 924 crew members, and nearly 1,000 extras (in working days).

Total production spending came to a $20,210,176. For confidentiality reasons, we have to withhold the name of the film, but it is still interesting seeing where the project’s budget was spent:

Hotel room days: 213	$66,061
Car rental days: 655	$45,070
Catering, bakery goods & other food items	$751,790
Hardware & lumber supplies	$716,678
Secretarial personnel, equipment (Xerox, phones etc)	$243,560
Local wardrobe purchased	$1,374,397
Dry cleaning	$66,046
Gasoline	$264,234
Location fees public	$69,500
Location fees private	$1,566,405
City, county and other governmental permit fees	$273,885
Off-duty personnel (police, fire etc)	$135,749
Local extras hired	$324,148
Local security hired	$327,917
Per Diem payments	$21,049
Local hires (carpenters, electricians etc.)	$5,848,083
Other rentals	$3,869,422
Other purchases:	$4,246,182
GRAND TOTAL SPENT:	$20,210,176

Clearly, the economic impact of even one film ripples throughout the California economy. The next time you see a shoot taking place in your community, take a minute to appreciate how well Film Works for California.

Then, consider joining Film Works L.A. to help us educate Angelenos about the importance of filming to our region.