How is Hollywood’s implosion hitting reality TV?
HARD!.... Hollywood continues to struggle as production plummets, drying up job opportunities and sparking “an exodus of film and TV workers” - As jobs disappear, Hollywood is seeing an exodus out of L.A. - Los Angeles Times (latimes.com).
Industry experts point to ongoing fallout from the pandemic, unsustainable streaming wars and last year’s dual strikes by writers and actors as key reasons for decline.
Initially unscripted television, better known as reality TV, rebounded quickly as pandemic restrictions eased and productions resumed. But the latest data now show it’s the latest victim of Hollywood’s implosion.
Reality TV production in greater Los Angeles fell by 57% between the three month period of April through June, compared with the same time period last year, according to FilmLA, which tracks regional production. In contrast with the five-year average, production levels are down roughly 50%, the nonprofit reported.
“The decline is largely a symptom of an industry-wide contraction that began prior to last year’s strikes and has persisted since,” Los Angeles Times reporter Christi Carras - Reality TV workers face a bleak job market amid production decline - Los Angeles Times (latimes.com). “But most forms of production have stabilized at roughly 15% below what FilmLA would consider a normal amount of filming activity in Los Angeles.”
Paul Audley, president of FilmLA, told Christi that Los Angeles is not an outlier. Established production hubs in other states, including Georgia and New York, are facing similar declines.
“They’re all screaming the same thing,” Audley said. “They’re all seeing a loss of production. It’s global. It is national, and it is also local.”
When production could resume after pandemic shutdowns, studios turned to reality TV because it was easier to make. During the strikes, reality shows did not require unionized writers or actors. Production ballooned and jobs were plentiful. Now comes the burst, leaving many in the reality TV sector out of work.
Editors make up a good share of those facing dwindled job prospects. Christi spoke with a few of them, who pointed to a shift in priorities from streaming companies, ongoing corporate mergers and studios moving more post-production jobs overseas.
The melding of the entertainment industry’s behemoths results in fewer channels airing fewer shows, editor Omega Hsu told Christi.
“There’s just not enough money in it, so there’s a big consolidation,” Hsu said. “I don’t think that it’s coming back. I think it’s just gonna get worse from here.”
Let’s hope not!!