According to Film L.A., a nonprofit organization that coordinates permits for on-location shooting, location filming was down just over 2 percent.
Most of that drop was attributed to TV production leaving the area. On-location TV shoots were down 9 percent from 4,701 permit days in the 2011 first quarter to 4,277 this year.
TV dramas, reality shows and pilots all declined by double digits. However, sitcoms were up by a sharp 23.3 percent. This is largely due to a spike in the number of single-camera comedy series, said Film L.A.
Film LA says tax incentives from other states are enticing TV producers to film elsewhere.
Feature-length film shoots were up 15.8 percent during what is usually a slower part of the year. Also, commercial shoots were up by 10.8 percent over last year.
City News Service contributed to this report.
