Santa Clarita set new film records in calendar year 2013 with 1,264 location film days representing an estimated $30.5 million in economic impact to local businesses from location filming alone.
The Santa Clarita Film Office recorded 1,264 location film days and 463 film permits for calendar year 2013, which represents a 38 percent increase in film days and a 28 percent increase in permits when compared to the City’s previous record year in 2012.
The economic impact from location filming increased by 41 percent compared to 2012 when the estimated economic impact was $21,700,000.
“Santa Clarita is Hollywood North and remains a top choice for location filming in the Los Angeles area, as demonstrated by yet another strong year,” said Mayor Laurene Weste. “Filming remains a big part of our business community and local economy, supporting high paying jobs and hundreds of companies involved in the industry. We will continue to do everything we can to ensure our unique and beautiful valley remains a top choice for filming.”
Santa Clarita can double as almost any city in the world and nearly half of the location filming days can be attributed to television shows shooting in the community. Many productions continue to make the City of Santa Clarita their home, including NCIS, Switched at Birth, Chasing Life, Operation Repo, Franklin and Bash, Justified, Saint George and Wipeout.
Other favorite shows such as CSI, Criminal Minds, Modern Family, The Mentalist, and Sons of Anarchy along with feature films such as Saving Mr. Banks, Iron Man 3, Horrible Bosses 2 and 2 Guns filmed scenes in Santa Clarita.
Many factors have contributed to the success of filming in Santa Clarita including the continuation of the California Film and Television Tax Credit Program and the City’s own Film Incentive Program. Both programs were implemented in 2009 and are aimed at retaining and increasing feature and television production.
Nearly one quarter of all state-approved projects have filmed on location in Santa Clarita and 34 percent of the approved television projects have based in the City. More than 45 productions have benefited from the City’s incentives, including locally based shows, productions that film four or more times in a year, and those that qualify for the state’s incentive program. On location filming days from these productions alone has resulted in more than $36 million in economic benefit to the local economy since 2009.
Santa Clarita also sees a substantial economic benefit from filming that takes place on certified sound stages which does not require a film permit and is not included in the reported numbers.
For more information about the Santa Clarita Film Office please visit www.FilmSantaClarita.com or contact the Film Office at 661-284-1425.