Q1 2024 Global Production Report

ProdPro

May 1, 2024

Slow rebound to production

ProdPro, a global leader in tracking TV and film productions, measured a 7% decrease in the number of projects actively filming in Q1 2024 compared to the same period last year. When looking at the number of episodic projects that started principal photography in Q1, ProdPro measured a nominal increase compared to the same time last year, largely driven by studios resuming operations post-WGA/SAG strikes on delayed projects. While television experienced a slight increase, feature films were down compared to prior year.

What's important: While production has returned, the lost volume of activity from the 2023 strikes means businesses and individuals are still feeling its effects. Looking at the last 12 months, production volume and spend are down ~50% compared to the prior period.

Why it matters: Coming off of the double strikes, many had hoped for a much stronger rebound in 2024. Studios are presumed to be holding back in part because of the uncertainty around the ongoing IATSE and TEAMSTERS negotiations, and our data shows a significant number of series and features are stacking up in Active Development for a Q3/Q4 start.

US Scripted TV & Film Productions Actively Filming: Q1 2022 vs. Q1 2024

Global Scripted TV & Film Productions Starting Principal Photography: Q1 2023 vs. Q1 2024

ProdPro reported 313 scripted productions that started principal photography worldwide in Q1 2024. This encompassed 148 TV series and 165 feature films.

Feature films saw a decrease of 24% compared to the same period last year. This decrease can be attributed to the risk of another strike in 2024, which has made it more difficult for indie film producers to get bonded for production.

TV series experienced an increase of 6% year-over-year, primarily driven by the productions delayed by the strikes.

Production Budget Analysis

Delays in productions from last year meant that many of the major Network and Streamer high budget series were pushed to start in Q1, skewing the spend for the quarter when compared to other 1st quarters. ProdPro measured a 45% increase in committed spend from Q1 2023. The biggest increase was with projects in the $40M-$100M range, consisting of returning episodic projects and mid-budget studio films resuming post-strikes.

Global Scripted TV & Film Productions by Budget Tier: Q1 2024

Geographic Breakdown

The US experienced the biggest uptick in TV series initiations, up by 37%, followed by Canada with a 14% increase. On the features side, volume was down across the US, Canada, and UK.

Episodics

Features

Feature Films - Notable Production Starts

Production on Michael began mid-January 2024 for Lionsgate. The Michael Jackson biopic starring his nephew is slated to hit theaters April 2025. Filming is taking place in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. Production is managed by Mika Saito, with Robert Richardson and Dion Beebe splitting duties as cinematographer. Nancy Kirhoffer leads the post side as Post-Production Supervisor.

The highly-anticipated Superman film under the helm of James Gunn began filming in late February 2024, with photography taking place across Atlanta, Cleveland, and Cincinnati. Filming is led by cinematographer Henry Braham, with line producer Nikolas Korda and production manager Nadia Paine managing. Designing the costumes is Judianna Makovsky.

Continuing the trend of music-themed films, Timothée Chalamet takes on Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown. Filming began in February and will take place in Montreal and New Jersey. Directed and produced by James Mangold, the key creative team includes cinematographer Phedon Papamichael and production designer Francois Audouy.

TV Series - Notable Production Starts

Filming on Apple TV+ sci-fi drama Murderbot kicked off in March in Toronto. Line producing for the series is Michael Wray, while Joe Keyes heads up the post production supervision.

HBO hit series The Last of Us is back, this time filming in Vancouver. Rose Lam and Christina Toy head up production as line producer and production manager, respectively. Behind the lens are Catherine Goldschmidt and Ksenia Sereda.

Production on season 5 of You got started in March in New York. Key crew on the production side are line producer Jason Sokoloff and unit production manager Rafael Lima.

ProdPro specializes in tracking English-language scripted content produced by the major studios globally, as well as independent and domestic productions in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

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