Santa Clarita witnessed an increase in location filming in 2017 with the Film Office reporting 556 film permits and 1,385 location film days. An estimated $33.9 million in economic impact was generated for the city and represented a 1.5 percent increase in permits, a 1.4 percent increase in film days, in addition to a 3 percent increase to the estimated economic impact when compared to 2016.
This is the fourth consecutive calendar year the Santa Clarita Film Office has recorded more than 500 permits, over 1,300 film days and $30 million or more in estimated economic impact generated from location filming alone. Not included in the reported numbers are the film days and economic benefit from filming that takes place on certified sound stages, which do not require a film permit.
“Santa Clarita is one of the preferred places for film production and location filming in the Los Angeles area, as demonstrated by yet another strong year,” said Santa Clarita Mayor Laurene Weste. “Filming continues to be a big part of our business community and local economy, supporting high paying jobs and hundreds of local companies. We will continue to do everything we can to be a film-friendly City and ensure our unique and beautiful valley remains a top choice for productions.”
Many factors have contributed to the continued success and appeal of filming in Santa Clarita, including the city’s Film Incentive Program, Movie Ranch Overlay Zone, low cost permit fees and expedited permit processing, along with the California Film and Television Tax Credit Program. The Santa Clarita Valley is also located within the entertainment industry’s coveted “Thirty Mile Zone” and offers thousands of film-friendly locations that can double as almost anywhere in the world.
Last year, many television shows took advantage of all the SCV had to offer and more than half of the film days reported in 2017 were attributed to TV production alone. Many locally based shows such as “Atypical,” “Ballers,” “The Guest Book,” “Mayans MC,” “MythBusters,” “NCIS,” “Santa Clarita Diet,” “Shooter,” “Shut Eye,” “Stitchers,” “S.W.A.T.,” “Ultimate Beastmaster” and “Westworld” helped contribute to the reported numbers.
Other shows that filmed on location in Santa Clarita this past year include “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “American Horror Story,” “Animal Kingdom,” “Arrested Development,” “Baskets,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “Criminal Minds,” “Drunk History,” “Fear Factor,” “John Claude Van Johnson,” “LA to Vegas,” “The Last Man on Earth,” “The Last Ship,” “NCIS: Los Angeles,” “The Orville,” “Ray Donovan,” “Seal Team,” “Sharp Objects,” “Teen Wolf,” “Ten Days in the Valley,” “This is Us,” “Timeless,” “Transparent,” “VEEP,” “Young Sheldon” and many more.
Numerous feature films were shot in Santa Clarita in 2017, including “A Wrinkle in Time,” and “the Happytime Murders,” which were filmed at local sound stages. Also partially filmed locally were “The 15:17 to Paris,” “A Doggone Mystery,” “A Star is Born,” “Ad Astra,” “Book Club,””Fighting With My Family,” “Horse Soldiers,” “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” “Just Getting Started,” “Miles,” “Roman J. Israel Esq.” and “Saint Judy.” Many music videos and a host of online content were also created in Santa Clarita.
