TV, commercials, features fuel L.A. shoots

With commercial shooting soaring, offlot production in Los Angeles has jumped back to normal levels -- even with TV pilot season starting later than usual. Weekly overall production rose 27% from the same week last year to 647 days, according to figures provided Tuesday by the FilmL.A. permitting agency. The figure was up 24% from the previous week. TV shoots edged up seven days to 333 days but only 25 days went to pilots. FilmL.A. spokesman Todd Lindgren has indicated that many producers are planning a mid-March start. The most active offlot TV shoot was "The Office" with 21 days. Other shows shot locally include "Desperate Housewives," "Private Practice," "Ringer," "The Client List," "American Ninja Warriors 4," "Follow Skyler/Kamikaze Comedy" and "New Girl." Features shot up to 90 days from the laggardly pace of 52 days a year ago. That's still well below last year's highs of of over 200 days per week. Films being shot include "40s Is the New Dead," "Brahmin Bulls," "Coffee Town," "Delirium," "Not Safe for Work," "Ted" and "Whole Banana." Commercials totaled 224 days, led by a Volkswagen shoot. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com