**Lagos Film Industry Struggle to Fill Up in Early 2025: Lessons from Los Angeles** In the first few months of 2025, the new and upcoming soundstages in Los Angeles were not seeing the kind of production activity they had hoped for. According to a report released by FilmLA, the local film office, the average occupancy rate for major soundstages in the city was just 62 percent during the first six months of 2025. This is a decline from the 63 percent recorded in 2024. To put this into perspective, between 2016 and 2022, soundstages in Los Angeles were operating at an average occupancy rate of 90 percent or higher. This is a significant drop, and it's not just a one-year anomaly. The report also highlighted a decline in shoot days and the number of projects filmed in 2024. While the total number of projects shot increased by five percent between 2023 and 2024, this is largely because 2023 was a year marked by dual strikes that disrupted production. The total number of shoot days actually dropped by eight percent, from 8,671 days to 7,940 days. This decline is largely due to a decrease in scripted television, whose shoot days decreased by 23 percent between 2023 and 2024. The report gathered data from 17 studios, representing around 75 percent of the soundstage square footage in L.A. Major studios like Walt Disney Studios and Warner Bros. Studios Burbank took part, alongside significant independent soundstage operators like Quixote and East End Studios. So, what does this mean for our own Lagos film industry? As we continue to develop our own soundstages and production infrastructure, we can learn from the challenges faced by Los Angeles. The "Great Netflix Correction" of 2022 and the strikes of 2023 have had a lasting impact on the industry, leading to a contraction and rapid cost-cutting. In Lagos, we have seen the establishment of new soundstages like Filmhouse Cinemas and Silverbird Cinemas, as well as the growth of independent production companies. However, we must be mindful of the challenges facing the Los Angeles industry and be proactive in addressing them. This includes investing in our own production infrastructure, supporting local talent and crew, and being adaptable to the changing needs of the industry. As more spaces are developed in Lagos, including the upcoming Ekiti State Film Village, we must be prepared to face the challenges that come with it. By learning from the experiences of Los Angeles, we can build a stronger and more resilient film industry in Lagos.