The Wrong Question
“Is Hollywood coming back?” assumes Hollywood is a place that either has production or doesn’t — a light switch that’s stuck in the off position. That’s not really how it works, and it’s not what the data shows. Production spending didn’t disappear; it redistributed. The better question is where it went, and whether the crews and vendors serving this industry moved with it.
Where the Center of Gravity Is Actually Moving
Texas has posted real, sustained growth in production activity out of Austin and Houston. Georgia has kept its incentive-driven production base. Nevada — particularly Las Vegas — has become a genuine hub for hotel, residency, and live-event production, driven by a run of long-term concert residencies and a packed events calendar. None of these markets individually replace what a fully-staffed Los Angeles studio system looked like a decade ago. Together, they add up to a production economy that’s more spread out, not smaller.
CineDrones Followed the Work
Rather than waiting for a single market to recover, CineDrones built a footprint across the markets that were actually growing. We’re operating in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Texas, and Salt Lake City, with a nationwide drone light show business layered on top for sports, concerts, and corporate events. That diversification wasn’t a hedge against Hollywood failing — it was a bet on where entertainment production was actually headed, and it’s paid off in steady work through a stretch that’s been genuinely hard on companies that stayed put.
The Real Comeback Story
The comeback isn’t going to look like 2015 Los Angeles reappearing. It’s going to look like a more distributed industry — one where Las Vegas residencies, Texas soundstages, branded content, and live events all carry real weight alongside traditional film and TV. That’s already happening. It’s just not concentrated in one place anymore, which is exactly why it’s easy to miss if you’re only watching one zip code.
Fly With Us
Wherever your production lands — Los Angeles, Las Vegas, or beyond — CineDrones has the crews, permits, and equipment ready to go. Get in touch with CineDrones to plan your next shoot.
