If you've tuned in to watch the "Lincoln Lawyer" or "Monster" on Netflix, chances are you're watching Los Angeles return to a filming production pace not seen since before the pandemic stuck. From April through June, production in L.A. ramped up to a total of 9,791 shoot days, the highest number since late 2019, according to data released Thursday by FilmLA.
⚖️ Activision Blizzard shareholders are suing the company for withholding information about the workplace allegations it faces.
🎞 "South Park" creators have inked a $900 million deal with ViacomCBS to make new movies for its streaming app, Paramount Plus.
💸 Santa Monica-based car-leasing startup, Fair Financial Corp, is weighing bankruptcy.
🍎 Two natural product entrepreneurs have launched a Santa Monica-based mentorship program for consumer product startups.
💊 Bayer has acquired San Diego-based pharmaceutical company Vividion Therapeutics for $2 billion.
🎭 West Los Angeles-based Backstage Capital plans to raise a $30 million fund for minority-led startups.
📚 Los Angeles' Jewish Community Foundation has awarded $1 million in grants to local nonprofits focused on education equity.
🩺 Irvine-based mobile tech company, Vital Mobile Systems, has acquired AI health and safety software My2Tum.
LA Film Shoots Up 40% From Previous Quarter
FilmLA, the nonprofit that manages film permitting in Los Angeles County, says shoot days rose about 40% from the prior quarter, about 7% higher than the average quarterly figure for 2019.
Television dramas and reality shows more than doubled their five-year quarterly average, with TV series like Hulu's "The Dropout," Starz's "Gaslit," FX's "American Crime Story: Impeachment" and TNT's "Animal Kingdom" shooting.
Fisker EV to Make LA Auto Show Debut
The Manhattan Beach-based electric vehicle startup Fisker Inc. is plotting a November debut of its electric SUV at the Los Angeles Auto Show and accelerating development of its small car, executives told investors Thursday.
EdTech Startup GoGuardian Reaches $1B+ Valuation
Edtech powerhouse GoGuardian nabbed a $200 million strategic investment from Tiger Global Management, making the Los Angeles company an instant unicorn on Thursday.
Elude's Travel App Targets Younger Travelers
Elude's iOS app was built with a set of AI and Tinder-like features meant to create a personalized travel booking experience for price-conscious millennials and Gen Z. On Thursday, it raised $2.1 million in a round of seed funding led by Mucker Capital and Unicorn Ventures.
Carey Ransom: Entrepreneurs Need 'More Than Capital'
Carey Ransom, founder and president of Orange County-based venture studio Operate, tells the LA Venture Podcast that the entrepreneurs of tomorrow are those who demonstrate grit and determination to improve their lives. Listen to the full episode of the L.A. Venture Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.