ABC’s The Rookie Reports for Duty with $65 Million Pumped into the Golden State Economy

October 17, 2018

WASHINGTON – Production of ABC’s The Rookie brought much more than lights, cameras, and action to several California communities. The new drama series, which debuted this week, injected more than $65 million into the state economy, providing jobs and economic opportunity to men and women in the television industry, as well as local businesses.

Filming over the course of 64 days, in locations from Los Angeles City Hall to historic downtown Oxnard, The Rookie employed more than 1,500 crew members and almost 3,000 extras.

“California is more than just our home state,” said MPAA Chairman and CEO Charles H. Rivkin. “It’s our own backyard. And we pride ourselves on being good neighbors to all the men and women who live and work here in all their diversity. Shows like The Rookie attest to how consistently our industry brings jobs, and creates economic opportunities for small businesses across the state’s cities and towns.”

Creative Rights Caucus Co-Chair Representative Judy Chu (CA- 27) said, “California’s economy is one of the largest in the world, and the film and television industries are a big contributor to our success. They produce important cultural exports, and they also employ thousands of actors, artisans, engineers, and more below-the-line workers. That is why I’m proud to support projects like The Rookie, which has a direct economic impact on our region and shares stories based in Los Angeles with the rest of the world.”

Entertainment One (eOne) worked in co-production with ABC Studios to engage with the local governments and business leaders, as well as California’s talented cast and crew. Together, they created this exciting new series for viewers the world over, and supported local economies and the livelihoods of all those who were a part of its creation.

Directed by Liz Friedlander, the drama series stars Nathan Fillion as a recently divorced man whose brief flurry of heroism in a local bank fuels a dream to become – at 40 – the oldest rookie on the Los Angeles Police Department.

The cast of entertaining characters also includes Alyssa Diaz as Angela Lopez, Richard T. Jones as Sergeant Wade Grey, Titus Makin as Jackson West, Mercedes Mason as Captain Zoe Andersen, Melissa O’Neil as Lucy Chen, Afton Williamson as Talia Bishop and Eric Winter as Tim Bradford.

Many talented California-based companies and individuals participated in or were connected with the show’s production. This includes writer David Radcliff, an active member of the Committee for Writers with Disabilities at the Writers Guild of America West; Go Fusion N Grill on the Venice Boardwalk where Fillion grabbed a quick bite; and numerous other skilled professionals and local businesses.

By the numbers, The Rookie local economic activity included:

  • More than $25 million in wages to over 3,000 local workers.
  • More than $7.4 million spent on local rentals and purchases for set decoration, production, and other supplies.
  • More than $20,000 spent on lodging.
  • More than $1.45 million spent on transportation, including truck and car rentals.
  • More than $852,000 on hardware and lumber supplies.
  • More than $850,000 spent on local catering and other food items for the cast and crew.

The Rookie debuted last night on ABC. Check here for a behind the scenes look.

About the MPAA
The Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. (MPAA) serves as the voice and advocate of the American motion picture, home video and television industries from its offices in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. Its members include: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures; Paramount Pictures Corporation; 20th Century Fox Entertainment Inc.; Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation; Universal City Studios LLC; and Sony Entertainment Inc.

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For more information, contact:

MPAA Washington, D.C.
Chris Ortman
(202) 293-1966
Chris_Ortman@motionpictures.org