HBO Max’s acclaimed hospital drama “The Pitt” may be set in Pittsburgh, but its creative heartbeat lies firmly in Los Angeles film production. On Sunday night the series captured the Emmy Award for Best Drama Series, dedicating the win to healthcare workers while also drawing attention to the challenges of keeping high-profile shows shooting in California.

The creators used their moment backstage to deliver a broader message: Los Angeles, long celebrated as the entertainment capital of the world, needs sustained support to keep productions local.

Story Highlights

• “The Pitt” wins Best Drama Series at the 2025 Emmy Awards

• Filmed in Los Angeles despite Pittsburgh setting

• R. Scott Gemmill and Noah Wyle urge more investment in California’s film industry

• State raises film tax credit cap to $750 million to attract productions

• FilmLA data shows TV production rising but still below five-year average

Los Angeles as Production Home Base

Creator R. Scott Gemmill, also a veteran of “ER,” said after the ceremony that he feels a personal sense of accomplishment showing that a major HBO Max drama series can be filmed locally.

“When we get casting, I think they get like 3,000 submissions for each role,” Gemmill explained. “That’s how hungry the people are that work in Los Angeles. Just the fact that we can do our small part is really important, but I hope other producers take note.”

Gemmill’s comments underscored a point many in the industry have been voicing quietly: competition from other states and countries, pandemic slowdowns and the 2023 writers’ and actors’ strikes have chipped away at California’s production dominance.

Noah Wyle on Generational Talent

Star and executive producer Noah Wyle, who took home two Emmys on Sunday night — one as lead actor and another as a producer — echoed the call for keeping series like “The Pitt” anchored in Los Angeles.

“I talked about our special effects coordinator on our show, whose name is Rob Nary, whose father was a special effects coordinator, whose grandfather was a special effects coordinator,” Wyle said.

He used the anecdote to highlight the region’s deep bench of skilled crew members.

“You can put up a soundstage in another state, but they don’t come with Rob Narys,” Wyle added.

Wyle also recalled attending the July ceremony where Governor Gavin Newsom signed an expansion of California’s film and TV tax credit program, boosting the cap from $330 million to $750 million. He spoke at the event about his experience filming locally.

Tax Credit and Local Economy

That tax credit expansion, industry insiders say, is designed to lure productions back to the state. Shows like “The Pitt” demonstrate how California can still deliver large-scale television while employing hundreds of union workers and sustaining small businesses connected to the industry.

Paul Audley, president of FilmLA, praised the Emmy wins for both “The Pitt” and the comedy “The Studio,” which is also shot in Los Angeles.

“These productions not only highlight the overwhelming talent that this region is known for,” Audley said in a statement, “but productions like these employ hundreds of film industry workers and contribute to a strong and thriving economy. Filming locally supports our communities, small businesses, and workers across every corner of the film industry.”

Production Trends Show Mixed Picture

Despite the high-profile success, the overall numbers for Los Angeles film production remain mixed. From April through June this year, television production saw a 17% increase in on-location shoot days compared with the same period last year, reaching 2,224 — the highest since early 2024.

Yet the total remains 32.6% below the five-year quarterly average, and overall on-location shoot days across all categories fell 6.2%.

Industry analysts say the Emmy wins could help send a signal to producers weighing whether to stay in California. For Gemmill and Wyle, the message from “The Pitt” is clear: filming in Los Angeles taps into a century of generational expertise and keeps the city’s entertainment ecosystem alive.

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