FILMING BUSTLES IN L.A. SEPTEMBER PRODUCTION SETS 5-YEAR RECORD.

Byline: Greg Hernandez Staff Writer

Feature-film and television production in Los Angeles reached the highest September levels in five years, according to figures released Thursday by the embattled Entertainment Industry Development Corp.

The equivalent of 2,928 production days not only made September the best month all year, but reflected a 54.9 percent increase for feature-film, television, commercial and music-video production from the same month a year ago.

``This has been our best September since 1998,'' said Morrie Goldman, the EIDC's vice president of communication and government affairs. ``We've had a really strong summer, and we're going to have a really strong fall.''

The real bright spot was in movie production: the equivalent of 930 days last month, more than double the number - 426 - in September 2001. Movie production also jumped a whopping 158 days from August.

Continued filming of at least one movie, ``The Italian Job,'' was highly visible to the public this week as it required the closure of Hollywood Boulevard between Highland Avenue and Orange Street. Scenes have been shot in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre for the action film starring Mark Wahlberg, Edward Norton and Charlize Theron.

Other current projects being filmed around town include the Harrison Ford-Josh Hartnett action comedy ``Hollywood Homicide,'' ``Matchstick Men'' starring Nicolas Cage, the Eddie Murphy comedy ``Daddy Day,'' the remake of the comedy ``Freaky Friday'' with Jamie Lee Curtis, an untitled action-adventure starring Dwayne ``The Rock'' Johnson, the Ben Stiller comedy ``Envy,'' and the ``Charlie's Angels 2'' sequel starring Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu.

The fact that the fall television season was in full production swing showed in a robust 1,291 TV-production days, virtually equal to the number in August and well ahead of the 889 days in August 2001. The numbers reflected the kind of September figures for television production not seen since 1998, when 1,297 days were recorded.

``Television is as strong as it's ever been,'' Goldman said.

The 517 days of filming for commercials, the area most affected by the economic downturn, were the best since February and up by 128 days from last September.

Steve Caplan, senior vice president of the Association of Independent Commercial Producers Inc., said the month's numbers were fueled by commercials for the new fall television season.

``The numbers confirm what we have been hearing about an increase coming out of Labor Day,'' Caplan said. ``It's too soon to say everything is back to normal, but it's a good start, and we are encouraged by these numbers.''

The strong production numbers come as the EIDC itself is under criminal investigation for contributing tens of thousands of dollars to many of its board members' political campaigns and for spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on lavish expenses for its executives.

``The people who are out on the streets producing and working every day know the service that we provide,'' Goldman said. ``These numbers show that, even with all the distractions, we are focused on keeping filming in L.A. and succeeding.''

The nonprofit corporation, created by Los Angeles elected officials to help combat runaway production, has been under fire for helping to sponsor the Pittsburgh Film Office's fund-raising effort to attract television and movie production to western Pennsylvania.

At a meeting this week, the EIDC executive board agreed to hire a consultant to review its finances, end political donations and tighten control on expenses.