Film production in California
California in United States is covered here with 6 locations. In Los Angeles, daylight runs from 9h 54min in the shortest month to 14h 25min in the longest.
Locations in this region
Being in the same region does not mean the same conditions: a few degrees of latitude move sunset noticeably.
| Location | June | December | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 14h 25min | 9h 54min | 4h 31min |
| San Francisco | 14h 46min | 9h 34min | 5h 12min |
| San Diego | 14h 18min | 10h 01min | 4h 17min |
| Sacramento | 14h 51min | 9h 29min | 5h 22min |
| San Jose | 14h 43min | 9h 36min | 5h 07min |
| Oakland | 14h 46min | 9h 34min | 5h 12min |
The shooting season in numbers
In Los Angeles, the longest day falls in June at 14h 25min, the shortest in December at 9h 54min. Through the winter months, less than half the summer light remains — at an unchanged setup count that means either fewer shots per day or one more shoot day.
For exteriors the afternoon is the critical part: golden hour starts at 19:30 in June and as early as 16:08 in December. Scheduling an exterior at the end of a winter day effectively cancels it.
Planning a shoot in this region
Moving between two locations inside California in a single day costs 60 to 120 minutes of shooting time per company move — the drive being the smallest part of it. Wrap-out, loading, unloading and re-rigging come to three to five times the travel time itself.
Two moves in one day is the point where most schedules stop being achievable. Combined with the winter light window that means: one location change, one exterior, and the day is full.
TillyGen computes travel, sun position and crew availability together rather than in three separate documents. If a change makes the day impossible, the plan says so — not the wrap report.
Frequently asked
Which locations in California are covered?
Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento, San Jose, Oakland.
How much daylight does a shoot day in California get?
In Los Angeles between 9h 54min and 14h 25min, depending on the month. The table above gives the figures for every covered location in the region.
Where do the sun times come from?
They are computed from each location's coordinates using the standard astronomical method, in the location's own timezone and accounting for daylight saving. No estimate, no external source.