LOS ANGELES:

A mellow stream of action welcomes the LA production scene this month as summer begins its incandescent glow. Not exactly the strong recovery some were previously purporting but nonetheless bearable overall.

Production days for features remain ridiculously low compared to the same point last year while commercial and music video shoots continue at a low but acceptable rate.

"I think that the days of predictability in the business are over," cracks one exec producer. "Before you could tell what times of the year work would pick up and when it would slow down but this is no longer the case."

"There are cost pressures from various agencies so we're seeing jobs bid and awarded outside of Los Angeles due to the cost of doing business," retorts an influential member of the industry. "A lot of the work that was previously spread out among a group of companies is also being performed by a smaller number of people."

A lot of unease is an obvious result of such an environment where jobs are being awarded, but within an extremely competitive market. It's not only tough to get the work in the door but also proving arduous to keep those jobs located in LA.

Steady as she goes mumble the crowds while boards on offer consist of automobiles, telecommunications, computers, cosmetics, alcoholic beverages and electronics. This at least signifies various sectors of the economy are anticipating busy times ahead. Let's see what the economy has to offer over the ensuing months... but then again don't hold your breath.

BOARD FLOW: 5/10

TORONTO:

"What board flow?!" an exec shouts into the phone.

Last month's optimism has faded to a gentle ire, and the winds are sagging in blustery Toronto. Projects are spending an uncanny amount of time in the mythical "development" phase and few are winding up on the books.

American boards are still flowing but execs are worried that Toronto will lose its edge if costs aren't managed. Budgets are low and the big spenders are no longer a solace. Microsoft recently proffered $20,000 for a spot, a paltry amount a cheesed exec described as "an insult."

On a lighter note, it's beer season, and in the words of one exec, "Thank God Canadians are drinkers."

In the words of another, "Maybe I should go back to dry-cleaning."

BOARD FLOW: 3/10

NEW YORK:

Normally getting funneled through to answering machines is frustrating as a journalist - unless all the folks you're ringing are on conference calls.

Board flow optimism reigned..."Could New York's weary situation be getting better?" Not if one prominent producer is to be believed.

"There are very few boards and there's bad, bad creative," says said producer. "Gerard du Thame, Tony Scott and Tony Kaye are going after everything... no matter how bad it is."

However, there are still those bastions (or is it bastards) of steady work who report that the boards they be a rollin'. "We have a great May. I have everyone booked at once. But it's a battle. We're bidding a lot and it's taking a long time to close," says a Manhattan producer. According to another, focusing on niche c-level work for his young directors has giving them "enough to keep busy each day."

Boards coming through consist of cars, confections, Levi's, ESPN, Kodak, Heineken and PSAs.

While one top exec opines that this slower flow is typical late-second quarter activity, another charges that anyone who says they are busy is lying. And everyone agrees that budgets are still paltry.

Will we ever get off this seesaw?

BOARD FLOW: 5/10

MEXICO CITY:

As we weep for Argentina's ill fortune, Mexico is asserting itself as a major regional player for Latin America and board flow is rising. Colgate, Procter & Gamble, Unilever and Coca-Cola are all present in the world's biggest city.

"It's the busiest time that we have had in 12 months," says one exec.

Mexico, like everywhere else, has felt the economic crunch from America, the country's biggest trading partner (accounting for 80% of exports at last count). The good news is that local creative hasn't suffered due to lack of funds. New production houses are opening up and executives are wisely considering the situation an "interesting challenge."

Mexico took eight out of ten golds at FIAP this year and reportedly, "new talent is sprouting up everywhere."

BOARD FLOW: 7/10

LONDON:

London board flow has slowed substantially following an unseasonably heavy flow of new projects in the first quarter.

"We are having a little bit of what New York feels every day. The quietness of America has crept across the Atlantic resulting in minimal board flow with not a lot of production going on," says one director rep. "We are losing little jobs to big directors going after low-level jobs."

"Everyone had a bad month after the peak in March. With the financial year end, there was money sloshing about and April wound up fairly dead, but May promises to be much better," says another MD.

Indeed one bullish post producer forecast a promising summer, with international jobs from the US and Europe supplementing the steady diet of film fodder. Available projects included scripts for cars, fast food, broadcasters and entertainment and budgets seem to be on the upswing,

"There are less scripts but the standard of creativity is much better and the budgets are more reasonable as well, ranging from £350,000 to £400,000," says another exec. "There was a real spate of projects between £200,000 to £300,000 for four-day shoots, so a lot was getting done in Prague or South Africa; now more shoots are happening in London."

BOARD FLOW: 5/10