Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is developing efforts to streamline film and television production in L.A. in the midst of cries for policymaker intervention on the issue of runaway production.
Bass called for a reduction of city staffers on shoots and improved access for crews to iconic L.A. locations such as the Griffith Observatory, the Central Public Library, and the Port of Los Angeles in an executive order signed on Tuesday at the L.A. headquarters of the performers’ union SAG-AFTRA. The order also enlists city departments to cut the red tape and help ease basic production issues in an effort to improve the city’s cordiality with filmmakers.
At SAG-AFTRA on Tuesday, Bass emphasized that Hollywood supports middle class jobs, small businesses, and the city’s economy. She said her executive order “will make it far easier to film in Los Angeles movies, television shows, and commercials.”
The order, which takes effect immediately, directs city departments to create a process such that “no more than one total City staff member is required to be on-site at a filming location.” Currently, multiple municipal employees, such as off duty cops and park monitors, may be on a film production at any time, as it’s shooting locally.
The directive also orders a reduction of filming fees at Griffith Observatory and the reopening of downtown’s Central Public Library to production. The Port of Los Angeles is also required to cut its insurance review process from seven to four business days, while the Department of Water and Power is instructed to create “procedures and safeguards” so filming can take place at its facilities.
The mayor also calls for departments to review all “City assets” to see if they could be utilized by film crews as locations and/or parking, among other potential issues, and to put forward proposals on how to allow night-time scouting on city owned locations.
The executive order requires police and fire departments, among others, to meet with the mayor’s office and industry stakeholders including local film office FilmLA monthly to solve any “ongoing issues” that may arise during shooting. Departments are ordered to provide notice to potential and upcoming public infrastructure projects that could impact filming to her office and FilmLA.
Bass said the film industry has been complaining about “bureaucracy, bureaucracy, red tape” when it comes to filming in the city, and this order claims to resolve that issue. At the press conference, multiple entertainment union leaders spoke to the struggles members have faced amid a turndown in local production. Vanessa Holtgrewe, an international VP of the crew union IATSE, said multiple Locals are facing unemployment of nearly 50 percent. Lindsay Dougherty, who oversees motion picture work for the Teamsters, added, the executive order “could not come at a better time,” with workers and small businesses “devastated” by the lack of local work in the industry.
The executive order comes soon after the L.A. city council passed measure by Councilmember Adrin Nazarian in late April that pushed city departments to propose efforts to reform the city’s film permitting process. “The entertainment industry has been the reason why Los Angeles was put on the map,” Nazarian said at Tuesday’s press conference. But by allowing production to go to other states and countries, “over the course of the last 30-40 years, we’ve fallen asleep,” he added. “All we need to do is keep up with everybody else.”
However, state legislators are currently reviewing bills that would amplify California’s film and television tax credit program after Gov. Gavin Newsom called for more than doubling the cap on the state’s program, from $330 million to $750 million. There are concerns that these measures might fall through as the state faces a $12 billion budget shortfall.
When asked whether she thought the $750 million proposal would pass, Bass said it was possible that figure would be reduced. Still, she said, “I think people recognize the $700 million as an investment.”
Leave a Comment