Villaraigosa wants city buildings opened to TV, film production

To stem the outflow of film and other entertainment production jobs from Los Angeles, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa met this morning with representatives from more than 20 city departments to find ways to make it easier for producers to shoot locally.

Villaraigosa has already ordered general managers to appoint film “liaisons" in every department to help production companies cut through the bureaucracy and coordinate production work. Today he also asked them to identify all city buildings, parking lots and other facilities producers could use for films, television, commercials and other projects, according to a spokesman for the mayor.

The agencies include the Los Angeles Zoo, Department of Water and Power, Port of Los Angeles, Department of Transportation and Department of General Services.

According to the California Film Commission, the state’s share of U.S. feature film production fell to 31% in 2008 from 66% in 2003. Most of that drop-off was in the Los Angeles area, where feature filming in 2008 was nearly half what it was at its peak in 1996.

A survey by FilmL.A. Inc., which coordinates permits for location filming, found that only 57% of all TV pilots were shot in the L.A. area this year, down from 81% in 2004.

The City Council is already considering offering tax refunds to production companies and tax credits to building owners who make their sites available for filming. The council also wants to increase the availability of power nodes downtown so filmmakers don’t have to rely on portable generators, saving money and reducing noise levels for downtown residents.

-- Phil Willon at L.A. City Hall

Comments

[mark turner]

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN WAITING FOR?????

[jay handal]

While the Mayor advocates opening city buildings to filming "FREE", like City hall, it is offensive that when volunteer groups of the Neighborhood Council system, elected by the general public, want to hold organizing meetings at City hall, the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment is charged a fee against their budget...... Something is wrong here. As I have stated in the past, This City is "Broke and Broken".........

[RichDavid]

We have to hear every year how many Billions the movie industry is making. Why don't they build back lots like real movie companies so citizens don't have to be held hostage by pushy movie crews. City buildings are places of business and don't need to be damaged anymore by fly-by- night movie crews. This mayor is corrupt, bought and paid for by movie companies. He needs to go and take his special interests with him. Start filming at the Getty House and see how little mayor likes that!