L.A. City Council lists top 10 places where bureaucracy makes it hard to film

The Los Angeles City Council, in an attempt to stem runaway production and make television and motion picture filming less of a hassle in the city, ordered up a list of the 10 most popular locations where bureaucratic regulations and other factors make it hard to film, with hopes of eventually fixing the situation.

The worst of the worst are, in no particular order: the

• Hollywood sign.

• Griffith Park Observatory.

• Los Angeles Zoo.

• Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce headquarters.

• AT&T Building downtown.

• Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center.

• Farmers and Merchants Bank downtown.

• Japanese American National Museum.

• Library Park, also known as Maguire Gardens, at the Los Angeles Central Library.

• Terminal Annex Post Office near Union Station downtown.

The city’s financial analysts compiled the list with the help of film industry location managers through their union, the Motion Picture and Theatrical Trade Teamsters Local 399.

The location mangers said those sites are difficult to film for a variety of reasons, including rental costs, difficulty securing permits, government regulations restricting public access and even things such as restrictions on providing food for crew members.

“Los Angeles is the film capital of the world, but there are too many places in which we tell filming to go away,’’ said Council President Eric Garcetti.
 

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

County supervisors urged to step up oversight of porn industry

Saying that the Los Angeles County Public Health Department has minimized sexually transmitted diseases and HIV cases in the porn industry,  AIDS activists and former adult film workers on Tuesday urged county supervisors  to step up oversight of the industry.

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation has already filed a petition in Los Angeles County Superior Court, alleging that the county has failed to prevent the spread of disease in the industry. The organization asked the court to require the county to enforce regulations mandating condom use in adult film productions. The county answered the court petition by suggesting that the public need is “minimal,” because there are only 1,200 adult film performers – less than .01% of the population.

“Would the county of L.A. say the same thing about 1,200 firemen or restaurant workers or bankers?” asked Jessie Gruttadauria, director of public affairs for the AIDS Healthcare Foundation.  “How many performers in this multibillion-dollar industry in our backyard have to get sick before this becomes a public need?”

LAPD Chief Bratton postpones uniform change for retired cops working movie sets

The Los Angeles City Council put off a decision today on a proposal by Councilman Greig Smith intended to resolve a dispute over the uniforms worn by retired officers when they secure and direct traffic on film sets.

Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton has favored new guidelines under which those former officers would have to give up their blue uniforms, similar to those worn by current LAPD officers, because of concerns about the department’s image and liability.

Beginning in September, the department planned to require the retired officers to wear a white shirt, black pants and yellow reflective vests, which prompted complaints from the retired officers and some film crew members who said the officers would project a less authoritative image in those outfits.

Assistant Chief Earl C. Paysinger told the council today that, in the interest of “a broader accord” between the parties involved, Bratton has agreed to postpone the uniform change and new regulations for film sets to allow more time to work toward an agreement.

“We have every belief and expectation that these discussions will yield positive results that will meet the needs of the city, our department and the entertainment industry,” Paysinger said.

Paysinger said Bratton does not support relinquishing his authority over film sets.

At Smith’s suggestion, the council agreed to send the proposal to the council’s Public Safety Committee to work out a compromise.

-- Maeve Reston at L.A. City Hall

L.A. councilman wants retired police to keep looking cop-like when guarding film sets

The Los Angeles City Council is being asked to vote as early as Tuesday on a change that would remove Police Chief William J. Bratton’s jurisdiction over security and traffic control on film sets.

Councilman Greig Smith introduced a motion today in response to a decision by top LAPD officials that would bar retired officers from wearing the dark blue uniform of the LAPD when they provide security and traffic control on film sets.

Earlier this year, LAPD officials said they were replacing the old uniforms for retired officers with white shirts, black pants and yellow reflective vests. Instead of a badge, they would wear a patch that says “Film Detail.” The officials said they were concerned about liability issues, noting that the retired officers look like active officers -- because of the uniforms -- but their training may be decades out of date. The uniform change is to go into effect on Sept. 21, according to city officials.

Smith wants the retired cops to go to work for the General Services Division, which has a similar blue uniform, and wear a patch that would identify them as part of the “City of Los Angeles Film Unit,” Smith said.

The move prompted an outcry from retired officers and film industry officials, who questioned whether the public would obey officers who looked more like security guards. Industry officials said the change would factor into decisions to take film production to other cities, which has been a concern for members of the council.

Coach, principal being disciplined over 'Bruno' photos

Los Angeles Unified School District Supt. Ramon C. Cortines said today that he was taking "appropriate personnel action" against the principal and athletic director of Birmingham High School for allowing comedian Sacha Baron Cohen to use the school's football team in a photo shoot.

Cortines declined to say what the action was, citing confidentiality rules. Depending on the nature of the discipline, it could become somewhat moot tomorrow when the Board of Education is scheduled to vote on Birmingham's petition to become an independent charter school. If that passes, Principal Marcia Coates and Athletic Director Rick Prizant would no longer be employees of the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Cortines has been incensed by a photo shoot of Cohen, in his role as gay Austrian fashionista "Bruno," that appeared in the latest issue of GQ magazine and on its website. It showed the scantily clad comedian in poses with the Birmingham football team, including one on top of a player on the ground.

"I don't believe that there is a place on any high school in America, including Los Angeles, for photos such as these," Cortines said in a news release issued by his office.

Cortines said he recognized that some people believe he has overreacted to the shoot, which might be seen as tame in today's entertainment landscape.

“I think those that think it’s no big deal generally don’t have children on campus," he said. "I’ve gotten e-mails from grandparents, all sorts of adults … who are embarrassed by this and believe this shouldn’t have happened.”

Told that some who have commented to The Times had suggested he might have reacted as he did because the character played by Cohen is gay, the superintendent strongly disagreed. "It has nothing to do with whether one is heterosexual or homosexual," he said. "There is just no place for this kind of scene on a school campus using students.”

Birmingham was paid $500 for the shoot, according to the superintendent, and the players turned in parental consent forms. However, the district said an investigation determined that the forms did not specify the nature of the shoot. The district also said the photos violated California Interscholastic Federation rules, which prohibit students from wearing football uniforms out of season.

Prizant, who is the school's filming coordinator as well as its athletic director, was present when the photos were taken, according to the district.

Coates and Prizant declined to comment.

--Mitchell Landsberg

[Updated:] Cortines steamed over 'Bruno' photo shoot

This is one of those only-in-L.A.-and-even-then-it's-a-little-too-weird-to-be-true stories.

The latest issue of GQ features a cover story about comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, in his new guise as gay Austrian fashionista "Bruno." What brought it to our attention was that GQ includes photos shot at L.A.'s Birmingham High School, featuring the barely clad Cohen cavorting with the Birmingham football team. An online slide show shows Cohen wearing shoulder pads, tight red shorts, an athletic cup and little else while engaging in "drills" with the team, in one case lying on top of a player he has evidently just "tackled."

At most, we're talking about a PG rating (for the photo shoot, not the new movie). But inasmuch as it did involve minors at a public high school, there are those who are not amused.

In particular, the stunt has incensed Los Angeles Unified School District Supt. Ramon C. Cortines, adding fuel to a debate over whether Birmingham, in Lake Balboa, should be allowed to convert to a charter school. The charter conversion is up for a vote before the school board Wednesday. "This recent GQ thing has not helped matters," Cortines said today. "We’ve allowed our students to be used, and not in the most glamorous circumstances, either."

The Daily News on Saturday quoted the superintendent as blaming Birmingham Principal Marcia Coates and Athletic Director Rick Prizant, both of whom have been among those spearheading the drive to remove the school from day-to-day district oversight and become a charter. But Cortines said today that Coates is responsible, not Prizant, and he has asked local district Supt. Jean Brown "to take the appropriate action." He did not say what that would be. (A mandatory viewing of "Borat," perhaps?)

Coates said she had been told not to comment on the matter, and Prizant said he similarly would not respond. Brown did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

— Mitchell Landsberg

[Updated at 5 p.m. with comment from Jean Brown and a clarification from Cortines:

Brown called to say that "Local District 1, on behalf of Birmingham, is very embarrassed by what has happened, and very disappointed in the judgment that allowed the students to participate in this activity.” She said she was attempting to determine who was responsible, after which "we'll decide what our next steps are going to be." She added that she was unfamiliar with Cohen and his movies but found the "nature of the poses" to be inappropriate.

Through a spokesman, Cortines called to say he hadn't intended to say that Prizant wasn't responsible, only that Coates was ultimately responsible.]

Downtown intersection named after philanthropist Ezat Delijani

Leading members of the Iranian American community in Los Angeles gathered today at the corner of 7th Street and Broadway to celebrate the dedication of the first city intersection to be named after one of their own: real estate magnate and noted philanthropist Ezat Delijani.

For many of those attending, the event offered a brief respite from days of worry about family and friends in Iran,  which has been rocked by the worst unrest in 30 years.

 “In the midst of sadness and tragedy and bad news, we need a shining moment like this,” said Najmedin Meshkati, an engineering professor at USC.

Although the timing of the event was a coincidence, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa asked for a moment of silence in honor of those killed in the days of protests against a disputed election, which saw hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad returned to power.

“Half a world away, at this very moment, there are freedom fighters speaking out and standing up for democracy and the rule of law, some of whom have died for their conviction,” said Villaraigosa, who formally dedicated the intersection Ezat Delijani Square.

Michael Jackson: Recent medical screening 'declared him healthy'

Those close to Michael Jackson say he had been working diligently to get back in shape for his planned comeback next month in London.

A year ago, he was gaunt and using a wheelchair, but in preparation for a 50-show run in London, he was exercising with a trainer in addition to daylong rehearsals with dancers half his age. He also was a strict vegetarian.

“He’s working out. He’s in great shape,” his manager, Frank Dileo, said last month.

In order for concert promoters to get insurance for the concerts, which were scheduled to begin July 13, Jackson underwent a four-hour physical in Los Angele this spring with an independent doctor flown in from New York.

Rand Phillips, the chief executive officer of promoter AEG Live, said in an interview last month that the medical screening uncovered “no issues whatsoever.”

“He declared him healthy,” Phillips said. “His cholesterol level is better than mine.”

But a physical may not have revealed a looming heart attack, Dr. John Harold, a Cedars-Sinai Medical Center cardiologist, said.

“This is the type of patient who could have a stress test the day before and it could be completely normal and the next day could have a plaque rupture and a fatal heart attack,” said Harold, who did not treat Jackson.

-- Harriet Ryan

Michael Jackson: Fans gather outside pop singer's home [Updated]

About a dozen reporters and photographers were gathered outside Michael Jackson’s rented Bel-Air home this afternoon as a news helicopter hovered above. Several tourist vans also stopped by the house just off Sunset Boulevard as tourists snapped photos of the large, black wrought-iron gates adorned with two large wreaths decorated with red ribbons.

Tourist Sue Mossell, 46, and her two sons, Ryan, 7, and Jimmy, 12, who were visiting from Georgia, were among those milling outside the house, which was blocked from view by trees and shrubbery. Mossell said the family was on a star tour the day before that included the Jackson house and decided to drive back this afternoon after hearing the news.

“I was in shock,” she said. “I mean, who hasn’t heard of Michael Jackson? I think we’re going to hear a lot more of his songs.”

Another tourist, Angelina Winkvist, 28, who was visiting from Sweden, said she also took a tour a day earlier that stopped by the Jackson house and rushed back today after hearing that Jackson had been taken to the hospital.

“It’s huge,” Winkvist said of Jackson’s death. “He’s one of the biggest stars in the world.”

A neighbor, Roxana Radnia, 21, said she had no idea the pop star was living at the house. She said she always saw cars parked out front and had worried about possible drug activity. Radnia said she was walking her dog, Maddie, about 1 p.m. today and saw three ambulances outside the house and a lot of commotion.

“I didn’t know what was going on,” she said. She said she was a big fan of Jackson and his music and had been looking forward to his comeback tour.

“He’s amazing,” she said. “I can’t believe this happened.”

[Updated at 4:35 p.m.: Karina LeBlanc, 29, a member of the Los Angeles soccer team Sol, who lives a block from Jackson’s Bel-Air house, said she drives by every day on her way to practice.

She said she saw Jackson once as he and his entourage were arriving at the house. LeBlanc said she heard helicopters hovering above the neighborhood this afternoon and turned on her TV to find out what was going on.

She said she was deeply saddened by the news. She said her soccer team always listened to his music before a game, particularly the song “Man in the Mirror.”

“He’s got the beat,” she said. “His music is so riveting and inspiring.”

She said the news was especially distressing because Jackson had gone through such a tough time in recent years. Still, it was hard to believe that he was dead, she said.]

-- Anna Gorman in Bel-Air

Roman Polanski rejects judge's request to return to U.S.

Fugitive filmmaker Roman Polanski will not return to the U.S. this week to meet a court deadline for his surrender, his attorneys said today.

In a filing in Los Angeles County Superior Court, the lawyers reasserted their claim that Polanski should not have to turn himself in for a judge to throw out a three-decades-old child-sex case that the acclaimed director maintains was tainted by judicial and prosecutorial wrongdoing.

Movie director indicted in Anthony Pellicano case

A Hollywood film director who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in connection with the Anthony Pellicano investigation three years ago, then withdrew his plea, was indicted today by a federal grand jury in Los Angeles.

John McTiernan faces two counts of making false statements to federal agents and one count of perjury for allegedly lying to a federal judge while seeking to withdraw his guilty plea, federal authorities said.

McTiernan, who directed the action thriller “Die Hard,” was one of seven people who pleaded guilty to charges connected to the Pellicano case before it went to trial last year. Before he was sentenced, McTiernan asked the judge to allow him to withdraw his plea, arguing that he would not have agreed to plead guilty if his attorney at the time had given him better legal advice.

San Diego home where pot was grown is damaged in fire

UPDATE 4:45 p.m.: Fire officials said 333 marijuana plants were found. Joshua Rasmussen, 28, who was asleep when firefighters arrived, was arrested on marijuana cultivation and other charges.

---

A home in the Mira Mesa section of San Diego caught fire today when equipment used to grow marijuana malfunctioned, authorities said.

The fire broke out in the 11200 block of Ganesta Road shortly after 5 a.m. and caused $100,000 damage to the house and $50,000 to its contents, fire officials said.

A man believed to be the home’s owner was detained, and a "very large" amount of marijuana was seized, said San Diego Police Sgt. Art Campa.

On Thursday, police in Los Angeles County seized more than 12,000 marijuana plants growing in an isolated plot of land in Schabarum Regional Park in the eastern San Gabriel Valley.

The marijuana was discovered by a hiker in the remote wilderness area on the southern side of the park, about a mile away from the nearest hiking trail.

— Garrett Therolf and Tony Perry