A city panel on Tuesday gave its support to extending a fee waiver for film productions shot on city property, and discussed other measures aimed at combating runaway production and making it easier for crews to shoot in Los Angeles.
The Ad Hoc Committee on Film and TV Production Jobs heard from city departments on efforts to improve the experience of filming in Los Angeles. The measures are being considered in anticipation of an expanded state film tax incentives program set to go into effect in 2015.
Gov. Jerry Brown earlier this year signed legislation to make $330 million a year in tax credits available to film projects through a competitive application process. The move raised the pot offered by California above the previous $100 million and brings it closer to the $420 million a year offered by New York.
The committee backed a five-year extension — to June 30, 2019 — of a waiver of fees charged for filming at city-owned or controlled property, such as Los Angeles City Hall, libraries, airports and police department facilities. The waiver, which was enacted in 2006 and extended once, expired at the end of June.
The waiver extension will go to the full council for a vote, and if approved there and signed by the mayor, would apply retroactively to July 1.
Councilman Paul Krekorian, who chairs the committee, said the importance of the film industry can be seen by the number people working on film shoots at city-owned property, including City Hall.
“When you see how many people are working in the rotunda (of City Hall), it sends a pretty strong message to anyone who’s coming through here to understand why we care about this issue so much,” he said. “It’s not to benefit the rich and the famous. It’s to benefit the person who is hauling cable out there.”
Los Angeles City Hall has served as the set for television shows such as “Scandal,” “West Wing” and “Newsroom,” as well as the movies “Chinatown, “Gangster Squad” and “Mission Impossible 3.”
The city estimates the waivers have cost the city about $1.75 million over the last five years, but officials said the $350,000-a-year loss is warranted due to revenue the city receives through business and sales tax from the film industry.
The proposed waiver extension would not apply to Convention Center, El Pueblo de Los Angeles State Historic Park, Recreation and Parks, Los Angeles Zoo and Public Works Warner Grand Theater facilities.
FilmL.A., which manages film permitting in the city, would also be instructed to keep records on the amount of fees waived, the types of film productions that receive waivers and the specific city properties booked.
City staff also reported to the committee on measures such as analyzing feedback from the film industry annually, improving coordination with the police and fire departments, and freeing up parking at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power building for use by the film industry.
The committee also heard the Chief Legislative Analyst’s recommendation that the city look at ways of increasing staff at the Recreation and Parks film office and for posting street closure signs, a task that is handled by the Transportation Department.
The panel also heard a report on efforts to create a list of city-owned filming locations, or properties that can be used by the film crews for parking or other purposes.
— City News Service