The Los Angeles City Council voted Wednesday to streamline some film permitting procedures and seek an audit of FilmLA, the regional permitting body, as it tries to address a dramatic downturn in local production.
Councilman Adrin Nazarian has sought for the last year to respond to production complaints about excessive red tape in the city. The council did not take up two of his more significant proposals, including one that would reform procedures related to the police and fire departments.
Addressing the council, Nazarian said the package approved on Wednesday is merely “phase one,” and that further reforms will follow.
“The package before you is not symbolic,” he said. “It’s not theoretical. It’s not aspirational. It’s targeted practical reforms built from lived experiences.”
Dozens of Hollywood workers and union leaders packed the council chambers to champion the initiative, testifying to the impact felt by working families from the downturn in production.
“I haven’t worked in a few years now,” said Debbie Peiser, a hair stylist with IATSE Local 798, who warned of jobs fleeing to other states. “I need to work. We all need to work. And we need to sleep in our own beds. We need to have dinner with our families.”
The local efforts follow Gov. Gavin Newsom’s move last year to double the state’s production incentive to $750 million. Around the same time, Mayor Karen Bass moved to try to lessen the administrative burden on productions that shoot in L.A., including by — where possible — limiting the number of city staffers required on set to one.
Nazarian has sought to expand on Bass’ initiatives and codify some of them in city ordinances.
Film workers would have a right to be cynical about efforts to make the city “film friendly,” which are routinely promised at L.A. City Hall.
“I know we have done this before,” said Mayor James Hahn, announcing a similar initiative in 2004. “A lot of people have said, ‘Yeah, we have seen this; been here, done that. But whatever happened out of it?’ We will make sure that the suggestion and the policy that we develop will be followed through.”
The measures approved on Wednesday include eliminating “special conditions” to film in certain L.A. neighborhoods and an initiative to harmonize requirements with other jurisdictions. The measure also establishes a free permit for “microshoots” — which involve minimal crew and limited disruption.
The council also asked the city controller to audit FilmLA, the industry-run body that issues permits and collects fees on behalf of cities and school districts.
Councilwoman Nithya Raman, who is running for mayor against Bass, recused herself from voting on four of the seven items without explanation. She voted yes on the three remaining items, including one to create a “Made in L.A.” logo that productions that film in the city could display in the end credits.
The council did not take up an item to reduce permit costs on city-owned facilities. Most such locales are available to film for free. But for certain in-demand sites, like the Griffith Park observatory, it can be more difficult to obtain permission.
Nazarian has also proposed additional ideas, like a $2 million “seed fund” to subsidize smaller productions and expedited permitting for post-production facilities. Those ideas could be taken up at a later point.
Denise Gutches, the CEO of FilmLA, said that the agency has been working with the city on many of these issues since last year.
“Today’s vote makes clear that there is an unprecedented level of interest from the greater L.A. community in doing things differently, and we look forward to working closely with our city partners to make on-location filming as affordable, accessible, and straightforward as possible,” Gutches said in a statement.
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