Breaking: Mayor Karen Bass Signs Major Directive to Revitalize LA’s Film Industry

On August 7, 2024, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass signed her eighth executive directive, a significant move aimed at revitalizing the city’s entertainment industry. This directive is a part of a broader strategy to streamline and enhance the permit processes for local film and television production, addressing the challenges faced by the industry in recent years.

Streamlining Permits and Enhancing Support

The executive directive mandates several key actions to support the entertainment industry. It requires city departments to meet with industry stakeholders at least quarterly to discuss and address production-related challenges. Each department must designate a “film liaison” staff member who will participate in these quarterly meetings and be available to assist industry officials with city processes. Additionally, departments are tasked with reviewing internal processes and making recommendations to streamline and facilitate the permitting and review process for filming.

Mayor Bass emphasized the importance of the entertainment industry to Los Angeles, stating, “The entertainment industry is core to our economy, and it is also core to our city’s identity, and City Hall is going to do everything we can to support it.” This directive is expected to improve city department processes by designating staff and resources toward supporting local production and film-permitting.

Economic Impact and Industry Challenges

The entertainment industry contributes more than $115 billion annually to the region’s economy and provides jobs to over 681,000 individuals across various professions. Despite its significant presence in Los Angeles, the city’s entertainment industry faces the challenge of production leakage to other markets. Without strategic intervention, the allure of competing locales threatens to divert resources and jobs away from the city.

FilmLA, a partner film office for the city and county of Los Angeles, released reports in July covering regional film production activity and sound stage production. The group found that local on-location filming declined by 12.4% year-over-year from April through June. On-location production stood at 5,749 shoot days in the second quarter of 2024, with reductions in feature film down 3.3% to 704 shoot days and commercial production down 5.1% to 817 shoot days. The largest decline was in filming of reality TV, which fell by 56.9% to 868 shoot days in the latest quarter. However, scripted content production such as TV drama production increased by 98.3% to 714 shoot days, and TV comedy production rose by 103% to 171 shoot days.

Formation of the Entertainment Industry Council

In July, Mayor Bass convened the inaugural Entertainment Industry Council to draw upon senior entertainment industry leaders’ expertise. Members of the council include Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, CEO and founder of The Gotham Group; Cookie Parker, co-founder and board member of Yes2Jobs; Charlie Rivkin, chairman and CEO of Motion Picture Association; Karla Sayles, deputy director of the CA Film Commission; Amy Lemisch, studio and production policy for Netflix; and Ri-Karlo Handy, founder and CEO of Handy Foundation, among others.

The council’s primary focus is to develop strategies to entice production back to Hollywood and lobby state lawmakers. The real issue, as they see it, is the state not subsidizing enough of the costs of filming in Los Angeles. Currently, the California Film Commission releases about $330 million in tax credits, considerably less than the uncapped $1 billion+ Georgia puts into theirs or the $700 million New York offers to its productions.

Efforts to Retain and Attract Productions

Since taking office in 2022, Mayor Bass has organized the permitting and inspection for seven new studios and soundstages to open on time and on budget. An additional 8 million square feet of soundstage, studios, and creative space are in the pipeline. The directive points out the importance of the industry to L.A.’s economy, contributing over $115 billion annually and supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs.

Deputy Mayor Rachel Freeman acknowledged the tax credit system’s limitations and the need for robust tax incentive programs to keep production local. The council aims to advance “below-the-line job creation and below-the-line diversification of what those opportunities and jobs are here locally.” Three subcommittees have been formed to build strategy around incentives, city efficiency, and workforce development.

Our Advice on the City

For occasional travelers visiting Los Angeles, exploring the city’s rich entertainment history can be a fascinating experience. Consider taking a studio tour at one of the major film studios like Warner Bros. or Universal Studios to get a behind-the-scenes look at how movies and TV shows are made. These tours offer a unique glimpse into the magic of filmmaking and the hard work that goes into creating the entertainment we enjoy.

For expert travelers, delve deeper into the local film scene by attending film festivals such as the Los Angeles Film Festival or the AFI Fest. These events showcase a diverse range of films and provide opportunities to meet filmmakers and industry professionals. Additionally, exploring lesser-known filming locations around the city can offer a unique perspective on Los Angeles’ role in the entertainment industry.

In conclusion, Mayor Karen Bass’s executive directive represents a significant step towards revitalizing Los Angeles’ entertainment industry. By streamlining permit processes and enhancing support for local production, the city aims to retain its status as the heart of the entertainment world. Whether you’re a casual visitor or a seasoned traveler, Los Angeles offers a wealth of opportunities to explore and appreciate its rich cinematic heritage.