In April, FilmLA senior leaders and Board members joined Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Councilmember Adrin Nazarian and others for a press conference at Echelon Studios in Hollywood. There, FilmLA CEO Denise Gutches and FilmLA Board Vice Chair Alex Aguilar, Jr. of LiUNA! Local 724 jointly announced the launch of the City of Los Angeles / FilmLA Low Impact Permit Pilot Program, a first-of its kind, FilmLA funded incentive program that aims to reduce permitting cost for small productions of all kinds.
During the prior quarter, in February, FilmLA CEO Denise Gutches and VP External Affairs Donna Washington delivered quarterly presentation to the City of Los Angeles Board of Public Works in fulfillment of City contract requirements. In March, Donna attended a Central City Association reception with LAFD Chief Jaime Moore and the 27th Annual Los Angeles Political Roast featuring Los Angeles City Councilmember Tim McOsker. Denise was named an advisor to the City of Los Angeles Economic and Workforce Development Department (EWDD) as a member of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Committee. In April, Denise and VP of Integrated Communications Philip Sokoloski joined Gary Smith of the County Department of Economic Opportunity for a joint presentation to the County Board of Supervisors’ Economic Development Policy Committee.
Philip Sokoloski and Leah Medrano of the California Film Commission delivered a joint presentation to the DGA’s Diversity Committee about the Film & Television Tax Credit Program 4.0. Philip also spoke on behalf of the FilmLA Foundation as opening presenter at the UCLA Anderson Pulse Entertainment Conference, and last month served on a panel at the USC Gould School of Law 2026 Real Estate Law and Business Forum.
FilmLA Outreach program staff attended the grand opening of Cinespace Studios in Woodland Hills, which also hosted a Women’s Production Society event attended by Denise Gutches. Denise also served as an invited panelist at the Culver City Economic Outlook Forum, where she presented data on the City’s recent utilization for filming. Denise also spoke at the opening night reception at UCLAxFilmFest.
FilmLA’s Denise Gutches attends and speaks on a panel at the Culver City Economic Outlook Forum (photo credit: Karim Saafir).
Director of Communications Amy Kradolfer served as an invited guest speaker for the Handy Foundation’s Production Coordinator Training Program.
Several FilmLA leaders, in collaboration with the Television Academy, Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP), and Teamsters Local 399, delivered updates on FilmLA programs, and planned City and County policy reforms-in-progress at multiple gatherings with industry stakeholders.
Honoring Earth Day, FilmLA Wellness at Work volunteers attended the Friends of the LA River (FoLAR) cleanup at the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Preserve (pictured above).
FilmLA Outreach Liaisons Adrian Fayad and Karla Maqueda assisted productions with critical parking needs including reversing a denial for use of a city lot in Highland Park, obtaining parking for a production that desperately needed it in Baldwin Hills, and helping a production gain approval to photograph a mural in Leimert Park. They also organized meetings between stakeholders in the Hollywood Hills, the Monte Nido Neighborhood in LA County, and neighborhoods in the San Fernando Valley to discuss safety concerns, filming frequency, and homes with a history of unpermitted filming and large parties.
Finally, we want to congratulate FilmLA Manager of Solution Services Tim Overbeck, who in April was honored with a Director’s Special Act or Service Award from California State Park Director Armando Quintero. Tim, who also serves as a Senior Park Aide on weekends, was nominated for the award by park colleagues after stepping into action during the 2025 wildfires to assist in fire progress monitoring and help clear roadways for resident evacuation in Pacific Palisades.
