On March 1, 2010, FilmL.A. implemented new Special Conditions for Location Filming in Downtown Los Angeles. Installed on a trial/evaluation basis with the consent of city government, the new Conditions supersede all other guidelines for filming within the boundaries of the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council (DLANC).
The new Conditions mark the third major attempt to improve relations between filmmakers, residents and merchants downtown. In April 2007, FilmL.A. authored and installed a set of temporary filming guidelines to promote more balanced use of downtown locations. Two months later, we expanded our eNotification program to cover the entire downtown core.
The new Conditions are the product of extensive negotiations between industry, community and government stakeholders. Parties to the new Conditions’ creation include FilmL.A., the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council (DLANC), the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP), Directors Guild of America (DGA) and Central City Association (CCA). Subsequent to the original negotiations, separate guidelines for the Old Bank District were added, and the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) — as the City of Los Angeles’ film permit authority — made minor changes to the Conditions regarding film permit enforcement.
For locals’ benefit, the Conditions include new parking protections and tighter restrictions on equipment placement, exceptional lighting and rush-hour filming. Filmmakers, meanwhile, will see expanded standard filming hours within the boundaries of DLANC and the Broadway Entertainment District.
As a part of our agreement with the City, FilmL.A. will collect and report feedback on the new Conditions based on industry and community experiences. The new Conditions are available for download on FilmL.A.’s website, and a supplementary Google Map illustrating the boundaries of the new Conditions area is also available for study.