Late last month, the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI) brought its annual Locations Show back to Los Angeles. As in years past, the Show featured dozens of states and countries as exhibitors, each touting film incentives and locations and trying to draw film production away from Los Angeles.
Against this sea of competitors, FilmL.A., the California Film Commission, and representatives of the Film Liaisons in California Statewide (FLICS) were present to remind film production community of the benefits of working in California.
Many conference participants were eager to discuss efforts to expand the California Film & Television Tax Credit, and in particular the status of The Expanded Film & Television Job Creation Act (Gatto/Bocanegra, AB1839).
FilmL.A. also used the opportunity to make connections with conference attendees and to highlight specific programs — including LocoScout and the City of Los Angeles’ location fee waivers — that make it easier and more economical to film in the Greater Los Angeles Region. Finally, we offered tours of the show floor for California state lawmakers and their staffs, in order to highlight the challenges California faces from out of state competition for film projects and jobs.
The 2014 event was held at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Century City and ran from March 27-29. In addition to the trade show, AFCI also hosted a handful of on-site talks and seminars, with subjects ranging from “Trends and Outlooks for Film Incentives” and “Production Incentives Fraud.”
Art Yoon, Executive Vice President of FilmL.A. sums things up this way, “Once we have a level playing field, no one beats LA. We have the best talent, crews and locations. For us, AFCI is about telling the global film marketplace that LA wants their business and, more, we can make their vision happen without compromising their artistry.”