FilmLA Delivers Filming Progress Report to LA City Board of Public Works

On September 26th, FilmLA representatives presented their quarterly in-person report to the LA City Board of Public Works (BPW), giving an overview of FilmLA services and sharing recent film production data, as well as underscoring progress towards key initiatives aimed at making filming easier in Los Angeles.

Highlights from the presentation included an update on recommendations recently presented to BPW President Kang from FilmLA’s Board of Directors’ Government Affairs Committee.  These recommendations are a culmination of the seventeen recommendations submitted by FilmLA to the LA City Council and a longer list presented to City Councilmembers from industry and labor representatives to streamline City filming policies and reduce permitting related costs. Notable among these were updates to LADOT permit processing as well as an extension of LADOT operating hours allowing for a more expedient review of closure requests and flexibility with changes, and efforts by LAPD to waive or reduce required personnel at filming locations thereby reducing permit costs. Additionally, a thorough review is underway of the list of City of Los Angeles Special Filming Conditions, some of which are outdated or over-restrictive. FilmLA is in the process of identifying specific filming conditions to be presented to the City for reconsideration or elimination.

An important aspect of the continuing work to streamline filming policies is to hear from those most directly impacted. To that end, FilmLA has been conducting listening sessions with groups of industry stakeholders including NewFilmmakers Los Angeles, the Producers Guild of America, and Location Managers Guild International, plus local leadership at SAG/AFTRA, Stay in LA, and an independent consortium of talent agents and casting directors. Upcoming listening sessions are in the works with Teamsters Local 399, the Association of Independent Commercial Producers, and the California Production Coalition. We look forward to continuing these discussions and welcome any recommendations for additional groups to reach out to for feedback.

FilmLA was also excited to share that a pilot is in the works that will allow FilmLA to offer a new type of low impact permit with a reduced application fee. This low impact permit, meant to serve the needs of small independent filmmakers, is in development with City and County partners. Once approved by our government partners, FilmLA will be meeting with independent filmmakers and additional stakeholders to get feedback. While a specific date for launch of the low impact permit has not been officially determined, it is anticipated for early 2026.

In addition to delivering the presentation, FilmLA CFO/COO Denise Gutches, and VP of External Affairs, Donna Washington responded to public comments from industry stakeholders and answered questions from Public Works Commissioners. Much of the feedback from stakeholders highlighted the need for urgency from City policy makers and FilmLA to institute changes that will make filming easier and more affordable in Los Angeles. With the July expansion of the CA Film and Television Tax Credit Program, FilmLA is hopeful that production levels will improve in the coming months. To that end, we recognize that ongoing collaboration and local policy action will be essential to making Los Angeles unmatched as a premier destination for film production.