With billions of dollars leaking out of the Los Angeles County economy due to Hollywood productions leaving for better deals, plus work stoppages stemming from labor disputes, the question becomes what can be done to stop the bleeding.
One attempt is being put forth by the L.A. County Board of Supervisors, who want to attract more filming in unincorporated areas and within county facilities by reducing production company payroll and sales taxes, streamlining permits, and possibly creating a fund to assist productions with developing new technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality.
The board will consider a motion to study how to offer these and other incentives — designed to attract more movie, TV and commercial shoots — at its Tuesday, Sept. 26 meeting that starts at 9:30 a.m. at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, 500 W. Temple St. The meeting is also streamed live.
The motion is co-authored by Third District Supervisor Lindsey Horvath and Fifth District Supervisor Kathryn Barger.
“The entertainment industry is central to our identity as Angelenos, to a thriving creative economy, and to countless households across our region,” said Horvath in an emailed response on Friday, Sept. 22. “We need to do everything we can to incentivize local productions to keep TV, film, and commercials firmly rooted in Los Angeles County, home to the incredible backdrops that bring the entertainment we love to life.”
The two supervisors include a plethora of incentives in the detailed motion.
Besides tax breaks, the motion would clear the way for location scouts to explore new shooting sites and backdrops, including inside the flood control channels managed by the county Public Works Department. One approach might be to remove fees and permit requirements for production visits, while still allowing for the county to be reimbursed for staff time used in escorting production teams through flood waters and debris channels.
The motion…
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