A powerful advocacy organization that concentrates on movie and TV creation in California has urged Los Angeles not to extend its agreement with FilmLA until substantial changes, or true reforms, are enacted.
On a Wednesday, the collective known as CA United, headed by West Bailey (CEO of SirReel Studios) and Pamala Buzick Kim (founder of Mavenverse), published a statement prior to a Friday hearing. During this hearing, the Board of Public Works will deliberate on an extension of the local film office’s contract.
There’s a general agreement among producers, whether they’re based locally or nationally, that LA’s permit process is complicated, expensive, and hard to understand, according to Bailey’s statement. The City Council and Mayor’s Office are already working on significant changes. At this crucial time, we think FilmLA could collaborate with us in addressing the exact problems that make filming in Los Angeles challenging. We would be happy for their support in reforming the process and helping revive production within the city.
Bailey stated that producers from both local and national areas agree that LA’s permit system is burdensome, costly, and complex. The City Council and Mayor’s Office are already pushing for improvements. In this pivotal moment, we believe FilmLA could join forces with us to tackle the issues that make filming in Los Angeles tough. We’d appreciate their assistance in streamlining the process and bringing back production to the city.
Although Bailey openly expressed such views, The Hollywood Reporter has also received similar apprehensions from other employees who wish for Los Angeles to expedite its permit procedures, thereby keeping production near the industry’s traditional hub.
During a chat on Wednesday, Paul Audley, president of FilmLA, expressed that the organization’s grievances might be being directed at the wrong place, since it is a nonprofit entity and not involved in local government decision-making or policy setting. Instead, its role is to assist filmmakers in navigating these policies. He suggested that efforts should be united to bring about change rather than creating divisions among those who are natural allies for instigating change.
Disputes have arisen concerning the film permit system in Los Angeles, often criticized as costly and burdensome, due to the fact that film and TV roles are moving away from California to locations offering lower costs.
Over the past few months, Los Angeles City Councilmember Adrin Nazarian has collaborated with key players to restructure the film permit system. In May, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also issued an executive order, prompting city departments to generate ideas for minimizing bureaucratic hurdles during film and television productions.
In response to Nazarian’s investigation, FilmLA has proposed 17 suggestions for changes, stated Audley. Moreover, they also publish an annual report for the city, suggesting further adjustments. “We serve as a contractor, and our role is to assist the industry in complying with the city’s requirements and driving change,” he asserted. “Every day, we are actively working towards that goal.
However, ordinary workers within the film industry have voiced concerns against FilmLA, claiming they aren’t doing enough to address Los Angeles’s scarcity of production. This criticism has been further intensified by a recent Milken Institute report that scrutinized LA permit fees and FilmLA’s nonprofit status. The report suggested that film offices in rival cities such as New York, London, and Atlanta are government-operated, meaning their costs are partially subsidized, which may be contributing to the competitive edge they hold over L.A.
CA United suggested three key requirements for the renewal of the nonprofit’s contract, which they believe should be met as follows:
1. The city should only prolong the FilmLA contract for a duration of six months, similar to what the county has done, to enable “supervision, transparency, and adjustments.”
2. They proposed a system of permitting tiers that would establish distinct timeframes for various types of film productions.
3. Furthermore, they linked the renewal of FilmLA’s contract with tangible results such as the number of approved shoot days and jobs maintained within the state.
As per Audley’s explanation, FilmLA’s agreement with the city doesn’t cover the permitting obstacles causing frustration among L.A. production supporters. Instead, it focuses on problems related to the speed of permit approval, notification to the community, and addressing complaints effectively.
Advocates haven’t been deterred from focusing on the office’s contract in their campaigning. “We aim for the City to exert influence on every worker, division, and service provider connected to this crucial sector,” Bailey expressed, “as reviving these vanishing jobs necessitates a swift adjustment of the entire system.
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2025-06-19 01:55