L.A. Film Office Warns Production Permits May Be Temporarily Denied Around Protest Areas

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As a gamer, I’d phrase it like this: “Hey there fellow creators, with the ongoing immigration raids protests in downtown L.A., it looks like some areas might be temporarily out of bounds for us filmmakers. Just a heads-up from our local film office.

In Los Angeles, the Police Department is handling projects individually, which could lead to the rejection of film permits for locations close to City Hall and The L.A. Mall due to ongoing demonstrations. Additionally, productions aiming to film around the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Office, as well as a federal building near Little Tokyo, may also be impacted. This information was shared in a production alert issued on Monday by FilmLA.

On Monday morning, I learned from FilmLA that a series of protests were scheduled to kick off at Gloria Molina Grand Park, directly in front of City Hall, starting at 9 a.m. One of these rallies is actually a demonstration against the June 6th arrest of our local labor leader, David Huerta. This protest has garnered support from various Hollywood labor groups, and it’s set to commence at noon.

At present, we can’t provide precise details about the affected zones due to the dynamic nature of the situation. Ensuring the safety of our crew members and allowing for freedom of expression are both top priorities, as indicated in our recent announcement.

A representative from the Los Angeles Police Department advised, in response to an inquiry, that it would be wise to avoid the vicinity as protests are taking place. The department declined to provide further details about which locations are off-limits at present.

The L.A.-based film office has reported that they are not currently aware of any film productions that have been halted or disrupted due to protests. However, they reminded us that filming is generally permitted everywhere within Los Angeles except for locations where intense protest activities are taking place.

A significant number of movies have been filmed in the heart of the city, with blockbusters such as “Independence Day,” “Collateral,” “Blade Runner,” and “Inception” being among them. Notably, City Hall has stood in for the exterior of the Daily Planet newspaper in the 1950s “Adventures of Superman” series, and it has also made appearances in films like “L.A. Confidential” and “Gangster Squad.”

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The downtown area of the city is a favorite spot for filmmakers, with significant parts of movies like “Independence Day,” “Collateral,” “Blade Runner,” and “Inception” being shot there. Interestingly, City Hall has been used as the exterior for Clark Kent’s newspaper, the Daily Planet, in the 1950s “Adventures of Superman” series, and it has also been featured in films like “L.A. Confidential” and “Gangster Squad.”

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The downtown part of the city is a well-known filming location for many movies, including “Independence Day,” “Collateral,” “Blade Runner,” and “Inception.” Remarkably, City Hall has been used as the exterior for Clark Kent’s newspaper in the 1950s “Adventures of Superman” series, and it has also appeared in films like “L.A. Confidential” and “Gangster Squad.

Filming restrictions for productions in the realm of cinema and TV would not apply to entities that report on live news, as they don’t require permits to film.

Demonstrations in Los Angeles started last Friday as a reaction to immigration raids, and they grew significantly throughout the weekend. On Saturday evening, President Donald Trump suggested deploying at least 2,000 National Guard troops to the city as a response. California Governor Gavin Newsom deemed this action illegal and immoral, and California filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration regarding the matter on Monday.

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2025-06-09 23:56