LA Renews FilmLA Contract Despite Permit Reform Pressure

Los Angeles’ film and television industry, a cornerstone of the city’s economy and identity, continues to face significant challenges. Recent data paints a stark picture: soundstage occupancy rates have plummeted to just 63% in the past year, a sharp decline from the consistent 93.5% occupancy seen between 2016 and 2022. This dramatic drop underscores a broader crisis, with overall filming activity in LA hitting its lowest point since 2017, excluding the 2020 pandemic shutdown.

Against this backdrop of dwindling production and high vacancy rates, Los Angeles city officials faced a contentious decision. Despite vocal opposition from advocacy groups and some lawmakers demanding reforms, the city voted Friday morning to approve a new five-year contract with FilmLA, the non-profit organization responsible for managing filming permits.

For years, LA’s complex and costly permitting process has been a lightning rod for criticism, cited as a key factor contributing to “runaway production” – the phenomenon of projects opting to shoot in other states or countries. Organizations like “Stay in LA,” dedicated to attracting production back to the region, have been at the forefront of this reform movement, calling for reductions in what they deem “onerous regulations and permitting,” “unnecessary fees,” and “inconsistent safety requirements.”

Advocates had pushed the city to delay a long-term commitment, proposing a six-month contract extension instead (mirroring a recent move by LA County) to allow time for negotiation and amendments aimed at streamlining the process.

Councilmember Adrin Nazarian articulated the difficult position faced by lawmakers. He described being presented with “two unacceptable choices”: either renew the five-year contract without immediate review or allow the current agreement to lapse on July 1. Letting the contract expire would have left the city with no legal authority to issue film permits, effectively halting all production and inflicting what he called “irreparable damage to an industry that is already in crisis.”

Ultimately, the need for continuity prevailed, leading to the five-year renewal.

However, the push for reform is far from over. Both FilmLA and city officials have indicated a commitment to address policy changes and potential contract amendments within the first year of the new agreement, which commences July 1. Nazarian stated his intention to propose specific suggestions and emphasized that the thousands of Angelenos whose livelihoods depend on the industry would be watching closely.

Stay in LA has outlined several key amendments they believe are necessary to make filming in Los Angeles more competitive:

Reduce Personnel Requirements: Lessen the mandatory number of public safety personnel needed on set.
Location Fee Relief: Offer waived or reduced fees for utilizing public properties as filming locations.
Competitive Safety Officers: Establish a pool of film-certified public safety officers available at rates comparable to other production hubs.
Curb Price Gouging: Identify and enforce fair pricing for crew parking and base camps.
Streamline Review: Improve the efficiency of the permitting review process across all relevant city departments.
Ease Stage Certification: Revise the process to allow more stages to certify and limit additional costs.

The City Council’s decision follows recent efforts from Mayor Karen Bass’s office to cut through production-related red tape. A directive issued about a month prior specifically instructed city officials to streamline processes, make iconic city-owned locations more accessible and affordable for filming, and foster better communication between productions and the city.

Beyond the local level, efforts to revitalize the industry extend to the state. Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposal to expand California’s Film & TV Tax Credit Program is currently navigating the Legislature, with potential for increased funding debated ahead of the July 1 fiscal year deadline.

While the five-year contract renewal with FilmLA ensures immediate stability for the permitting process, it has also solidified the urgency for meaningful reform. As LA navigates a challenging period marked by declining production and vacant soundstages, the focus now shifts to whether the promised efforts within the first year of the new contract can successfully address the long-standing criticisms and help bring the cameras back to Hollywood.