The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) wants its 191 member cities and six counties to adopt a version of the Model Film Ordinance and Best Practices (MFO/BP) that was put forward by the California Film Commission in May. The move has the support of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) and FilmL.A., a not-for-profit group that coordinates permits for filmed entertainment shot on location in the Los Angeles area.
Streamlining local ordinances is "critical to our region's economy and future," SCAG President Glen Becerra said in statement.
"This is only the beginning of government, business and an industry specialist working together to adopt business-friendly principles that secure a prosperous California."
Carson, Simi Valley, and Duarte are among the cities that have already taken steps to revise their ordinances in accordance with the CFC's guidelines.
The best practices include:
—Eliminating the city’s business license requirement for film productions.
—Adjusting the film permit structure to a weekly rate of $650 for the first week and $500 thereafter.
—Reducing the advanced notice requirements from two weeks to five days.
—Requiring law enforcement on an as-needed basis only.
—Reducing the radius required to notify businesses and residents of filming from 500’ to 300’.
—Reducing the radius required to survey businesses and residents of filming for extended hours from 500’ to 300'.
FilmL.A. President Paul Audley said SCAG's push, which was passed unanimously as a Regional Council motion July 5, would create more "predictability and uniformity" for producers.
"The much-needed economic benefits from increased film spending and getting more cast and crew back to work will be substantial as a result," Audley said in statement.
The entertainment industry accounts for 176,700 jobs and $30 billion in spending in Southern California, according to LAEDC, a non-profit economic development organization.
Meanwhile, Audley's group continues to chronicle production flight from California. Earlier this month, FilmL.A. announced that overall on-location production dipped in the last quarter compared to this time last year. Television was the hardest hit. According to the not-for-profit group's tally, permitted production days went from 4,024 in 2011 to 3,405 for the same period this year—a drop of 15.4 percent. At the same time, on-location feature production increased 9.1 percent for the quarter.
