Los Angeles City Council approves measures to support local film industry

The Los Angeles City Council has passed two measures designed to reduce costs for local film productions and combat a decline in on-location shooting. The initiatives, introduced by Councilmember Adrin Nazarian, aim to support independent creators and maintain the city's status as a filmmaking hub.

One measure provides free permits for “micro-shoot” productions, defined as sets with up to 10 filmmakers that have minimal community impact. This is intended to assist student filmmakers, documentary crews, and ultra-low-budget projects.

A second measure limits parking fees for crew and staging areas on city-owned property, including lots, yards, and civic structures, to $1 per day. This represents a significant reduction from current rates, which FilmLA reports can range from $100 to $450 per day for various parking needs.

The actions follow data from FilmLA showing that shoot days between July and September fell 4.8% compared to the previous year and were nearly 29% below the five-year average. The measures are part of the “Keep Hollywood Home” campaign led by the Council’s Ad Hoc Committee on Film, Entertainment and the Creative Industry.