Countywide : Officials Seek Ways to Lure Filmmakers

Using Orange County’s historic landmarks, pristine canyons and scenic coastline as a lure, county officials hope to draw more big-budget movie producers to the area.

While film crews are not strangers to Orange County, the Board of Supervisors has ordered a report that will outline strategies to increase the number of major motion pictures filmed locally.

Supervisor Gaddi H. Vasquez, who called for the report in March, said measures such as a streamlined permit process and a detailed catalogue of available sites could bring a steady flow of filmmakers across the Los Angeles County line.

“There are some great, great opportunities for us to draw a significant volume of filmmakers to our community,” said Vasquez, who added that the film industry could bring millions to the county’s ailing economy.

Vasquez said the report, due Aug. 3, will probably take note of the successful campaign mounted by the San Diego Motion Picture and Television Bureau, headed by the San Diego Chamber of Commerce.

Last year, the industry brought $21 million into San Diego, compared to the $378,000 Orange County got, said Cristi Silverberg, the county’s film liaison.

Silverberg, who works as the county’s lone contact for filmmakers, said her duties range from finding suitable shooting sites to assisting producers in their search for lodging.

Working with film figures such as director Rob Reiner and actress Meryl Streep, Silverberg said, has convinced her that Orange County has much to gain from continuing to host films such as “Defending Your Life,” “Demolition Man” and “North,” all shot in the county in part.

She also assists them through the use permit process, which varies from city to city. Creating a uniform process, Silverberg said, would seem to be a likely suggestion in the report being prepared by the county Environmental Management Agency.