Officials Seeking Film Funds Targeted

A state legislator Wednesday proposed a measure that would fine elected officials up to $10,000 if they force film production companies to make charitable donations or other grants in exchange for their support in obtaining film permits.

Assemblyman Dario Frommer (D-Los Feliz) said the measure would fine any state or local elected official who requires “directly or indirectly a charitable donation in exchange for granting or supporting the granting of a film permit.”

The move comes after two elected officials in Los Angeles had asked several film companies to donate money for special projects before they would support the closing of streets or highways in their districts.

“This bill would prohibit that behavior,” said Frommer, chairman of the Select Committee on Runaway Film Production. “No matter how worthy the cause, officials who expect a quid pro quo for a film permit create an appearance of corruption and drive away even more good-paying television and film production jobs” from California.

Frommer filed the measure Wednesday as an amendment to an earlier bill.

The Times reported in January that Councilman Eric Garcetti, who represents the Hollywood area, told the production team behind the Harrison Ford-starring film “Hollywood Homicide” that he might not support closing a portion of Hollywood Boulevard unless they paid at least $10,000 for a traffic study. The filmmakers agreed to pay, but Garcetti never collected it.

Garcetti’s predecessor, Jackie Goldberg, now an Assembly member, requested during her stint on the City Council that three filmmakers donate as much as $10,000 to charities in exchange for her support in closing a freeway for film shoots.