Hahn Sends a Message to Filmmakers: Shoot in L.A.

After many months of previews and promises of coming attractions, Los Angeles Mayor James K. Hahn announced Wednesday that he was issuing a series of executive orders designed to encourage film production to stay in Los Angeles.

Acknowledging that the city may have dropped the ball on similar pledges in the past, the mayor and City Council members Wendy Greuel and Martin Ludlow also convened a round-table discussion with film industry representatives Wednesday afternoon, complete with Hollywood perks such as valet parking and a low-carb lunch.

“The film and entertainment industry pumps $30 billion into our economy and employs more than 200,000 workers in our area, so its prosperity is of vital importance to Los Angeles,” Hahn said.

In recent years, producers of feature films, commercials and television shows increasingly have been lured by tax incentives to film in other states and countries, taking thousands of jobs with them.

To help stem the tide, Hahn issued an executive order to create a liaison with each city department, from the police to the library, to make it easier for production companies to film on city streets and city property.

Other orders called on officials to examine the fees that the city has been charging for filming and for renting city property and equipment. The goal is to enact simple fees set only to recover costs. Some film industry officials have complained about the cost to film at the Department of Water and Power and the Central Library.

The mayor also called on city departments to cooperate fully with the Entertainment Industry Development Corp., which handles film permits for shooting in Los Angeles County. The EIDC, which was dogged last year by a criminal indictment of its executive director on charges of misusing public funds, has been reorganized and streamlined in recent months.

Greuel introduced a motion Wednesday that would restructure the city’s business taxes on productions and eliminate the business tax on individual artists such as writers and actors and on museums.

“What we’re talking about today is jobs,” Greuel said.

Film industry representatives said they welcomed the actions and hoped that officials would stay focused on the issue.

“I’m hoping this will jump-start some efforts,” said Melissa Gilbert, president of the Screen Actors Guild, adding that up to now, “the city is not doing well” in keeping pace with incentives offered in other states.

Before the meeting, Hahn acknowledged that similar efforts in the past have stalled. He said that this time would be different.

“We will make sure the suggestions and policies [are] followed through,” he said. “We understand how important you are to us, and we aren’t going to forget it.”

Many in the industry said it was high time that they were hearing such words.

“Today’s exchange of ideas was constructive, productive and, quite frankly, overdue,” said G. Bryan Unger, the western executive director of the Directors Guild of America.