Everybody knows the country has faced economic challenges over the past year and that the federal government passed a nearly $800 billion economic stimulus package, called the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), in February. What is far less well-known is that L.A. entertainment businesses can apply for tax-exempt facility construction bonds under the program. The City … Read More
Tools of the Trade: Applause for the Clapper
It’s the icon perhaps most commonly used to represent Hollywood or the film industry — though it’s not a strip of film, camera or film reel. Everyone recognizes it, although fewer actually know its purpose, despite the fact that it’s changed very little since the early days of film. The clapper (aka sticks, clapperboard, clapboard, slate, marker) is the chalkboard … Read More
New Council Committee Entertains Filming
The Los Angeles City Council’s Jobs and Business Development Committee has been assigned oversight of filming issues, which until recently were under the City’s Public Works Committee. Councilman Richard Alarcón has been appointed Chair of “Jobs” and has committed to an aggressive agenda to make it easier to film in Los Angeles. The committee met on September 22 to … Read More
Chalk One Up for Filming: Production Pads School Budgets
School might have been out for summer, but thanks to steady filmmaker interest in area school properties, recent months were hot ones for filming on campus. FilmL.A.’s first and largest educational client, LAUSD, recently witnessed a year-over-year increase of 103 percent in revenue and 28 percent in signed rental contracts from the beginning of June through the end of September. … Read More
FilmL.A. Awarded New L.A. County Contract
On Tuesday, September 22, 2009, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to enter into a new sole source contract with FilmL.A. for film permit coordination and related community relations and accounting services. The new contract, crafted to accommodate the unique needs of both the industry and local communities, notably preserves the rapid turnaround and permitting flexibility … Read More