After Lengthy Delay, Filming Contract Headed to Council
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Nearly a year and a half after first getting introduced, a call to solicit firms interested in the city's filming coordination contract is finally headed to Council. While the terms are substantially weakened from those initially proposed in the 2007 first draft, the new contract would formalize requirements such as notification performance and how far in advance permits must be issued.
The entertainment industry has long objected to any new rules that would limit last-minute filming requests. At an October hearing of the Public Works committee, Sarah Walsh of the Motion Picture Association of America objected to a requirement that permits be issued at least 24 hours before activity takes place. "At present, the majority of permits are issued with less than 24 hours, for example 4pm on Wednesday for a 7am call on Thursday," she said. "While we recognize that the city has made a reduction from 48 hours to 24 hours, this still places an undue burden on the city and production companies."
The document's second draft had been in stasis since that hearing, and a promised second meeting never took place. It now moves forward after the Public Works committee waived its right to consider the item.
Permit processing and notification services are currently handled by Film L.A., and the firm's contract has received several extensions in the time the open bid has been in limbo.
The RFP is scheduled to be considered at Council on Tuesday, March 31. In September, a timeline was presented that showed five months from RFP release to contract execution. The city's current contract with Film L.A. runs through the end of 2009.
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thebonaventure
Pitchfork and Torches if FilmLA Gets This Contract on March 28, 2009, at 12:41PM – #1
I think Ms. Walsh needs a lesson on public policy.
The public must have ample time to be notified regarding film permit applications and ample time to raise legitimate objections. That's a small price to pay for use of public thoroughfares that many people other than the entertainment industry depend upon for their livelihoods and enjoyment and use of adjacent property per the LAMC. The role of a professional location manager is to anticipate and coordinate the needs of a production prior to the day before going on location. Otherwise, shot on a backlot where you have total control.
If MPAA doesn't like it, I hear the weather in Canada is great this time of year.
Alternatively, maybe the City should reclaim the legal permit application approval authority FilmLA swears they [the City] maintain. After all, the City continues to cry poor so maybe the Public Works Committee will move this permit process, and the associated permit fee revenue stream, back under a City department where it belongs.
As an update, the Public Works Committee will hear this matter on April 15th and it has been moved off the Council agenda for Tuesday.
MPAA affiliated members are showing record box office returns. It's time they start paying the full price of their impact on the rest of the City if they want to continue to enjoy shooting locally with the support of the communities they disrupt.