The Closure Report that Wasn't

The film companies regularly request more closures than they will actually need. The Board of Public Works is the decider as to what is actually allowed, not FilmLA.

One of the problems that I see is that film notifications are issued without closures or signature surveys being approved and/or submitted. This should not happen.

In this case it was clear that too much was being requested and the BPW was not likely to allow it.

What could be very helpful is for the community to organize a response to BPW agenda items that ask for too much. People from the community must be present at the meetings and protest closures that they object to.

Bert is 100% correct. the Board of Public Works is the decision maker with respect to street closures, not FilmLA. Fortunately, the Board of Public Works commissioners are public officials and accountable for their decision-making processes with respect to closing streets for filming. Their contact information is available through the following link, contact them DIRECTLY any time you have concerns a proposed street closure hampers your enjoyment or access to your property (rented or owned):

http://lacity.org/bpw/Secretariat/SecretariatContacts.html

If they are not responsive, reminder the mayor who appointed them they have a role to play in enforcing existing LAMC with respect to the use of property for filming versus the right of owners and renters to enjoy their properties.

In theory, I have no problem with filming Downtown, but I do wish residents could be notified on a more regular basis. All I'd like is a heads-up about gunfire, explosions, helicopters, or screaming tires on a Sunday morning. Then I could make my own plans accordingly. Regarding traffic, it's the same issue of courtesy and common sense. No-one notifies residents about street closures and you're pretty much left to your own devices to find alternative routes (sometimes this is easy, sometimes a pain, depending on how many production units are on location). Maybe an up-to-date website or e-mail notification would do the trick?

JM - they do have email notifications, you just have to sign up for them. you can sign up for all the agenda items that go to the board of public works, and you can also sign up for all the filmLA filming notifications.

Here's the link for filmLA's e-notification service: http://www.eidc.com/html/e-notification_program.html

And here's the link to sign up for all of the City's early notification email subscriptions (the BPW is the third entry in item 2): http://parc3.lacity.org/ens/index.cfm

I read this thread with interest and hope I can help clarify the process of filming-related street closure approvals. Let me begin by explaining that full street closures are requested by production companies wishing to obtain a film permit coordinated by FilmL.A. as the City’s contracted film office. The Department of Transportation and the Council office are the first approving authorities for full closures. DOT folks analyze traffic plans submitted by production companies before signing off. Once those approvals have been obtained, we submit a request on behalf of the production to the Board of Public Works for the commissioners’ consideration. The production company works with MTA to re-route busses and is responsible for conducting the community surveys.

It is true that film companies often request more closures than they will need, hoping for the flexibility to change creative direction last minute. This does present challenges for the community and us, since we put a lot of hours into coordinating closures and notifying locations that film companies never use. The City doesn’t currently have a policy limiting the number of closures an applicant can request, nor does the City allow us to put a limit on them.

When it comes to notification, our goal is to give the community as much information about upcoming filming as possible -- as far in advance as possible. City departments, community input and industry needs will shape the permit throughout the process, so the ultimate permit may differ from the initial application we receive. If we notify a community before all City departments have signed off and before we have complete information about the filming activities, we risk giving you faulty information. If we delay until we have all accurate information, we could deny you valuable time to adjust your schedules ahead of filming. Sometimes a shoot will be canceled, as was the case of the commercial mentioned, after we have sent out Notices of Filming.

I appreciate Celia’s mention of FilmL.A.’s e-notification program. Please use the updated link http://filmla.com/html/e-notification_program.html to register. We also maintain a street closure map on our website for your convenience at http://filmla.com/html/street_closures_map.html

Eric - In this case, FilmL.A. submitted the closure request to BPW using the language received on the permit application. We did this to secure Park Pictures' place on the Board agenda, knowing that their original request would be whittled down through the process. DOT was still in the process of reviewing traffic plans when Park Pictures pulled its request.

Todd:

How does a production company request a full street closure for filming without using FilmLA?

Todd:

Can you also clarify how a production company can get a permit for filming without using FilmLA?