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The proposal aimed at reducing fees and streamlining other processes to help filmmakers in Los Angeles was approved by the Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday.
The council’s lawsuit directs several urban departments to report in 30 days with recommendations for adjusting urban fees, permits, parking and security requirements for filming and certification of new soundstages on city-owned properties. Councillor Adlin Nazarian introduced the claim on March 28th.
“The move focuses on revitalizing local film productions, streamlining urban permitting processes, and bureaucracy to make them more efficient and unsettled,” Nazarian said. “Simply put, this is protecting middle-class workers and the very industry that established Los Angeles on the world map.”
Nazarian, a former state legislator, created AB 2936 in 2018. In his allegations, councillors said state leaders are currently considering two bills aimed at revitalizing production.
Councillor Trace Park, chair of the Trade, Travel and Tourism Commission, said the council is seeking assistance from other parts of the state to stay competitive as other jurisdictions offer more tax credits to encourage film production.
Filmla continues to report that production numbers are falling, with 2024 as one of the worst in history, with studio executives worried about the impact of the new tariffs. Ted Chen is reporting an NBC4 News report on April 16, 2025 at 5pm.
Greg Zekowski, a member of the American Director’s Guild, was one of about 50 representatives of the film industry that supported the Nazarian motion. He described the proposal as “a big step forward” as the city needs to “regenerate what we’re doing.”
“I urge the council to vote for support as headwinds have caused production and left Los Angeles, members have lost their jobs and shortages of jobs.”
Filmla is a partner film office for Los Angeles cities and counties and other local jurisdictions. Last year, the organization increased its permit fee by 4%.
The permit application fee covering up to five locations for seven consecutive days increased from $895 to $931 on July 1, 2024.
People in the television and film industry say they have struggled to find work some time after the Hollywood attack, even years after the pandemic. Karma Dickerson reports NBC4 News on Monday, April 28th, 2025 at 6pm.
Filmla’s Philip Sokoloski explained that service rates are below the median permit and average regional costs.
“Because our permitting process is multinational and multijurisdictional, additional costs reduce document headaches and cost work in new areas,” he said.
Filmla’s fees also cover high cost of living for employees. Additionally, organizations’ service rates are fixed. This means it is unadjustable unless you take into account the annual increase allowed inflation.
“It’s a common misconception that the total price for a film permit is within Filmla Control,” Sokoloski told City News Service in an email. “Only about 40% of the fees paid by Filmla customers fund our operations. The rest is sent to cover government fees for services and personnel.”
He added that the Council’s idea of a more streamlined permitting process is worth exploring.
According to Filmla, the city already offers more film industry incentives than most jurisdictions. This includes a limited exemption from usage fees to photograph on most city property. At the same time, urban personnel expenses related to the use of government buildings, or among other categories, urban personnel expenses for police and fire surveillance on set, have not currently been abandoned.
Filmla reported in early April that community activity for filming Los Angeles in the large territories fell 22.4% in the first quarter of the year. All major filming categories fell in the first quarter, and commercials even broke.
Film offices and LA elected officials have shown support for two proposed state bills aimed at expanding and modernizing the state’s tax credit program.
Introduced by state Sen. Ben Allen D-Santa Monica, Sen. 630, aims to reduce the runtime requirements for television shows and be eligible for tax incentives from 40 to 20 minutes. Animated films, series, shorts and large competition shows will add a $1 million minimum budget to the list of eligible projects.
The bill proposes a 35% tax credit for productions that are filmed within 30 miles of so-called LA zones and other SoCAL locations.
Congressional members Rick Chavez Zbur of D-Hollywood and Isaac Bryan of D-Los Angeles have introduced AB 1138. AB1138 is intended to eliminate “50% ownership or 10-year lease requirements” for production using certified soundstages.
Plus, Gov. GavinNewsom proposes expanding the California Film & Television Tax Crept program to more than $750 million a year.
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