LOS ANGELES – Mayor Karen Bass today issued the following statement after a bipartisan group of Congressional leaders officially introduced a bill to create a federal film and television tax credit.
“Today, we’re seeing the results of the continued advocacy in Washington with the introduction of the federal film and television tax credit bill. While I’ve worked aggressively with labor and entertainment industry leaders to expand state-level tax incentives and reduce filming fees locally, a federal tax credit is needed so local incentives remain competitive with countries who offer larger benefits that have drawn productions out of the United States.
“I want to recognize the Motion Picture Association, our entertainment labor unions, and industry partners who have led this effort in Washington and worked closely with my Office to build support and momentum for this legislation. And I thank the bipartisan leadership of Senators Adam Schiff and Tim Scott, and Representatives Linda Sánchez, Laura Friedman, and Nathaniel Moran for understanding the importance of investing in an industry that is so critical to Los Angeles and the country. I will do everything in my power to ensure this bill is passed into law.”
Mayor Bass has spent her career supporting film and television production, protecting entertainment industry jobs, and strengthening Hollywood’s economic recovery. As Speaker of the State Assembly, she oversaw the passage of the inaugural Film and TV Tax Credit Program. As Mayor, she championed its historic doubling to $750 million. She recently celebrated the passage of two state bills which protected the expanded state tax credit and created California’s first post-production tax credit. Now, she’s fighting for a no-cap state tax credit.
Additional progress to bolster the entertainment industry under Mayor Bass’ Executive Directive 11 includes:
Filming fees at the Griffith Observatory have been slashed by 70%.
The Central Library has reopened for filming after more than a decade.
The Port of Los Angeles has cut in half the time it takes to review filming applications.
The LA Department of Transportation (LADOT) has extended staff hours to ensure timely on-street signage posting requests and changes for local productions.
LADOT has pre-approved certain closures in Downtown L.A., allowing FilmLA to authorize curb lanes and local street closures in accordance with established guidelines.
LAPD has identified activity and locations where the assignment of personnel can either be waived or decreased since the Mayor’s directive took effect.
Restoring filming at the Sixth Street Bridge through a new pilot program that supports productions and protects the surrounding neighborhood.
Last month, Mayor Bass brought together the heads of every City department responsible for the restoration of the iconic Cinerama Dome to ensure a quick and seamless process to reopen the Los Angeles Historic-Monument by Sony Pictures and Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.
Additionally, the appointment of Board of Public Works President Steve Kang as the Mayor’s Liaison to the Film and Television Industry has streamlined many of the day-to-day barriers that productions face in Los Angeles. By providing a concierge-style service and addressing issues directly as they come up, the Mayor’s Liaison ensures that productions receive timely support and that the City remains a film-friendly partner.
Mayor Bass also established an Entertainment Industry Council to draw on the expertise of industry leaders and issued Executive Directive 8 to support the industry locally, including establishing monthly task force meetings with key departments and industry stakeholders and requiring all departments to have a designated liaison for film and TV production.