The Issue
250,000 people are employed by the motion picture industry in the greater Los Angeles area, and countless of thousands more are employed by businesses that depend on the film industry to survive. Many of these jobs are leaving Los Angeles for cities, states, and countries that offer tax incentives. Lower costs for filming elsewhere are offset, partially, by the ease of filming in Los Angeles.
>> Contact Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's office via the "Ask the Mayor" web form, or e-mail mayor@lacity.org.
>> E-mail your City Councilmember, and the others as well. You'll find contact information for the entire council at the City Council's web page.
Here's a sample email you can send to each council member.
As a member of the industry, if you work in the City of Los Angeles — even if you don't live in the city — you'll be adversely affected if the retired officers are forced out of their jobs by the impending uniform change. Act now!
Last year, FilmLA wrote approximately 120 filming permits per day for location filming with the City of Los Angeles and unincorporated Los Angeles County. In January 2009, FilmLA wrote approximately 30 filming permits per day. Our jobs have left the City!
For over 50 years, retired LA Police Officers have escorted, protected and monitored film crews within the City limits. These retired officers work independently from the Police Department.
LAPD wants to take over by mandating that film work be done by active duty police officers on overtime work details. The LAPD is also attempting to force the retired officers into a uniform that in no way resembles any law enforcement uniform, making them unrecognizable as figures of authority.
LAPD’s proposed changes have no benefit to film production. Their changes would:
- place tremendous liability on the City of Los Angeles
- raise production costs and reduce flexibility
- further chase away our jobs
- eliminate retired LAPD officers with 20 years of film experience from movie sets
We fully support the LAPD! But they are here “to protect and to serve”, not to baby sit movie stars. Attempting to service an industry instead of the public will drive costs up for the entertainment industry, and jeopardize public safety.
This issue is not up for public vote. Please let our Mayor and City Council members know that "if it aint broke, don't fix it!" and ask for their help keeping the film industry jobs in our city.
