LA Mayor-Elect Unveils Filmmaking Incentive Plan for City

Antonio Villaraigosa Mayor-elect Antonio Villaraigosa is jumpstarting efforts to keep the film and post-production in Los Angeles, unveiling a plan that will offer up an incentive program that includes tax credits and faster permit approval.

"Our focus on entertainment industries is essential," Villaraigosa told business leaders, including executives from the film industry at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel June 9.

Villaraigosa, who doesn't take office until July 1, said his plans will help Los Angeles stay competitive as it faces increasing competition from cities like New York and Chicago. New York is trying to pull in more production through tax incentives and other aimed at pulling in more production in the city.

"It's going to be an absolute priority. We are going to look at what New York has done, what Chicago has done, and we are going to focus our efforts to create the kind of incentives to keep film production here," he said.

He cited as a model New York's tax incentive program, which gives a 15 percent tax credit on production costs and offers companies discounts for city bus and bench advertising for companies that film 75 percent of their work in the city.

Los Angeles will respond to increasing competition with its own plan to offer tax incentives, speed up the permit process and offer lower costs for security. On the campaign web site of the mayor-elect, who drew early endorsement from IATSE, Villaraigosa said he will move forward with efforts to create one location fee for filming on city property, allow free filming at City Hall and other prime locations and promote films with banners on local streets.

His transition team includes industry figures such as Sherry Lansing, the former head of Paramount Pictures. The audience also included film company executive Chris Essel of Paramount Pictures, who serves as chairwoman of the California Film Commission.

"I'm pleased and encouraged by Mayor-elect Villaraigosa's remarks this morning. The entertainment industry is a vital part of the region's economy, and it's important for the city to do what it can to filming local," she said.