Ever slow down when you notice film or TV production trucks, bright lights, boom mics and maybe even a celebrity actor or two?
Of course, on-location productions are part of what make Los Angeles County landmarks famous. Thousands of iconic buildings have appeared on the big and small screens, from the Gamble House in Pasadena as Doc Brown’s mansion in “Back to the Future,” to the Griffith Observatory in “La La Land” where lovers Mia and Sebastian dance under the projected stars.
But Hollywood productions are not as common in the county or city as they used to be. In fact, overall film, TV and commercial shoot days countywide were down 42% in 2024, as compared to 2022, the county reported. The drop in local productions has hurt unincorporated L.A. County, where 70% of filming takes place, according to a letter from Cale Thomas, co-chair of the LA Political/Legislative Sub-Committee of IATSE Local 706, a union representing production workers.
To stop productions from moving elsewhere — known in the industry as “runaway productions” — and to bolster local filming, the county Board of Supervisors passed a motion on Tuesday, July 15 that considers a one-year moratorium on location and road-use fees, cutting red tape in L.A. County Sheriff Department permit approvals, and allowing filming in county parks during operating hours.
“Our region is the heart of entertainment,” said Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger. “We’re taking action today to cut through outdated bureaucracy, invest in innovation, and make sure Los Angeles County remains the number one place to film and create.”
The motion, by supervisors Lindsey Horvath and Kathryn Barger, also asks the Chief Executive Office and the director of arts and culture to explore a new funding stream of between $80 million and $100 million of public-private dollars that would be used on industry technology start-ups. The motion also will look for additional state and federal dollars.
These actions require reports back to the board that assess, for example, the budget impacts on county departments of waiving permit fees. The county’s director of economic opportunity and the L.A. County Film Office would research the new funding sources and report back in four months.
Their motion will look at changes to film permits, procedures and zoning regulations to better compete with states that have stolen away production, such as Georgia, New York, New Jersey and Texas.
“It is not runaway productions, it is ran-away productions,” said David Gregory, a member of a union that represents film lighting technicians who worked on many TV shows, including the long-running hospital drama, “Grey’s Anatomy.” He said the productions left a long time ago, even though skilled technicians still live in L.A. County.
The Los Angeles City Council and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass recently cut film production fees in the city.
The film and TV production industry was hurt by dual strikes in 2023 that, combined, caused an economic loss of about $10 billion, the county reported. Only about 26% of the jobs from the creative economy lost during the strikes have been recovered, according to the Otis College Report on the Creative Economy.
The industry has long been supporting more than 100,000 jobs in the county. A county report from March 2025 said difficulty in filming in the city and county and high permit costs are also reducing local production activity. The industry’s economic impact includes $100.6 billion within the county. Of that, $62.9 billion represented direct spending while $37.7 billion was due to secondary spending of related businesses, such as food vendors.
“This motion will help small businesses and strengthen our work force, while helping L.A. stay competitive. Los Angeles should lead and not lag in bringing productions home,” said James Babbin, who runs a production company.
“Film productions have been threatened by runaway productions to other jurisdictions,” said James Delhauer, a producer and cinematographer. “This has harmed our economy, including the hospitality industry, trade and tourism throughout Los Angeles County,”
Tommy Borra owns a trash company with contracts for waste hauling and recycling with the entertainment industry. “There are so many people impacted by runaway production,” he told the board.
Others laid out the roadblocks to greenlighting a movie, a TV show or a commercial onsite in L.A. County. “Just parking a truck on an L.A. County street costs $1,000,” said Robert Paulsen, a location manager with 25 years in the business. He said sometimes permits are not approved for filming.
“I want to create a film-friendly city and county,” said Rabeyah Khan, a location manager.