The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is bending over backward to help an active Hollywood TV production — a reboot of the 1990s global hit “Baywatch” — to continue filming at some of the county’s beaches.
The 12-episode “Baywatch” reboot that began shooting in Venice Beach, has been positioned as a key example of efforts to bring production back to Los Angeles, receiving a $21 million tax credit from the California Film Commission last fall. The series, which features the adventures of a new generation of lifeguards, will feature Stephen Amell, Shay Mitchell, Noah Beck and Livvy Dunne.
But recently, producers Fox Studios and Fremantle needed help jumping over a wave of regulations that may prevent directors from shouting “action!”
County regulations that prohibit using drone cinematic technology in and around local beaches presented a problem for the show’s producers, who plan on expanding the work to local beaches but faced prohibitive county regulations. These restrictions on drone cameras threatened to drift production to friendlier shores.
To pave the way for continued production in L.A. County, including Venice Beach, a motion by Third District Supervisor Lindsey Horvath was approved on Tuesday, April 14, giving permission to the production team to bypass the county’s prohibition of all drone use in Venice Beach plus county beaches, including flying cameras used in film and TV production.
The regulations were deemed “one of the most restrictive coastal drone prohibitions in the state and places county beaches at a competitive disadvantage relative to neighboring film locations,” according to the county.
The motion, approved by a unanimous, 4-0 vote (Supervisor Kathryn Barger was absent), sets up a pilot program allowing drone-filming technology over and around Venice Beach for permitted film and television production. The “Baywatch” production also intends to expand filming to other beaches, but needed regulatory relief to do so. It is also seeking permission from the California Coastal Commission.
The pilot program will allow drone use exclusively for permitted film and television productions through July 31, 2026, with strict requirements, including FAA-certified pilots, approved flight plans and restricted operating hours and zones along with environmental safeguards, the county reported.
“Los Angeles County is committed to advancing film policy in a way that is safe, responsible, and relevant to the changing needs of the industry,” said Horvath in a prepared statement. LA County worked with Fremantle, Fox Studios and the city of Los Angeles to smooth the way for continuous coastal area filming.
On Friday, Horvath held a meeting with representatives of Fox Studios, L.A. city officials, production leaders and agency representatives to iron out limits on staging, parking and production hours. On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors adopted the motion allowing drone filming.
Rumors swirled that production of the show would leave iconic Venice Beach — known for its creative shops and eateries, flex-happy Muscle Beach, its familiar boardwalk and its canals based on its namesake, Venice, Italy.
Crew Stories Facebook page cited an anonymous crew member who said government restrictions had forced the production out of Venice Beach, according to Variety.
“Despite the rumors, ‘Baywatch’ was never leaving Venice or Los Angeles,” L.A. City Councilwoman Traci Park said. “The city, county and production team are deeply committed to the success of this marquee effort. We are excited to meet the needs of their expanded footprint in Venice and all along the coast.”
Horvath’s motion called bringing the show that ran from 1989-1999 back to Venice Beach “iconic television.” In its prime, the show drew in 1.1 billion viewers weekly. It included attractive actors playing lifeguards, making beach rescues while figuring out interpersonal relationships. The show included familiar, sun-soaked stars David Hasselhoff, Yasmine Bleeth, Pamela Anderson, Carmen Electra and Parker Stevenson.
Later, the show re-tooled as “Baywatch Hawaii” from 1999-2001. The concept was rekindled in the 2017 movie satire starring Dwayne Johnson.
“Bringing the series back to Los Angeles is not only symbolic, but also vital to our local economy, supporting hundreds of union jobs and uplifting small businesses while reinforcing our standing as the global hub of the entertainment industry,” stated Horvath’s motion. She said the county’s restrictions on beach filming drove away productions, adding to the runaway production problem creating a hole in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles, Burbank, and the San Fernando Vallely.
Horvath said cooperation with FilmLA, unions, county departments, and the city of Los Angeles to allow the show to go on here in LA County is something that needs to happen more often. “This drone pilot reflects that commitment — helping productions thrive while protecting our communities and allowing our iconic beaches to shine for viewers across the globe.”
In a post on X, the social media site, Mayor Karen Bass wrote about working with the county to help the production stay put: “When I heard there were issues with ‘Baywatch’ filming in Los Angeles, my office took immediate action with Councilmember Park to clear any city-related barriers, including making parking easier and more affordable for the production. This was a team effort, among my office, Councilmember Park’s office, the County, Coastal Commission, Fremantle and FOX, and I’m thankful for this continued partnership.”
Filming, which began in March in Venice Beach, is scheduled to continue through July 31. The production team plans additional shoots at other beaches across the Los Angeles area.
“Bringing ‘Baywatch’ back to Los Angeles is not just important — it’s essential to sustaining our local economy and reinforcing our position as the global capital of the entertainment industry,” Horvath said in a statement. “While challenges are inherent to any production, what defines success is how quickly and effectively we address them.”
The entertainment industry employs 171,155 people in the region, accounting for $4 billion in economic activity, the county reported.
City News Service contributed to this article.