On March 24, the AICP convened a leadership roundtable at Hungry Man, bringing together commercial production leaders and the executive team from FilmLA, the official film office for the City and County of Los Angeles, for a candid discussion about the current state of production in Los Angeles.
Representing FilmLA were CEO Denise Gutches, Vice President of Integrated Communications Philip Sokoloski, Vice President of Operations & External Affairs Donna Washington, and Director of Solution Services Tim Overbeck. The discussion was moderated by David Michael González, Vice President of Labor Relations and External Affairs of AICP.
Clarifying FilmLA’s Role
FilmLA opened the discussion with a clear overview of its function within the region’s production ecosystem. As an independent nonprofit organization, FilmLA is contracted by the City and County of Los Angeles to coordinate film permitting. Its core responsibilities include:
Serving as a centralized point of contact for productions
Coordinating with multiple jurisdictions and agencies
Facilitating the permit application process
FilmLA emphasized that it does not set policy, establish fees, or issue permits. Those authorities remain with the respective city, county, or local jurisdictions. Nevertheless, FilmLA advocates for film-friendly policies, such as the Model Film Ordinance, to ensure jurisdictions welcoming and accommodating to the industry.
This distinction is critical for producers navigating the system: while FilmLA manages the process, decision-making authority ultimately sits with government entities.
Producers Speak Frankly on Current Challenges
The roundtable created space for commercial producers to speak openly about the realities of filming in Los Angeles today. Several consistent themes emerged:
Cost of Doing Business
Producers highlighted that overall production costs in Los Angeles continue to outpace competing markets, making it increasingly difficult to keep work local.
Cost of Labor
Labor costs, while tied to a highly skilled workforce, remain a significant factor in budget decisions, particularly for commercial projects operating under tight margins.
Litigation Risk
A recurring concern was the threat of labor lawsuits, which many producers described as a uniquely persistent challenge in California. The unpredictability and potential liability associated with these claims were cited as a deterrent to local production.
These pressures are collectively contributing to a broader shift in where commercial production work is being executed.
FilmLA’s Response
FilmLA leadership listened carefully and engaged directly with the concerns raised throughout the discussion. While reiterating the limits of their purview, the team acknowledged the importance of the issues surfaced by producers.
FilmLA committed to:
Relaying industry feedback to the Mayor’s Film Liaison, Steve Kang, President, Board of Public Works
Sharing concerns with city and county leadership
Continuing to serve as a conduit between the production community and policymakers
Looking Ahead
The roundtable underscored the value of open dialogue and the structural challenges facing production in Los Angeles. While FilmLA does not control policy or costs, its role as a connector between industry and government positions it as an important channel for elevating producer concerns.
For commercial producers, the takeaway is clear: engagement remains essential. As cost pressures and legal risks continue to shape production decisions, forums like this roundtable provide a critical opportunity to ensure those realities are heard by the stakeholders who can influence change.
For questions about film permitting, contact David Michael González, davidg@aicp.com.