By Isabell Ortega
With Hollywood facing ongoing challenges of keeping costs down and a growing competitive marketplace, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (BOS) this week acted decisively to keep the cameras rolling.
That after the BOS unanimously approved a multi-pronged motion to shore up the County’s world-renowned film and television industry.
“Too many entertainment industry professionals are out of work and living with real uncertainty about their future. As the creative capital of the world, Los Angeles County must lead with action,” said Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, who authored the motion with Supervisor Chair Kathryn Barger.
“That’s why we’re investing in our quintessential industry, streamlining outdated permitting, reducing costs, and exploring new solutions like a public-private Evergreen Fund and new tech-forward production facilities. This is about protecting our creative workforce and ensuring the entertainment industry remains a cornerstone of our history—and our future,” she added.
Specifically, the motion directs the Department of Economic Opportunity’s LA County Film Office to work collaboratively with key County departments—including the Department of Regional Planning, Fire Department, Public Works, Beaches and Harbors, Parks and Recreation, and the Sheriff’s Department. Together, these departments will examine current permitting policies and procedures to make filming in Los Angeles County more efficient, affordable, and competitive when compared to other leading production hubs such as Georgia, New York, and Texas.
The motion also calls for an in-depth exploration of a public-private Evergreen Fund, a proposed $80 to $100 million investment strategy designed to support emerging technology start-ups in the film and television sector.
County officials will work with the Center for Strategic Partnerships and the Department of Arts and Culture to assess the fund’s structure, identify potential funding sources, evaluate workforce impacts, and ensure long-term sustainability. The goal of this initiative is to fuel innovation, create high-quality local jobs, and keep production spending rooted in Los Angeles County.
The motion comes as the region’s entertainment industry is still recovering from the pandemic and the dual Hollywood strikes of 2023. The BOS approval sets in motion a 120-day timeframe for a series of reports and feasibility studies, all designed to accelerate solutions that streamline processes, reduce costs, and foster innovation while balancing the needs of local communities.
“Our region is the heart of entertainment,” said Barger. “We’re taking action to cut through outdated bureaucracy, invest in innovation, and make sure Los Angeles County remains the number one place to film and create.”
