LA is not film friendly': how Hollywood's woes became a political cudgel in mayoral race

Los Angeles welcomed a Baywatch reboot after a long hiatus, with officials citing improved conditions for local film and television production. Producers invested in a new lifeguard station on Venice Beach and expected to use camera drones and shoot at night, supported by a $21 million state tax credit and local approvals. Regulatory agencies, especially the county beaches and harbors department, imposed unexpected limits within four days. Restrictions covered where filming could occur, what sand could be used, and parking arrangements, stopping production. An anonymous Instagram post reported the situation and quickly became a political flashpoint. The incident raised concerns about Los Angeles’ ability to retain productions amid years of job losses and competition from other cities.

"Producers, who had built a new lifeguard station on Venice Beach in preparation for what they anticipated to be a multi-season reboot, learned they were not allowed to use the camera drones they were counting on, or to shoot at night. They had a $21m tax credit from the state and what they thought was the full blessing of the local authorities. But a handful of regulatory agencies, notably the county beaches and harbors department, had other ideas, and within four days shooting ground to a halt under a barrage of unexpected restrictions involving everything from the sand they could shoot on to the parking arrangements."

"Suddenly, everything was no', one member of the production wrote in a widely read anonymous Instagram post that quickly morphed into a political flashpoint. Los Angeles is not film friendly. Such a verdict appeared potentially devastating to a city that has struggled mightily for years to stop productions fleeing to cheaper locations Atlanta, Toronto, London, Budapest and has seen businesses around the industry from catering to costume rental flounder and fail."

"In February, Los Angeles welcomed the latest incarnation of the hit TV show back to southern California after a long hiatus, including detours to Hawaii and Georgia. City officials heralded its return as a sign of better times for local film and television production following years of decline and tens of thousands of job losses in the heart of Hollywood. But trouble soon beckoned."

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