Film LA to implement reduced operating hours in July

Film LA, the official film office of the City and County of Los Angeles, will operate limited business hours from the beginning of July.

The agency published a production alert notifying filmmakers they will work limited hours due to an "overall decline in permit volume and on-location filming."

The full statement reads: "Starting 7/1/2023, FilmLA will be open for business from 9 AM to 5 PM (Monday-Friday) until further notice.

"We will continue to provide all our standard services of permit and license coordination, neighbourhood notification and monitoring services during this time.

"Permit deadlines and access to after-hours assistance will not change."

The update comes nearly four weeks after the Writers Guild of America (WGA) - which represents 11,500 screenwriters - began strike action against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) owing to pay disputes with Hollywood producers, and residuals from streaming media

On May 17, Film LA reported a 69.5% decline in on-location permits. The agency outlined that there were only 111 permits issued for TV and feature films three weeks into the strike. That includes reality TV, which is not covered by the WGA strike.

That figure was down 69.5% from the same week in 2022, when there were 364 permits. The figure does not include permits for commercial shoots, which are also done under a separate contract.

Film LA reported only permit data — not whether filming officially took place.