On February 15, the DGA’s Inter-Committee hosted the panel discussion, Shooting in LA. Presented by the DGA Women’s Steering Committee (WSC), the event was designed to inform members of what’s available to assist filming in the Los Angeles area.
Following a welcome from DGA WSC Co-Chair Liz Ryan, who also served as moderator of the discussion, the attendees were able to hear about the subject of the evening from Ana Guerrero, the Chief of Staff to Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti; Krishna Asani, the Director of Field Services for FilmL.A.; and DGA Associate Executive Director, Government & International Affairs, Kathy Garmezy. During the conversation the panelists covered topics including: Mayor Garcetti’s vision and commitment to filming in LA; changes the administration has made to ease filming in the city; what every Director or UPM should know about FilmL.A., how the FilmLA office can simplify the process of getting a permit to film in the city and what would happen to a filmmaker/production if they were to work without a permit; the DGA’s role in promoting the California Tax Incentive and how much work has come back to California as a result of the incentive; and how individual members can help keep the cameras turning in LA.
Following the discussion, the floor was opened to questions from the audience.
About the Inter-Committee:
The DGA Inter-Committee consists of the DGA Diversity Task Force and the Co-Chairs of the DGA Diversity Committees. The Committee meets every other month and all members are welcome to attend. For more information about the DGA Inter-Committee, contact Frank Bennett Gonzalez, Executive in Charge of Diversity Programs and Committees at 310-289-5377 or via email at FGonzalez@dga.org.
About the Diversity Taskforce and Diversity Committees:
The DGA Diversity Committees are dedicated to their respective communities and work towards supporting women and ethnically diverse members who are underrepresented in the entertainment industry. Each of the committees endeavor to increase employment opportunities for directors and their directorial teams through meetings, seminars, networking, and special celebratory events.