The Core Function
A city film commission acts as the official liaison between a film production and the city itself. It is a one-stop shop designed to make filming in that city as smooth and efficient as possible. Their primary goal is to attract productions to their city in order to stimulate the local economy through job creation and direct spending. Essentially, their job is to cut through bureaucratic red tape and solve the logistical problems that arise when a massive film production takes over public spaces.
Services Provided to Productions
Film commissions are service-oriented organizations that provide a wide range of essential, often free, services to filmmakers:
- Permitting: They are the central office for issuing all necessary filming permits for shooting on public property like streets, parks, and government buildings.
- Location Scouting: They maintain extensive databases of potential filming locations and can assist productions in finding the perfect spot for a scene.
- Liaison Services: They coordinate with other city departments on behalf of the production, such as arranging police support for street closures, fire department safety officers, and parking services.
- Local Resources: They connect productions with a network of local crew, talent, equipment vendors, and other support services.
- Incentive Administration: If the city offers its own local financial incentives, the film commission is typically the office that manages and administers them.
Role in the Industry
A well-run and film-friendly city film commission can be a major competitive advantage in the global competition for production business. Cities that are known for being efficient, cooperative, and affordable are far more likely to be chosen as filming destinations. Famous and highly effective examples include the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment and FilmLA, which handles permitting for the City and County of Los Angeles.