Meeting Date: 08/20/08 06:00 PM

Meeting Type: Regular

Location: Cinematographers Guild 7755 Sunset [NW corner of Genesee & Sunset]- handicap accessible, parking lot entered off of Genesee

Details: 1. Presentation by Geoffrey Smith of Film LA regarding filming in Area 7. Possible motion & Vote.
2. Presentation by Senior Lead Officer Ralph Sanchez regarding filming in Area 7. Possible motion & vote.
Adjournment (8:00 PM or earlier).
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HOLLYWOOD HILLS WEST NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL MEETING FOR AREA 7, Wednesday, August 20, 2008, 6:00 PM
Cinematographers Guild 7755 Sunset [NW corner of Genesee & Sunset]- handicap accessible, parking lot entered off of Genesee
Agenda
1. Presentation by Geoffrey Smith of Film LA regarding filming in Area 7.
Possible motion & vote.
2. Presentation by Senior Lead Officer Ralph Sanchez regarding filming in Area 7. Possible motion & vote.
Adjournment (8:00 PM or earlier.)
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6:10 Meeting Begun
6:10 Cheryl Holland takes the floor.
6:10 CH outlines issues generated due to filming in neighborhood.
6:11 Three categories of issue: we live in LA, includes celebrity issues and filming. Also, is young woman celebrity a good neighbor. Also, legal limits about filming permit.
6:16 It is mentioned that reality TV is less responsible and more disruptive than ordinary filming.
6:19 Important to “separate issues”
6:20 Geoffrey Smith takes the floor
6:21 Describes new process for film permit issuing which at first seemed logical, until a scandal changed the company which issued permits, linked to the LAPD, which is understaffed.
6:22 Estimates almost 56,000 “production days”, $32 billion/year film industry.
6:23 CH takes the floor.
6:23 CH describes how neighborhood is linked with filming.
6:24 GS takes the floor
6:24 GS mentions the role of Film LA in support and safeguarding filming process.
6:25 Question: What type of ordinances are in act?
6:25 GS answers: County and city ordinances only affect.
6:26 GS briefly paraphrases city and county ordinances.
6:26 Q: You mentioned safeguards?
6:26 GS describes insurance and notification safeguards.
6:27 Q: How can you draft neighborhood-specific guidelines?
6:28 GS cannot draft guidelines.
6:28 Q: How do you enforce guidelines?
6:29 GS, they’re not very strict, and are subject to individual decisions.
6:30 Q: Could restrictions be put on neighborhood areas?
6:31 It’s difficult to block public access.
6:32 Q: Do you deny permits?
6:32 Rarely, but we advise against certain areas.
6:34 It’s mentioned that the Hancock block was content with their filming because of large cash incentives and generous representation on the film company’s part.
6:35 Q: Can you [GS] understand that this is much different from what we’re used to experiencing on Orange Grove? Any advice for our issues at this particular house in an R1 zone?
6:37 GS says, reality shows account for about 50% of films. Quote, “Have my word that they will not get a permit for a second season.”
6:42 It is mentioned about parking issues on Laurel Av.
6:44 It is mentioned that all of Film LA’s income comes from approving permits.
6:45 It is mentioned that the primary reason for large cash incentives on projects are direct neighborhood member involvement.
6:46 Q: What would cause the police to turn down a permit?
6:46 [No definitive answer] Officer Sanchez requested and received denial of a permit.
6:49 GS says that “reality shows don’t fit the mold”
6:49 The whole city can’t understand reality shows.
6:50 It is mentioned that property value would drop due to a disclosure that the seller would have to fill out including the possiblity of the reality show continuing past the sell date.
6:51 GS: “The city will never address the issue of frequency.”
6:53 CH proposes to come up with guidelines sometime in near future.
6:56 GS: Theoretically, 7:00 AM, headlights, 10:00 PM, taillights
6:57 It is mentioned that the neighborhood is 70% multi-family dwellings by population.
6:59 It is requested for GS to summarize.
7:03 Step one to exert influence on Film LA is to call.
7:05 It is mentioned that the neighborhood affected by The Hills was never surveyed.
7:07 Q: Did you [Film LA] request a neighborhood survey of MTV?
7:09 No, it should have been done by MTV.
7:13 Q: Are production companies cited for illegal breaking of permit rules?
7:14 Yes, they are, and they are sent before a judge.
7:14 Q: Could the money from the fines come back to the offended neighborhood?
7:15 Highly unlikely.
7:16 It is mentioned that, in the Laurel area, production companies have been effective, responsive, and responsible.
7:18 Q: Do permits have different types, i.e. documentary, reality, movie, etc.?
7:19 No, all permits are essentially equal, though we categorize them for internal use.
7:24 It is mentioned that reality shows simply don’t run under the same ideas that “normal” filming does, most importantly, time constraints.
7:26 It is mentioned that there is a code of conduct for film crews.
7:32 Q: Would it benefit Film LA to have a contact within the neighborhoods for which you plan to issue a permit for filming?
7:33 Yes, and we specifically craft and tweak permits to mitigate issues with neighborhoods.
7:37 Q: Would it be possible to change a house into a commercially zoned property? [Not definitively answered]7:38 It is mentioned that the permits are public documents.
7:38 Officer Sanchez takes the floor.
7:39 RS discusses paparazzi issues.
7:40 RS mentions a time that he coordinated a paprazzi crackdown on his day off from home.
7:43 A request is made to obtain the various relevant ordinances and the code of conduct, along with other materials.
7:47 MEETING ADJOURNS