In an effort to keep Hollywood from relocating to more budget-friendly locations, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is cutting through bureaucratic hurdles and reducing filming expenses at some of the city’s renowned sites.
Recently, Bass unveiled a significant reduction in filming fees at the famed Griffith Observatory, slashing the daily cost by 70%—from $100,000 down to $30,000.
This decision effectively restores fees to their 2008 levels, reversing the 2022 price increases that may have contributed to productions moving out of state.
The reduction in fees isn’t limited to the observatory. Bass also announced that the Los Angeles Central Library will once again welcome film crews inside, ending over a decade of restricted interior filming access.
“By collaborating closely with the industry, we’re making it more straightforward and affordable to film in Los Angeles, the entertainment capital of the world,” stated Mayor Bass, joined by key figures from SAG-AFTRA, the Directors Guild of America, and the Teamsters.
“The Griffith Observatory and L.A. Central Library have served as the backdrop for some of the most iconic narratives ever told,” Bass remarked on March 5.
“Today, we are continuing that legacy for the next generation of storytellers. City Hall will continue to champion key industry needs and work to create good-paying, union jobs and spur economic opportunity across our region in the process.”
The policy shift is part of the Mayor’s “Executive Directive 11,” a broad effort to revitalize an industry battered by strikes and production migration.
Industry leaders cheered the move.
“Making locations like Griffith Observatory and our beautiful Central Library available for filming sends a message, not just to the L.A. film community but to filmmakers around the world,” said Council member Adrin Nazarian.
“We’re extending an invitation. Come to L.A. We’ve got stories to tell and fantastic locations like this to film them in.”
The city isn’t just lowering the rent — it’s speeding up the paperwork.
The Port of Los Angeles has reportedly cut permit review times to just four days, and the LAPD is being told to back off on requiring expensive police details on some shoots.
The push comes as the LA region sees a surge in infrastructure development, with more than 120 new sound stages currently under construction.
