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City leaders say this is just the first step. They want studios, production companies and producers to know they mean business and are fighting to keep filming in L.A.
"This is Hollywood, and we have to work hard to make sure that we do not lose this film production," said L.A. City Councilman Richard Alarcon.
In an effort to rein in runaway production, the L.A. City Council has approved a plan to make L.A. more film-friendly. The council approved nearly 24 incentives to encourage production companies to shoot in California -- everything from tax credits for businesses that allow filming on their properties, to sales-tax refunds for production-related purchases, to free parking for crews.
"This is an opportunity for us to fight for film production in Los Angeles," said Alarcon. "A part of the solution is creating a cultural shift in our community to better understand how important the film industry is."
Hollywood is a $57-billion business for the area. FilmLA says on-location feature-film shoots dropped 14 percent last year to its lowest level since 1993. It's not just the title of being the best in the world the city is at risk of losing
"What we have at stake is approximately 130,000 direct jobs, directly involved in the industry in the city of Los Angeles or in the region of Los Angeles," said Todd Lindgren, FilmLA. "For every direct job in the industry, there are 2.7 other jobs that are wholly supported by the strength of the industry."
The city has already taken a big hit due to the runaway production, and many city council members say that if they don't take action now, it may be lost forever.
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