Los Angeles city leaders recognize production companies that film in Southland

Friday, February 13, 2015
LA city leaders recognize production companies that film in SoCal
The Los Angeles City Council is recognizing production companies that have stayed in Southern California to shoot their films.

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The Los Angeles City Council is recognizing production companies that have stayed in Southern California to shoot their films.



California is allocating more money to keep movie and TV productions in the state.



Hollywood was built on films and television. But increasingly, productions have been moving away from Los Angeles, because other states offer better tax incentives.



"We always fight to stay in California. Sometimes, the financiers want us to chase the money and get the tax rebates," said Andrew Lazar, producer of the film, "American Sniper."



But on Thursday, Los Angeles City Council members honored four production teams of Oscar nominated films, who stayed in Los Angeles to make their movies: "Big Hero 6," "How to Train Your Dragon 2," "Whiplash" and "American Sniper."



Lazar says almost all of the shooting for "American Sniper" was shot in Southern California, and as a result, pumped at least $30 million into the local economy.



"Particularly with Chris Kyle, he was trained in Southern California, he met his wife Taya Kyle in Southern California, so for us to be able to honor that relationship in the movie by shooting in our home state, it was terrific," Lazar said.



Councilmen Mitch O'Farrell and Tom LaBonge celebrated a new assembly bill that allocates $350 million a year in tax incentives for the next five years to keep movie and television productions local.



"Forty states offer incentives, so we're now in the game of helping to protect and enhance our signature industry, and hundreds of thousands of jobs are at stake," O'Farrell said.



O'Farrell says the city is also working to put together a database of all city owned properties so they can be used in film and television productions.



The city is also working with county supervisors to lessen the cost when shooting at locations in county jurisdiction.



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