FilmL.A.

While waiting several hours for a production to submit the necessary paperwork FilmLa let me hang in their gorgeous location, I remember the older one near DT, they even offered water. While waiting they gave me all sorts of great info for a future production. I was even impatient at the end of the day W/​them. Yet they were professional and ready to complete the task at hand!

These guys might be good for the film industry, but they have no interest in community harmony and have no enforcement abilities. We can thank them for granting three days of filming in our neighborhood and removing all street parking for four blocks with less than two days notice, resulting in 6 resident vehicles being towed.

Another sleepless night thanks to FILMLA. It is now 4:13 am and the film crew is banging around to load up their trucks. Permit was to expire at 2:30 am. Too bad for the residents that are now wake due to their activity.

Really cool looking office, I’m sure it’s gotta be fun working there but parking is a little tricky if you’re a customer. Find a meter parking & Film LA is on the 12^th floor. Super cool building as well with a rad mural in the lobby!
I rate 4 stars only because the wait can be a little long & you can only pay a permit in cash or check. Maybe it’s just the city rules. Either way really cool staff!

Be warned, they charge you a film permit APPLICATION fee so even though my permit wasn’t successfully completed in time for my shoot I still OWED them $ 60 for my application! AND they only take CASH, MONEY ORDERS, or CASHIER’S CHECKS. Nothing else. Very inconvenient.

If you are assigned Josh Ellwell or Angel Miranda you are in for a smooth and easy process (they deal with student productions on LAUSD properties). But if you are unlucky enough to get Virginia Quiroz (residential locations), be prepared to wait endlessly in the lobby, have plenty of change for your meter, and be given the run around.
Yesterday, I sat in the office lobby for over an hour after the nice receptionist said she’d be about 30 minutes. When she came out she smelled like food and was too busy to even explain things to me properly. If you are in charge of «Student» productions (key word: student– you should make time in your busy schedule to explain things to students. She gave me 2 minutes, after making me wait an hour and said she had to rush off to a meeting; and during those 2 minutes, rather than look at me, she was looking at her cellphone.
After sending me on a paper trail to get signatures from people (building managers in my neighborhood) who thought it was stupid to sign something (if I was shooting a short film in my living room) that had nothing to do with them; she said my permit was ready. When I arrived to pick it up, I waited for her for a good 30 minutes before I just gave up and left. People that came after me were in and out with their permits.
When she called me to tell me my permit was ready she wanted me to be very thankful because she was «going out on a limb» to approve this for me. My manager and everyone in my building (including the owners) know that I am filming and everyone is ok with it. Last week my other neighbor shot a film and we were all supportive of his project, and he didn’t even have a permit. She threatened me that the police could shut me down and actually the only way the police could shut my down is if a neighbor complains.
Eventually I decided to make my film without the paper trail and then they called me and my producer for the next two days non-​stop telling us that everything was fine and we just needed to pay $ 25.
Not the best experience with FilmLA.

I can truly say it was an easy experience. The requirements are clear on the website and with your production coordinator. I was impressed because I read that pulling a permit in LA can be a nightmare. After going through the process, I can tell you it’s not. And I realize how it could turn out to be a nightmare if you
A. Don’t have the money to pay the fees involved and feel like you are being «bled» dry. Get some funding. Don’t try to broke-​dick your film making process. It will show.
To the guy who called 625 «big bucks» in his review: You should not being attempting a film with no cash. If you want a break, take your ass to film school for the student discounts. Nothing is free. Not even your entitled attitude. And what’s up with the use of the word «terse». Really? In two reviews? I find it suspect. Nothing says «I am a dork» better than use of the word «Terse». Doesn’t «terse» actually translate to «please bully me» in latin? ANyway…
B. Can’t get your shit together because the requirements are so simple, a kindergartner could understand them. Knowing the municipalities and the requirements is what they do — and they relay that information to you. All you have to do is comply.
C. Are an asshole out of towner from a big city like Manhattan and get butt-​hurt because you are actually required to do certain things in Los Angeles. To the dude who was actually that same asshole and gave them a negative review — F*ck off and film your shitty film in New York if you don’t like it.
All in all, a fantastic experience.
Tips to remember for a better experience: Nothing is free. Don’t expect it will be. 2. Have someone pulling the permit who can comprehend the english language. 3. Nice people get help from nice people. Assholes get bled. legitimately.
Thank you, FilmLA. Your professionalism and knowledge made all the difference.

Just awful. An absolute joke. Big government, a bloated waste of resources and drain on any produciton. Doing a small short film and want to be above board. Registered the home in which we’re shooting and come to find out on top of the $ 710 permitting fee, I have to pay a FILMLA Monitor $ 30/​hr and an off-​duty cop around $ 100/​hr to stand around watching us. We have a crew of 8 and a cast of 5, and we’re are being bled for over $ 2,000 for literally no reason– we are being totally scammed to prop up people who couldn’t generate their own income, who are just handed these ridiculous, useless jobs and handed moeny they don’t have to do a thing to earn, solely because CA’s mismanaged, broken, corrupt state gov’t can get away with it. You want to add these insane regulations to a studio film project, fine. They have giant trucks, hughe crews and make an enormous impact on their location. We’re a tiny production with a camera and boom pole. INSANITY. TAKING ALL OF OUR MONEY AND GIGS BACK TO NYC FROM HERE FORWARD. You got our $ 2,000 this time, but they tens of thousands we spend on production annually will go right back to NYC. Bye, bye, jerkoffs.

I would like to thank Virginia Quiroz for her help today. Without what ever magic she pulled I would be screwed, she saved the day! She’s very professional and friendly. If anyone deserves special praise from Film LA its her.

I’ve been at AFI for a year and a half and have shot 7 projects, always with Virginia Quiroz as my coordinator. She’s extremely kind, cares about the students, and thrives for us to learn as much as we can about the locations permitting process, which is key for our careers.
She’s always helpful and is willing to help us find solutions to our problems.
I had a very ambitious film and a difficult permit for thesis, and for 2 weeks, Virginia helped me through the way, suggesting ways to make the production more efficient.
Thank you, Virginia, for being patient and for finding a way to get us everything we needed!

I am the Producer of a low budget film that we completed in Los Angeles recently. I know that LA has a reputation for being a difficult/​expensive place to film, but that was not my experience. We had 6 locations that were in Film LA’s control. Each time, Amy Soul and her staff from Film LA were very helpful and flexible. They worked with our budget constraints, and gave us guidance, as needed. Compared to our dealings with the City of Agoura Hills, and other similar film commissions, Film LA is just great. LA is a big city, so filming within city limits is always going to be a little more expensive, but we saved so much money on lodging and per diem, that the extra costs were a non-​issue, even on our small budget. I wish more producers would take the time to consider staying in LA to film. We have such diverse landscape within the 30 mile zone, and so many great actors who live, and want to work here. Many thanks to Film LA for your support of our film!

I tried to get the simplest, most stripped down short movie off the ground (I’m talking a one night shoot, three man crew, two actors and 5 extras) and they were not at all helpful. The scope of my film, materially, was minimal. Small group of people, no noise, no closed streets, stunts, animals, we were shooting in private property (but an exposed parking lot), nothing! The prices to process even the simplest permit start at 625. They were terse and dry. Their whole mantra is «put down the big bucks, you have no other option, and don’t you try cross us». It’s sad that such a bloodsucking organization stuns the creative growth of this city the way it does. I understand there being some regulations, but the prices they demand from humble filmmakers starting out are just absurd. No wonder the filming business is leaving this city.

Despite the negative reviews I heard from 3^rd parties I have to insist that FilmLA is by far one of the most efficient and organized establishments I’ve dealt with.
It helps that they have someone as friendly and sharp as Daniel (did I spell that right?) receiving people. Plus, Virginia assisted me and helped my production run smoothly from beginning to end when it came to permits.
So yeah, I can safely say that not only is FilmLA an efficient and convenient organization for permits, but dealing with them was also an invaluable learning experience.
Seriously, don’t be afraid to ask for help or info. You won’t be disappointed or jipped! Whatever you pay for permits as an indie producer will be paid for tenfold if you maintain contact and ask for advice. I’ve never been left hanging so far!

If you are planning to make a movie, FilmLA is for sure a place to go! I’ve produced movies with locations in many different cities and countries and I always come back to FilmLA.
Extremely helpful with securing permits. Especially Virginia whose incredible work make your production happen! She is the best :)

I’m a Film Student recently arrived at the US. I was afraid of having to deal with Film L.A. since I have heard «mixed reviews» about their service. I submitted my application online and, from the on, the process was super easy. VIRGINIA QUIROZ was my project coordinator: SHE WAS GREAT! She was very helpful in clarifying all the details that were missing in my application and she went the extra mile to make sure this student project was made, by giving me a permit exemption. Virginia was really amazing. I have to say that my first experience with FILM LA was a very positive one.

I’ve been making films in Los Angeles for three years and I’ve been exceptionally impressed with Virginia Quiroz at Film L.A.
Virginia has always been very professional, flexible, and interested in the solution. I look to her for permitting expertise each and every time.
Thank you Virginia and thank you Film L.A.

I’ve been a fellow at the AFI Conservatory since August 2013, I’ve produced 7 productions since then, all of which have required filming permits.
Angel Miranda has always been super helpful and if there have been any problems, there’s always been a solution. I can’t more than applaud FilmLA and especially Angel, I know I can count on him/​them when it’s time to get my permit and again it’s great to know that any problems big or small can ALWAYS be solved.
THANK YOU!

As head of production at CalArts I work very closely with Angel and his exceptional team of FilmLA peeps. They are always incredible helpful and go out of their way to make sure our students receive the best service. As a producer myself, I have used FilmLA many times and can only offer the highest praise in what can be a very difficult job at times.

Amazing staff. Very helpful and very knowledgeable staff. This team instantly became an asset to our production. Their Field Services Team was personable, professional able to flow with the ever-​changing demands of production with ease, grace and humor. This can be a difficult balance when you work on location.

OK… I have to be honest here. I have been a filmmaker based in the Los Angeles area for about ten years now. I used to get frustrated with the old process filmLA had in place for filing and processing permits… that said. I recently dove back into processing some permits for a show and found that they had a new online system. Amazing! It is soooo much easier to process now with their online system. If you knocked them before, try them again. Hope this helps.

Why are they so rude? I waited an hour for a permit I already paid for. The lady gave me a hard time, was unpleasant, and spoke in a terse manner.