The leadership team for our 2019 Board of Commissioners will look familiar, as Michael Nyman, Thom Davis and Lindy DeKoven have each been reelected for a second term. Michael will continue to serve as chair, while Thom will continue as vice chair and Lindy as secretary. As elected officers they will lead the Film Commission's Board, which includes five ex-officio members.

Michael Nyman recently launched Acceleration, a new investment vehicle and advisory firm. He has a distinguished 30-year career serving as chairman and CEO of powerhouse entertainment publicity/marketing firm PMK●BNC, and co-founder of Bragman Nyman Cafarelli. He was appointed to the CFC board in 2014 by Governor Jerry Brown and is regarded as an authority when it comes to bridging the worlds of entertainment and brands.

Thom Davis serves as business manager and principal officer of IATSE Local 80, Motion Picture Studio Grips, where he is responsible for contract negotiations, enforcement, member representation and general management of the organization. He is also 2nd international vice president on the IATSE General Executive Board and co-chair of IATSE District 2, which covers California, Nevada, Arizona and Hawaii. Thom is active with a range of industry organizations, serving as a trustee of the Motion Picture Industry Pension & Health Plans, vice president of the California Labor Federation and chair of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor.  

Lindy DeKoven is a novelist, television executive and producer who served as executive vice president of NBC Entertainment and NBC Productions, where she oversaw long-form programming. She also worked for Disney, Warner Bros. and Paramount. Other board appointments include the California Commission on the Status of Women, the California State Parks & Recreation Commission and the ERA Coalition. Lindy has authored two novels - "The Secret Life of Wishful Thinking" and "Primetime Princess."   

The California Film Commission has issued a series of updates regarding production in areas affected by the recent Woolsey Fire in Malibu. Permits are still unavailable for some state properties, including sections of PCH and several state parks and beaches.

 

The California Film Commission is once again partnering with Boutique Editions to create another edition of Location California - the large-format glossy magazine showcasing film and TV productions, locations, facilities and service providers across the Golden State. The 2019 edition will be published next April, with initial distribution at the Cannes Film Festival.

Opportunities for Sponsors:

Location California offers a range of sponsorship opportunities for vendors seeking to reach production industry decision makers here in California and across the globe. For more information, contact Nicki Webber at nwebber@boutiqueeditions.com.

Opportunities for Photographers:

We're once again seeking stunning high-res photos of locations across California for the magazine's large format pictorial section. For inspiration and a sample of what we're looking for, check out the page-turner digital version of the 2018 magazine (as well as previous editions).

Send photo submissions to Laura Baptista at Laura.Baptista@film.ca.gov.

Please include brief info regarding the location, how the photo should be credited, notable projects that have shot there (optional) and any special features of the location that may be relevant to filmmakers.

Helene retired in September after 15 years as a CFC permit coordinator and 25 years as a State employee.  Her warm smile and easy-going manner will be missed as her co-workers say good-bye and wish her well on her next chapter.

Laura Baptista, General Assistant

You're likely to see Laura's big smile when you arrive at the CFC office, as she's stationed at our front desk to handle reception and general office work. She joins us from the California Highway Patrol. She studied Cinema at San Francisco State University and also worked as a TV production assistant. In her spare time, Laura enjoys swimming, DIYing and studying to one day compete on Jeopardy.  

Brandy Davis, Permit Coordinator

Brandy is the latest addition to our permit department. She joins us from State Parks' Angeles District, where she worked for nearly three years. Brandy graduated from Cal State Northridge with a degree in Cinema & TV Arts. Before working for the State she produced a number of non-fiction programs - from clip shows and talk shows to docu-reality series. Brandy also served as casting director for an independent film and a short film that was part of the AFI Directing Workshop for Women.    

The CFC recently issued revised guidelines for drone operators. Key changes include:

• Section 333 Exemptions for the commercial use of small UAS (unmanned aircraft systems) are no longer valid, and all remote pilots should now operate under Part 107 Rules.   

• Students enrolled at an accredited educational institution may now operate small UAS for school projects under hobbyist rules. Film permits, proof of UAS registration, $2 million in aviation coverage and other prerequisites are still required.

A complete list of revised UAS guidelines and a questionnaire to be completed by remote pilots are available via the CFC website's drone information page.

Look familiar? This striking architectural landmark is filled with cinematic history and possibility  

The Pacific Design Center (PDC) is an enormous, and enormously colorful, landmark located in the heart of West Hollywood. Its 14-acre campus features dramatic public and private spaces including three massive glass-clad buildings (Center Blue, Center Green and Center Red), a branch of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), two restaurants by Wolfgang Puck and a 294-seat luxury theater. There's also a two-acre plaza with lush landscaping, water features and terrace decks.

The iconic Center Blue building is the largest at 750,000 square feet and is affectionately referred to as "the Blue Whale" due to its size and hue. Its interior and exterior spaces have been transformed for numerous film and television productions including the award-winning feature "Her" (directed by Spike Jonze), HBO's "Westworld" and many commercials and reality TV projects. The PDC's open air spaces along San Vicente Boulevard are also frequently permitted as basecamp areas for productions filming in the area.

For more information, contact Eddie Robinson, Film Coordinator for the City of West Hollywood, at (323) 848-6489 / erobinson@weho.org; www.weho.org/film.

CFC In the Community 

 

As part of its effort to promote in-state production, the California Film Commission lends its time, resources and support to a wide range of industry/civic events and organizations. CFC team members are active in the community bringing stakeholders up-to-speed on issues ranging from tax credits to expanding career opportunities. 

 

CFC Executive Director Amy Lemisch (center with clasped hands) surrounded by FLICS members during a recent tour of historic movie palaces in downtown Los Angeles.

 

Recent CFC appearances and community outreach include: 

• American Film Market (AFM) Location Expo (Los Angeles)

• Hollywood Chamber of Commerce 2018 State of the Entertainment Industry Conference (Hollywood)

• Los Angeles Citywide Film Task Force (Universal City)

• FLICS (Film Liaisons in California Statewide) Meeting (Los Angeles)

• Made in Hollywood Honors -- Emmy-Nominated Projects (Hollywood)