Big month sees filming increase 93%
The City of Santa Clarita announced today that location filming increased 93 percent in May 2007 compared with May 2006. The Film Office issued 27 film permits in May 2007, compared with 14 permits issued in May 2006. In total the Film Office has issued 295 permits for filming within the City of Santa Clarita during the first eleven months of Fiscal Year (FY) 2006-2007, already a 4 percent increase over FY 2005-2006 and there’s still one month remaining in the year.
[view:node_ad=5]“We’ve seen a healthy increase in filming in the City this last year that can be attributed to the consistent marketing efforts of our Film Office and the film businesses here in our community,” said Mayor Marsha McLean. “We’re all working together to help productions work local and be successful. We’re committed to keeping California’s signature industry here in Santa Clarita.”
May 2007 saw a total of 54 film days within the City, which has contributed to the record 775 film days thus far in FY 2006-2007, a 15 percent increase over FY 2005-2006 and the largest number of film days the City has seen since it created the Film Office in 2002. Television production accounted for 516 of the 775 film days.
The City of Santa Clarita is currently home to seven network television shows, including HBO’s “Big Love,” “Deadwood,” and “John from Cincinnati,” CBS’s “NCIS” and “The Unit,” Nickelodeon’s “Zoey 101,” and FX’s “The Riches.” In addition to these shows that are based within the City and regularly film on location, several other television shows regularly use Santa Clarita’s array of locations. “Weeds,” “Monk,” “Without a Trace” and a host of MTV shows are among the productions that regularly film on location throughout Santa Clarita.
These shows, in addition to commercial and feature film production, have contributed to the estimated $19.6 million in economic impact to the City of Santa Clarita and its businesses so far in FY 2006-2007.
To help market Santa Clarita to the entertainment industry, the City’s Film Office has increased its visibility, promoting Santa Clarita as an ideal place in which to work via newsletters, an annual film guide and online at www.FilmSantaClarita.com, in addition to regular outreach to the entertainment industry through film specific tradeshows, trade and regional media and special events.
The City of Santa Clarita’s Film Office was created in 2002 to help attract and retain the filming industry including both location filming and film-related businesses. The office currently issues permits for all location filming within the city ensuring that there is a minimal impact on residents and businesses, promotes the City as an ideal place for the film industry to do businesses, and promotes the Santa Clarita Valley as a great place for location filming.
The film industry is a major economic engine of the Santa Clarita economy, providing increased revenue for City programs through sales tax revenue, and jobs for residents. For more information about the Film Office, please contact Jason Crawford, interim Economic Development Manager, at (661) 284-1425.