Last month's numbers looking good

[view:node_ad=5]According to the City of Santa Clarita Film Office, October 2007 was a strong month for location filming, with a 57 percent increase in the number of permits issued and a 20 percent increase in film days when compared to October 2006.   

The Santa Clarita Valley Film Office issued 36 permits in October, a 57 percent increase over October 2006 when the office issued 23 permits.  The City of Santa Clarita saw a total of 97 film days in the month, a 20 percent increase over October 2006 when the City hosted 81 film days.  Location filming for the month resulted in more than $2.2 million in economic benefit to Santa Clarita businesses.

Since the film office’s inception, Santa Clarita has aggressively marketed the City as an ideal place to film in the 30-mile zone.  This includes promoting Santa Clarita’s film and film-friendly businesses, variety of locations, low permit and location fees and accessibility to some of the industry’s best talent.

“The film industry continues to be one of Santa Clarita’s top four business sectors and we are committed to keeping film production here,” said City of Santa Clarita Mayor Marsha McLean.  “Filming is great for our community.  It provides high paying jobs for our residents, generates sales tax dollars to help improve our City, and positions Santa Clarita as one of the entertainment industry’s most coveted business and tourist destinations.”  
 
The City of Santa Clarita is currently home to several network television shows, including HBO’s “Big Love,” CBS’s “NCIS” and “The Unit,” and FX’s “The Riches.”  In addition to these shows based in the City, several other television shows film regularly in Santa Clarita.  “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 an estimated $7.6 million in economic impact to the City of Santa Clarita and its businesses in the first four months of Fiscal Year 2007-2008, which runs from July through June.

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.