Culver City just made a serious play to bring film and TV production back to its streets, rolling out a new package of incentives designed to make shooting locally easier, cheaper and far more appealing. City leaders have approved a pilot program that will lower film permit costs, expand parking access for crews and extend a long-running suspension of business taxes for itinerant production companies. It’s a clear signal that Culver City wants to compete directly with the out-of-state hubs that have been siphoning off shoots in recent years.
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At the center of the plan is a temporary incentive for film permit fees in the form of subsidies, giving productions a meaningful break at a moment when budgets are tight and every dollar gets scrutinized. The program also includes extending the suspension of business tax collection for 10 more years and free parking zones at select sites like Veterans Memorial Park and city-run structures, making load-ins and base camp setups less of a headache. A new film location familiarization tour (in partnership with FilmLA) will draw attention to the neighborhoods, architecture and public spaces that make Culver City a flexible backdrop for everything from indie films to prestige TV.
The initiative also leans into local partnerships. A new business directory connects productions with nearby vendors, restaurants and service providers, reinforcing the idea that filming isn’t just a creative win. It’s an economic one. City officials say the goal is to streamline the entire experience so producers view Culver City not as a backup option but as a first choice.
The push comes at a critical moment for Southern California’s production ecosystem, which has seen filming levels drastically drop amid labor disruptions, industry slowdowns and competition from states offering aggressive tax credits. Culver City, despite being home to major studios and long-standing crew infrastructure, experienced a dip in permitted shoots over the past year. By sweetening the deal and reducing friction, the city hopes to draw those jobs and creative energy back into the local economy.
Whether or not the incentives will move the needle remains to be seen, but the message is unmistakable: Culver City is ready to hear "action!" again.
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