FilmLA Interrupts San Pedro Businesses

San Pedro Community is Burdened by Sidewalk and Curb Closures
By Crystal Niebla, Editorial Intern

San Pedro has been invaded by the film industry.

FilmLA notices were posted on the windows of local businesses and homes on March 6, reserving sidewalks and street parking on Pacific Avenue, 11th and Mesa streets.

“Today, for example, [the film production] harmed [my business] a bit because people did not come, because they used the parking,” said Oliva Avila, owner of Oliva’s Beauty Salon on Pacific Avenue, in Spanish. “But it was only one day—for a little while. If you take two or three days, then, yes, it will greatly affect us.”

Between Jan. 1 and March 9, FilmLA had 12 shoot days in the San Pedro area near Harbor Boulevard, Seaside Avenue, 6th, 7th and Mesa streets, FilmLA spokeswoman Danielle Walker said via email. The company is a private nonprofit that coordinates and processes permits for on-location motion picture, television and commercial productions.

On 11th Street, adjacent to Pacific Avenue, there were signs that closed off parking from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on March 6. Avila, who has worked at her business for 20 years, said the majority of her customers come in during the morning. But although she lost business that day because of the restricted parking, she remains optimistic.

“A little bit of money goes away, but people return,” she said.

Many community members, including those on the Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Watch, said residents should be better compensated for the inconveniences caused by the film industry. Some residents living near film shoots must park blocks away from their homes.

“I was gone for four days and my wife says, ‘Wow, there’s no place to park,’” said San Pedro resident Tim Horibe, who lives on 10th and Mesa streets near a film shoot that occurred on March 6.

“It was very inconvenient,” he said.  “I can’t do anything about it.”

Business owner Andrew Silber of The Whale & Ale, an English pub and restaurant on 7th Street, said permits would still be issued even if community members voice their concerns to FilmLA.

“[The film industry is] very valuable to the city; it’s valuable to the county and even the state,” Silber said. “It’s very necessary, but if there isn’t an impartial oversight, it’s liable to potentially not be very fairly administered.”

He argues that if there was a dispute, FilmLA would side with the film industry rather than businesses because “that’s who pays their bills.”

Silber, who has run The Whale & Ale for about 20 years, said most filming companies, like FilmLA, are considerate of businesses and will either compensate the business with money for lost business, or try to have as little impact as possible. But not all such companies are conscientious, he said. That’s when negotiations between the filming management and businesses become “awkward.”

Silber recalled a film shoot about 10 years ago, during which a part of 7th Street was closed off. He said those days cost him “enormously” when he was not compensated. Film management didn’t believe he should be compensated because his restaurant wasn’t on the same block as the filming.

“But that was once, it was a long time ago,” Silber said. “It was very expensive for me, but you sort of grit your teeth and grin and bear it.”

Many other business owners will have to get used to these inconveniences as Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti plans to expand the film industry.

On March 4, Garcetti signed an executive directive to make City Hall more film friendly and announced budget proposals to invest in city services that would encourage filming and entertainment job creation. He mentioned how the passage of Assembly Bill 1839, which expands the state’s film tax credit, contributes his “Green light Hollywood” campaign of attracting more film companies to Los Angeles. Garcetti also appointed Board of Public Works President Kevin James as City Hall’s chief film liaison. James will be in charge of minimizing red tape in City Hall.

James said the city is looking for ways to fairly handle inconveniences caused by filming.

Film crews near businesses may actually help businesses because they buy there and stimulate the local economy, James said. Otherwise, he said he will try to minimize interruptions by finding new filming locations—perhaps free of charge—that filmmakers may not know about.

“I do recognize that when a filming crew comes into an area, that there is potential disruption and interruption for small businesses,” James said. “And, we need to find the best way to balance that—so that it’s a win-win for everybody.”