L.A. delays vote on shooting ban
Union-supporting proposal deferred to committee
The council, after hearing cheering, booing and impassioned pleas from those on both sides of the issue, voted Friday to defer to committee a proposal that would have banned all commercial shooting on public property if the production involves nonunion actors during the strike.
The earliest that the council's Community and Economic Development committee could take up the issue would be July 17 but the panel will probably not hold a hearing on the issue until its Aug. 7 meeting.
Had the measure gone through, it would have represented a tremendous victory for the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists in their efforts to force advertisers to reach a settlement in the strike, now in its 71st day.
More than 200 proponents attended the meeting, arguing that the ban was essential for the city to maintain a neutral stance in the 10-week battle; about 100 opponents attended, arguing that such a move would drive production out of Los Angeles.
John Connolly, a member of SAG's and AFTRA's boards, told the council that producers have been taking advantage of lax enforcement of regulations by filing bogus permits in order to mislead union protesters.
"City property is being used to break the strike," Connolly declared. "The permitting process has been radically abused."
Actor Michael Monks told the council that producers have made a "mockery" of the permit process by disguising ads as musicvideos and industrial shoots. "The city should not let production companies hide from our union," he added.
Producer Gary Rose said union picketers are driving away commercial shoots from local locations.
"If I'm forced to, I'll take commercial production out of the country," Rose added. "How can the city side with SAG and AFTRA and put the rest of us out of work?"
Even though the unions are striking against advertisers, commercial producers and affiliates such as equipment rental houses and casting agencies have been hit hard by the strike.
'Caught in the middle'
"Suppliers and producers are caught in the middle," said Steve Caplan, vice president of the Assn. of Independent Commercial Producers. "This motion will send a clear message that you're not wanted here."
Council members offered little indication of how they will vote when the matter comes back to them.
"I found myself agreeing with every speaker," Councilman Joel Wachs said. "We're all sympathetic to the actors; we all want to encourage filming in Los Angeles. I'm torn as to the impact of this motion."
Councilwoman Jackie Goldberg had proposed the motion three weeks ago along with tightening the requirements for obtaining film permits -- prompting thousands of calls, e-mails and letters to the council.
She asked the council to send the question to the Community and Economic Development Committee for further analysis and stressed that the council is concerned about runaway production.
"We are not trying to drive commercial production out of Los Angeles," she added.
Cody Cluff, head of the Entertainment Industry Development Corp., continued to express his neutrality on the issue following the vote and said he would address concerns about bogus permitting.
Runaway concern
"We've communicated our concern that the only people winning in this walkout are the production centers outside the country that are picking up a lot of this work and may hold onto much of it after a settlement," Cluff said.
"While the optimum solution would be an end to the strike, EIDC will work with the council, SAG and AFTRA and the commercial community in the coming days. Our goal will be to identify areas that can address the councilwoman's concerns while continuing to maintain a film-friendly climate."
Caplan said he was pleased that the council deferred the vote, given its recent support of other unions, but SAG spokesman Greg Krizman said the decision was not a surprise, given the strong emotions kicked up by the debate.
No smile for Coke
The unions were gearing up over the weekend for a protest at a nonunion Coca-Cola shoot today in Lexington, Va. Officials said they believe that the beverage giant has decided to employ nonunion crews, in addition to nonunion actors, in producing the spot.
The unions said they plan to bring in demonstrators from the Teamsters and the Intl. Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees.
The unions also plan to join other unions, including the Communications Workers of America, in more than two dozen demonstrations Tuesday against AT&T for its anti-union actions including its use of nonunion actors in commercials.
The Los Angeles protest will target the telecommunications giant's facility in downtown Los Angeles following a demonstration at Pershing Square.
