Written by Tom Deehan on Mar 31, 2016. Posted in General Interest

San Diego Film Commission to be revamped under new investment

The San Diego Film Commission, which was disbanded in 2013 after its funding was cut by the Tourism Authority is to be replaced by a regional film office under a new initiative by Mayor Kevin Faulconer. Faulconer stated in mid-2015 that he wished to reinstate the region’s Film Commission and jumpstart San Diego’s faltering film industry.

In detailing his plans for the film office, Faulconer announced that USD266,000 would be set aside to pay for its construction. County Supervisor David Roberts has since pledged an additional USD125,000 to help the initiative.

Toni Atkins, then Assembly Speaker for the state of California explained: “San Diego has been a location for classic films like Citizen Kane and Some Like it Hot and big hits like Top Gun and Anchorman, and it’s time we were back in the business of attracting major productions and the jobs and economic activity they bring… I look forward to the discussions that will get cameras rolling again in San Diego.”

The San Diego City Council will convene on April 7^th to discuss the terms of establishing the film office, and will subsequently take official proposals from companies who are willing to run the service.

Supervisor Roberts adds: “the city and county have each agreed… we would get this started and then take a look at it in three years and ask, ‘is it doing what we were hoping it was going to do?’”

The timing of this new film office is opportune as California’s recently implemented film incentive programme has begun to show positive effects. The programme’s annual funding was increased to USD330 million in 2015 and has attracted major blockbusters such as Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (pictured above), alongside relocating televisions shows like Scream Queens and American Horror Story.