Lights, camera, action for Los Angeles! Mayor Karen Bass just made a key appointment that could redefine the city’s film future. Meet the new City Film Liaison, Steve Kang, tasked with cutting red tape and keeping productions rolling. Will this move finally bring the magic back to Tinseltown’s streets, ensuring jobs and economic prosperity for our beloved entertainment industry?
Mayor Karen Bass has officially appointed Steve Kang, currently the respected President of the Los Angeles Board of Public Works, as her dedicated Liaison to the Film and Television Industry. This pivotal announcement, made during a recent meeting with her Entertainment Industry Council, signals a renewed commitment to bolstering the Los Angeles film sector.
Bass underscored Kang’s extensive background in the city’s intricate infrastructure and vital permitting processes, alongside his established relationships with key departmental leadership. These unique qualifications position him as the ideal candidate to significantly enhance local filming experiences and address the evolving needs of the entertainment industry in the global media hub.
In his critical new capacity, Steve Kang will spearhead a comprehensive strategic initiative designed to retain and expand local production within Los Angeles. This includes the continued implementation of the Mayor’s Executive Directives, enacted last year and in May, which aim to reduce costs and streamline procedures for on-location filming, thereby increasing accessibility to the city’s iconic locations.
Mayor Karen Bass expressed unwavering confidence in Kang’s ability to succeed in his role as City Film Liaison, emphasizing his mandate to safeguard Los Angeles’ signature industry. She highlighted the ongoing efforts to improve local processes and the successful expansion of the California Film Tax Credit, all contributing to the goal of keeping production jobs within the state and supporting countless small businesses that rely on the industry’s vitality.
Echoing the Mayor’s sentiments, Kang affirmed the indispensable nature of local filming to the city’s economic growth and stressed the necessity for city departments to prioritize its success. He conveyed his gratitude to Mayor Bass for entrusting him with this crucial responsibility and pledged his full dedication to realizing her vision for optimal support of the Los Angeles film ecosystem.
Producer Ellen Goldsmeith-Vein, chair of Bass’s Entertainment Industry Council and founder/CEO of The Gotham Group, lauded the appointment as a clear indication of Mayor Bass’s intent to continue prioritizing and fortifying the entertainment industry. Goldsmeith-Vein underscored Kang’s deep understanding of the city’s infrastructure, film permits, and governmental workings, signaling industry readiness to collaborate with his team.
The establishment of a dedicated film liaison role has historical precedent, first introduced under former Mayor Eric Garcetti. Industry advocates have consistently pressed Mayor Karen Bass to appoint such a figure since she took office in December 2022, recognizing that a liaison could effectively bridge the gap between the filmmaking community and city governance. This appointment directly responds to that persistent advocacy.
This strategic move by Mayor Karen Bass arrives amidst a broader, multi-pronged effort across both city and statewide levels to bolster film and television production within Tinseltown. Los Angeles has faced significant challenges, including wildfires, industry strikes, and pandemic-induced downsizing, which have often led to productions relocating beyond state lines due to escalating costs, making the role of the film liaison even more vital.
The Mayor previously articulated concerns about Los Angeles becoming increasingly unaffordable for the industry, a sentiment that underscores the economic imperative behind initiatives like the new film liaison position. The collective goal remains to ensure that individuals can both live and work fruitfully in Los Angeles, particularly within its vibrant entertainment industry, by fostering an environment conducive to continued production and prosperity.
