However, Mayor-elect Eric Garcetti takes office July 1st, and it can’t come soon enough. Garcetti has already rolled up his sleeves and is trying to fix showbiz in LA. On Monday, he met with a few dozen scouts, agents, producers and studio executives to discuss the state of LA’s TV and movie industry, and how he can help bring back the huge chuck of filming that moved to other places under Villaraigosa.
The fact that Garcetti is reaching out to the entertainment business before even taking office is so damn good for us actors and crew members. He’s thinking about naming the city’s first-ever film czar (whoever gets that title is SO getting laid), and talked to the governor about making tax credits for filming in California competitive with all the states that have been undercutting us the last few years. Suck it, Massachusetts.
In 2010, one of the studios in Hollywood hosted an event called Film Works, to promote filming in Los Angeles. Mayor Villaraigosa, too busy banging Telemundo reporters behind his wife’s back, didn’t attend. You know who did attend? Then City Councilman Eric Garcetti. Eric, you’re a handsome man.
It’s a great time to be an actor in LA. And Tony Villaraigosa, it’s been far from a pleasure. Collect your shit and get the F out.
