SAN DIEGO- Cathy Anderson, Film Commissioner & CEO of the San Diego Film Commission, has suggested a tax neutral plan that would cost the state and taxpayers zero dollars, but offer filmmakers a viable filming incentive.  The idea is to create a secondary job department within the CHP which would cut the price of officers for film detail. Officers would be paid directly by the production company instead of being paid overtime by the state. The Governor could make this program an executive order and put it into action immediately.  This would return some economic health to the state and show the entertainment industry that California isn’t ready to give up.

Presently, the CHP charges $82.00 an hour to the filmmaker to perform film detail duties to county roads and state freeways throughout the state.  This amount includes overtime even with a four hour minimum.  The proposed secondary job department within the CHP would offer CHP officers who sign up an opportunity to work film detail at $40 an hour.  The filmmaker would pay the officer directly so the officer would no longer earn overtime and the production would also providing insurance and indemnification.  Officers would represent the CHP interests in the same way they do now, but under a different system that would save money.  Additionally, because CHP are understaffed presently, retired CHP officers could volunteer after passing a refresher course to qualify them.

One obstacle is that in the past CHP offered a secondary job opportunity in security, which presented problems. Consequently the CHP did away with the secondary job idea.  This current proposal does not include security detail but film detail, a function they already do successfully. Another obstacle is that the CHP considers retired CHP officers unqualified because they are not up to current levels of procedures and knowledge.  Again, this can be resolved with refresher classes.  The governor’s legal team could certainly resolve any liability concerns by looking at the cities that already operate with similar programs. 

California can no longer wait to act.  Production is becoming harder to retain.  Seventy percent of all productions generating from Hollywood are leaving California to work elsewhere.  Thousands of California film crews and related services are out of work.  Many bills for film incentives have been presented to our state legislators but none have been approved.  Cathy Anderson, Film Commissioner & CEO of the San Diego Film Commission has seen a sharp decline in San Diego business.  “We have to turn this around before it is too late.  California is losing one of its primary businesses and no one has done anything to stop it.  San Diego took action because it affects us all.”  She encourages people to write the governor and their legislators to voice their concern for the welfare of this industry and our economy.