SACRAMENTO — New legislation to address the underrepresentation of the independent film and commercial industry on the California Film Commission now requires that two of its Governor-appointed board members to be an independent filmmaker and an independent commercial producer.
The bill AB 1941, authored by Assemblywoman Patty López (D-San Fernando), was signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday, Aug. 22.
According to the Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP), its members generated more than $2 billion in direct production expenditures across the state in 2014 alone.
“We are facing a rapidly changing and competitive environment,” said David Phelps, AICP’s director of external relations. “And AB 1941 sends a strong message that California welcomes commercial shoots and the jobs they create. We are thankful to Assemblywoman Lopez for hearing our concerns, as well as for her leadership in shepherding this bill to passage.”
“California’s natural beauty and appealing climate have always been a huge draw for the industry,” López said. “But the passage of AB 1941 demonstrates our willingness to constantly ‘think outside the box,’ not to mention our commitment to nurturing artistic creativity in all its forms.”