COVID-19 Resource Center

Effective June 15, 2021, the County of Los Angeles has retired the health protocols specific to film, television and commercial production. Evolving Cal/OSHA rules, applicable to all workplaces, continue to apply, as do health requirements negotiated by film industry representatives. Previously, filmmakers were required to comply with health protocols outlined in the Health Order amended by the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health.

Several sets of precautionary guidelines have been developed by the film, television and commercial production industry. Many companies continue to operate under Health and Safety Guidelines that were released June 1, 2020 by the AMPTP’s Industry Wide Labor Management Safety Committee (IWLMSC) Task Force. The Task Force was comprised of health experts and high-level representatives of studios and entertainment unions. You can read these guidelines, as well as the supplemental document developed by various unions and guilds, “The Safe Way Forward”.

Enforcement of on-set health protocols has been the responsibility of a dedicated COVID-19 Compliance Officer (COC). With the retirement of Appendix J, COCs are no longer required but film companies may continue to appoint COCs to oversee set safety.

The County Department of Public Health is not certifying or training COCs, as it is the responsibility of the production to ensure proper training for these staff members.

As of right now, some publicly owned locations such as Los Angeles City Hall and the Los Angeles County Hall of Administration are off limits to filming. Others are available, on a case by case basis. We invite you to contact FilmLA’s Solution Services team with questions.

FilmLA also continues to pay attention to base camp and posted parking requirements, intermittent traffic and pedestrian control, extras holding areas and crew feeds during the permit process.

Supervision by municipal and/or FilmLA employees is a condition of filming at many locations. All municipal and FilmLA employees assigned and/or required to perform on-site duties on film locations will observe the following:

• Using approved personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks, per Cal/OSHA requirement.
• Maintaining physical distancing, whenever possible.
• Observing sanitation practices, as applicable.
• Agreeing to on-site screening questionnaires (including temperature checks) if requested.

Municipal and FilmLA Employees shall not be required to be tested by production representatives for COVID-19 prior to performing their duties as assigned. Productions may have additional requirements for their employees, vendors and visitors. Municipal and FilmLA employees shall not be subject to such requirements. Per ADA regulations, FilmLA will not disclose vaccination status regarding employees. Productions should plan to adapt on-site practices to observe the preceding procedures.

Due to the closure of our physical office, we are only able  to accept payment via credit card and business credit accounts currently. We are unable to accept payments via cash, business checks or money orders.

FilmLA will continue to encourage productions to follow all State, County, City and industry guidelines that are set in place for safety. FilmLA does not set the terms for filming taking place on-location. Public authorities do that through a process we help coordinate.

At FilmLA, we have modified our business practices to minimize health risk to communities when filming happens on-location. As examples, all of our field employees – the folks who deliver Notices of Filming door-to-door – undergo health checks when reporting to work and are equipped with company issued personal protective equipment including masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and “no touch” tools. Our Hollywood office is also closed to the public at this time, with most of our staff working remotely.

Yes. Last year, FilmLA and City and County representatives including experts from the LA County Department of Public Health have worked together to update the Filming Survey guidelines. A new process, based heavily on the protocols applying to door-to-door visits by US Census workers, was adopted by City and County authorities. The new process allowed Filming Surveys to resume, while safeguarding the health and safety of residents, business owners and production company personnel.

Yes, FilmLA Monitors are available to oversee productions when ordinarily required. They are under instructions to socially distance at the periphery of the filming location. For their health and safety, Monitors undergo health checks when reporting to work and are equipped with company issued personal protective equipment including masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and “no touch” tools.

FilmLA Monitors are available to ensure compliance with FilmLA coordinated permit. They do not have authority to serve as COVID-19 Compliance Officers or to enforce industry health protocols.

No. Although routine COVID-19 testing was required of entertainment industry employers working during the pandemic, testing results were not reportable to FilmLA. Production officials must continue to report positive Coronavirus diagnoses above a specific threshold to County authorities. FilmLA also does not track or issue reports regarding productions shut down due to mandatory quarantine.

If you wish to reach out the Department of Public Health, they can be reached on their website.