Government Shutdown a Drag on Hollywood Filmmaking

Affects ability to shoot on some locations and get visas for foreigners

"AAAAND CUT!" Yes, even Hollywood is feeling the sting of the government shutdown. What is happening, or more to the point, not happening under the dome in Washington, D.C. is affecting the productions and pocketbooks of actors, directors, producers and countless crew members on Hollywood locations 3,000 miles away in and around Los Angeles.

FilmLA, the agency responsible for issuing permits in the LA area, is not even accepting applications to shoot in any locations now off limits as a result of partisan congressional bickering and inaction. Areas now placed on indefinite hiatus include the Sepulveda Dam, the West LA Veterans Administration Medical Center, even the very popular LA River and Angeles National Forest.

And the consequences may be more far reaching than many realize. A number of productions could be slowed down or put completely on pause because of the drag on visa processing. Since many studios import talent and crew from overseas, the backlog could become very costly. That's especially true for the tourism industry--places like Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood, which derive many millions of dollars in revenue from foreign visitors. In fact, according to TheWrap.com, the U.S. tourism industry lost hundreds of millions in income during the two government shutdowns in 1995.