Desperate Karen Bass slashes LA filming fees in bid to boost struggling Hollywood

In a desperate bid to stop Tinseltown from trekking to cheaper pastures, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is taking a chainsaw to the red tape and high costs of filming at some of the city’s most famous landmarks.

Bass announced last week that the city will slash filming fees at the iconic Griffith Observatory by 70% — dropping the daily price tag from $100,000 to a more manageable $30,000.

The move effectively rolls back costs to 2008 levels, signaling a massive retreat from the 2022 fee hikes that may have helped drive production out of state.

A general view of the Griffith Observatory on September 18, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images

But the discounts don’t stop at the observatory’s Art Deco domes. Bass also revealed that the Los Angeles Central Library is reopening its doors to film crews after a more than a decade-long “closed” sign was hung on interior productions.

“Working hand-in-hand with the industry, today we are making filming easier and more affordable in Los Angeles – the entertainment capital of the world,” said Mayor Bass, flanked by industry heavyweights from SAG-AFTRA, the Directors Guild of America and the Teamsters, among others.

“The Griffith Observatory and L.A. Central Library have been the backdrop for some of the most iconic stories ever told,” Bass said on March 5.

“Today, we are continuing that legacy for the next generation of storytellers. City Hall will continue to champion key industry needs and work to create good-paying, union jobs and spur economic opportunity across our region in the process.”

The policy shift is part of the Mayor’s “Executive Directive 11,” a broad effort to revitalize an industry battered by strikes and production migration.

Industry leaders cheered the move.

“Making locations like Griffith Observatory and our beautiful Central Library available for filming sends a message, not just to the L.A. film community but to filmmakers around the world,” said Council member Adrin Nazarian.

“We’re extending an invitation. Come to L.A. We’ve got stories to tell and fantastic locations like this to film them in.”

Karen Bass, Mayor of Los Angeles, attends the 57th NAACP Image Awards at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 28, 2026. Getty Images for BET

The city isn’t just lowering the rent — it’s speeding up the paperwork.

The Port of Los Angeles has reportedly cut permit review times to just four days, and the LAPD is being told to back off on requiring expensive police details on some shoots.

The push comes as the LA region sees a surge in infrastructure development, with more than 120 new sound stages currently under construction.