War and Peace, the Movie

Hollywood is in the business of entertaining, and often that involves depicting glamorous or picturesque locales in movies and TV shows. Location managers scout out these sites, often in gloriously well-lit Southern California. Then production crews set up operation with their trailers, trucks and other equipment.

Location filming typically attracts looky-loos--and often complaints from residents who do not want Hollywood in their back yard, however temporarily. But is that any way to treat a hometown industry, one of the few thriving in these tough economic times?

In Hermosa Beach, a group of residents got fed up with the filming of the hit TV series “Beverly Hills 90210,” although shooting was limited to between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m., with no than 15 vehicles. The residents sued, and a court commissioner banned filming at a beachfront home, agreeing with the residents that zoning laws were broken.

For years, the entertainment industry has sought a friendlier response to its location shooting in Southern California. Some location companies have fled to states that welcome them warmly. As producer Aaron Spelling said to Hermosa Beach, “There are great beaches in Galveston, Tex.”

Entertainment industry jobs may be only a fraction of total employment in California, but any and all jobs are important. Hollywood has been one bright spot in an otherwise dismal state economy.

In August, California movie industry jobs rose to 139,000, up 9.2%, or 11,800 jobs, from a year before. The state estimates that for every two new jobs in entertainment, roughly three are created in other occupational areas.

Surely Hollywood and Southern California can work together. The current picture of discord needs a happy ending.