First LA Limo Special Rates for Indie Film Producers

Online, August 27, 2010 (Newswire.com) - It's no secret that the film industry in California has been struggling for a while now. Between higher taxes and licensing problems, many studios are looking to film elsewhere. But smaller indie studios don't have the money to film out of state or out of the country, which is why First LA Limo is proud to offer a small helping hand to struggling indie producers.

"We're proud that so many indie movie studios like to shoot their films right here in the Los Angeles, California area," says Bobby Rezapour, of the limousine rental company. "These film makers come to this area for the very same reasons that attracted the Hollywood producers in the beginning. We have an excellent climate, which makes it possible to shoot almost every day. We have almost any setting you can think of, from the beautiful beaches to the dry hills, the city nightlife, even the inner city. This makes it possible to set your movie anywhere and shoot it here. Plus, we have a wealth of talented, good-looking people."

Lately, indie movie producers have faced a perfect storm of problems. First, California has faced one budget crunch after another. In a bid to control spiralling budget deficits, taxes have gone up on everything. Then, fees have been hiked. Added to that, personnel have been reduced or put on partial time all across the board - and this includes licensing boards.

"What it comes down to is, it is costing more and more to apply for a film shoot license," says Brad, a local indie producer. "Then when you apply for that permit, it can take weeks, even months, to hear back from them. When you're on a tight budget with big time constraints, that just doesn't work. Big studios are going to places like Canada (Twilight) and Puerto Rico (The Losers, Men Who Stare at Goats). But we don't have that kind of money."

First LA Limo can only do so much to change the problems with the licensing boards and permitting process, but they can make life a little easier for indie movie makers with their fees.

"We love to be a part of the glamour of our local movie industry," says Mr. Rezapour. "So early this year we decided to see what we could do to help. The final assessment was, if an indie needs a limousine for a shoot, we could work with them on that. If they needed a limo rental for a premier, maybe we could work out a sort of sponsorship or tradeout deal. We decided to play as much of a role as we could in bringing down their costs so they could up the glitz without seeking more funding."

First LA Limo encourages indie film producers in the Los Angeles area to see what can be arranged. Depending on the budget for the film, or the promotional plan, the company can offer a variety of ideas to help indies make their film or premier more exciting.

"Definitely, give us a call," says Bobby Rezapour. "Let's make that film awesome together."