California Film Commission

"Documents By Fax" System Introduced to Increase Accessibility of Film California First Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
05/09/2001

Contact: Karen Constine
Contact Phone: (323) 860-2960

$45 Million Program Easier Than Ever through California Film Commission Efforts

HOLLYWOOD -- The California Film Commission's Film California First (FCF) Program, has implemented a new system called "Documents by Fax" to ensure FCF Program information is also readily available by fax to potential applicants 24 hours a day.

The $45 million, three-year program designed to reduce production costs for production companies filming in California has successfully processed applications submitted through its interactive transaction Web site, www.filmcafirst.com with many participating companies receiving reimbursement checks. The 24-hour automated system will now assist production companies to obtain FCF Program information by fax.

"Our online technology has proven incredibly efficient for eligible production companies," stated Karen Constine, Director of the California Film Commission (CFC). "Even so, our goal is to provide filmmakers in California with the easiest access to the benefits of this program, and that means making materials available through a variety of outlets. The 'Documents by Fax' system will bring the Film California First Program to companies when the fax machine is the most convenient way for them to obtain information."

Materials are sent automatically by dialing (323) 860-2970 directly from a fax machine and following the instructions. Each available document corresponds with a two-digit access code that must be entered followed by the pound sign. After all desired documents are entered in this fashion, pressing the pound sign twice completes the request, and pressing the start button begins transmission of all documents. The documents and their access codes include:

    01# List of available Documents by Fax forms
    02# Film California First Guidelines
    03# Film California First Eligible Cost List
    04# Film California First Fact Sheet
    05# Film California First Document Checklist
    06# Film Liaisons in California Statewide (FLICS) Location Request Fax Form
    07# California Film Commission (CFC) Incentives
    08# CFC Permit Application
    09# CFC Services
    10# CFC Insurance Policies
    11# FLICS List
    12# CFC Staff Directory
    13# California Production Services Guidebooks
    14# California Cities Sunrise & Sunset Times

The only incentive program of its kind, the FCF Program reimburses certain film costs incurred by qualified production companies when filming on public property within the Golden State including:

  • State employee costs, including California Highway Patrol, State Park Rangers, University of California and California State University.
  • Federal employee costs.
  • Federal, State, University of California and California State University film permits and public property use fees.
  • Local public entity costs for fire and non-police public safety.
  • Local public property use fees.
  • Public equipment mandated and owned by a public agency.

Since its inception in 1984, the CFC has worked to enhance California's position as the premiere location for all motion picture and television production. A one-stop shop for filmmakers, the CFC permits for state-owned property and also provides production and troubleshooting assistance within California.