Local film industry taking a hit during pandemic
EL CENTRO — The COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t been kind to the Imperial County film industry.
Imperial County Film Commission Director Charla Teeters told the Board of Supervisors earlier this week the county has lost more than $2 million since the pandemic began in earnest more than three months ago.
Film projects that once were going to be shot in the county had to be cancelled.
Actually, the year hadn’t gotten off to a great start as it was. Although the county has averaged eight to nine productions a month over the last five years, Teeters said that for some reason, the number dropped to five or six per month in January and February.
However, things were on the upswing. Teeters said as March approached, the commission had five large productions coming up, including an episode of TMZ’s Animal Kingdom, Wheeler Dealer and Top Gear.
A large fashion show also was in the works, as was a television show episode, a feature film and a car commercial.
“These productions would have easily brought in more than $2 million,” she said.
And since March, she said, all productions have been put on hold.
As some counties have been able to resume film productions with safeguards in place, Imperial County remains on the sidelines.
Teeters continues to be optimistic for the future of the county’s film and movie industry.
“When the time comes we want to tell them we are here,” said Teeters, who has been laid off since March.
The film industry on June 1 was given guidelines on how it could begin to restart, she said, adding that when the time comes for the county the framework will be in place.
She is trying to stay in touch with the productions that had to cancel to let them know the county would like them to think about coming here again.
“It’s a very fluid (projection), and we don’t know how it will start,” she said, adding studio space will be limited and travel concerns to other countries could result in more of the productions staying in California.
Teeters said she is still grateful she and her family are healthy and have a roof over their heads.
Supervisor Chairman Luis Plancarte thanked Teeters for her work, saying a lot of people don’t realize everything that is done behind the scenes to make a film.