Be a Good Neighbor When There’s Filming

Hancock Park has been an attractive site for filming for many years.  Our beautiful neighborhood, full of architecturally distinct houses from many periods along with broad, tree lined streets, brings lots of film, television and commercial companies to our area.  While filming brings in revenue to the person whose property is being used, it also impacts the neighbors to the property.  To help balance these sometimes competing interests the Association setup Good Neighbor Filming Guidelines many years ago.  These guidelines have helped to ensure that one person’s ability to make money from their property didn’t destroy the peace and quiet of their neighborhood.  Recently though, because of the increased amount of filming and the volume of complaints about the impact of filming on the quality of life in the neighborhood, the Association has updated its Filming Guidelines.

The LA City ordinance governing filming calls for the infrequent use of private and city property for the purposes of filming.  The ordinance also says that filming should be conducted at such times and in such a manner as to cause a minimum of interference with the enjoyment and use of adjacent property, and consistent with public health, safety and general welfare.  The updated Hancock Park guidelines have specific recommendations with regards to Frequency of filming on a property and/or a street; proper notification and surveys of surrounding residents; hours for filming, how equipment will be managed; how parking will be addressed and compliance and security recommendations.  We’re now circulating the new guidelines to get your comments and input.  Watch your email box and the Association’s website for the guidelines and a return response card.

Don’t forget to fill out the questionnaire being sent by the Association to determine what Hancock Park issues are most important to you.  Also, be safe by keeping doors and windows locked, arming your alarm if you have one and if you think someone is on your property call 911.  Don’t confront anyone yourself. your home call 911 immediately.  DO NOT CONFRONT THE PERSON YOURSELF!

And since Hancock Park is an HPOZ be sure and check with our City Planner Suki Gershenhorn (suki.gershenhorn@lacity.org), before starting any major landscahing or planning changes to the exterior of your house .  The HPOZ Preservation Plan, which regulates our HPOZ can be found at http://www.preservation.lacity.org/hpoz/la/hancock-park   There is also an online form you can fill out to help speed up the process (http://preservation.lacity.org/hpoz/initial.screening.checklist).  Report graffiti sightings by calling 311 or at the City’s Anti-Graffiti Request System - http://anti-graffiti.lacity.org/welcome.cfm?CFID=1007&CFTOKEN=411CDB4F-0FC3-4EE1-89DE58DCCB435538 and by calling Hollywood Beautification, 323-463-5180.