Filming Up in Santa Clarita

Santa Clarita issued 545 on-location film permits in its recently completed 2016-17 fiscal year, the fourth year in a row the city has recorded more than 500 permits. The filming activity brought in $30.1 million to the local economy. The fiscal year was the fourth in which the economic benefit of film and television production reached $30 million or more. The 545 permits issued accounted for 1,265 on-location filming days. More than half of those days were attributed to television production that included such series as “Santa Clarita Diet,” “NCIS,” “Myth Busters” and “Criminal Minds.” The city’s numbers do not include filming activity on soundstages, which do not require a permit. Mayor Cameron Smyth said making Santa Clarita a film-friendly location was a priority for the city council because of the industry’s contributions to the local economy, especially as a source of jobs for residents. “Film and television production has deep roots in the Santa Clarita Valley and to see production return year after year at such a significant rate is a testament to the quality and character of our community,” Smyth said in a prepared statement.