SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Supervisor Paloma Aguirre presented the San Diego County Film Initiative, which is aimed at bringing more film productions to the county, to the board of supervisors on Monday.
As the city of San Diego proposed slashing funding to the arts, Supervisor Aguirre looks to strengthen the film industry.
“Many people believe that art doesn’t pay. If it doesn’t return its profitability, it’s not worth financing,” said SAG-AFTRA member Lou Slocum.
The San Diego County Film Initiative would create a detailed plan to implement and maintain a San Diego County Film Office and Film Commission.
“We’re talking about billions of dollars of potential economic revenue,” Supervisor Aguirre said.
Notably, 2026’s Best Picture Oscar winner “One Battle After Another” was filmed across San Diego County, generating $6.8 million for the local economy.
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“It provided an awful lot of work for a lot of people in San Diego for six weeks,” said Slocum.
The plan would also outline the requirements for a rebate program administered by the film office to incentivize filmmaking in the region.
“How do we give tax breaks and incentives to major productions so that they would rather come here than stay in L.A. or go to these other states?” Aguirre said.
But the film commission isn’t new to San Diego County.
“It’s been done before, and we lost the magic back in 2013,” said Slocum.
The film commission operated in San Diego County from the mid-1970s until 2013; now, filmmakers want to bring back the movie-making magic.
“Hiring local talent, that’s how we’re really going to supercharge local productions,” said Aaron David Roberts, the founder and CEO of Chula Vista Entertainment Company.
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) President Greg Sowizdrzal said San Diego-based actors and artists have struggled recently to find work.
“Producers outside San Diego don’t know what we’re capable of,” said Thierry Denis, the co-founder of Ockham Production Company.
While the city boasts beautiful locations and ideal weather year-round, filmmakers blame a lack of exposure for inconsistent employment.
“That’s why we’re trying to build this back up because they deserve to work in the field they trained for,” said Sowizdrzal.
If approved, the initiative would require a one-time cost of about $100,000, funded by a community investment grant, to start the program.
“We need to spend just a little to get an awful lot,” said Slocum.
Aguirre asked the chief administrative officer to present a comprehensive plan to the board by Sept. 15.
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