The “Baywatch” producers are planning to increase their filming activities at Venice Beach as the show continues production.
On Friday, the production team met with city and county officials at Fox, reaching an agreement regarding changes to the show’s film permit.
“Everybody came away from this meeting feeling really, really good,” said L.A. City Councilwoman Traci Park, who attended. “We want to encourage this and not discourage it.”
“Baywatch” is regarded as a flagship project for government initiatives aimed at revitalizing production in Los Angeles. Last fall, the 12-episode reboot received a $21 million tax credit from the California Film Commission.
The California Coastal Commission, responsible for regulating beach access, unanimously approved the production’s film permit on February 6. The permit includes the use of 27 parking spaces adjacent to the beach, along with 177 spaces in a nearby city lot.
However, as filming commenced in early March, the production team realized they required more space than initially anticipated.
“The ‘Baywatch’ production has actually grown substantially beyond what it initially imagined and what they applied for in their permits,” Park said. “We are excited it’s even bigger than they thought it would be.”
The production now needs approximately twice the number of parking spaces at the beach lot and seeks permission to park vehicles overnight. The current permit restricts parking to between 4 a.m. and 8 p.m. on filming days.
The filming is set to continue through July 16 and will also occur at other beaches in the L.A. area. Although the coastal permit does not currently allow nighttime filming, Park indicated that officials are likely to approve this request.
“To the extent we need to expand filming hours so they can shoot nighttime scenes, we are going to do that,” Park said.
The county Department of Beaches and Harbors is responsible for enforcing the permit’s terms. L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath stated that the production and officials are committed to enhancing communication and coordination and have agreed on the permit changes.
“There is a shared, unwavering commitment from both public partners and the production team to make this season — and many more to come — a success right here in Los Angeles,” Horvath said in a statement.
The permit allows the production to close a small 300-square-foot section of the beach for filming. It also includes provisions to maintain public access, protect wildlife, and prevent sand erosion.
This meeting followed a March 29 post on the Crew Stories Facebook page, where an anonymous crew member claimed that government restrictions had forced the production to move from Venice Beach. The production team and all involved parties have denied this claim.
