Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced Tuesday that Steve Kang, president of the Los Angeles Board of Public Works, will serve as her new Liaison to the Film and Television Industry. The appointment was revealed during a meeting of Bass’s Entertainment Industry Council, where she underscored the importance of protecting the city’s signature industry.
Citing Kang’s knowledge of city infrastructure, permitting processes, and his relationships with department leaders, Bass said he will spearhead efforts to improve the local filming experience and ensure productions remain in Los Angeles. Kang will be tasked with implementing the mayor’s Executive Directives 8 and 11, which aim to cut red tape, lower costs, and expand access to iconic filming locations.
“I have full confidence that President Steve Kang will deliver in his role as City Film Liaison by finding solutions that protect our signature industry,” Bass said. “With the expansion of the California Film & TV Tax Credit and our ongoing efforts to improve local processes, our work continues to keep production jobs here and support small businesses who rely on the industry.”
Kang, who also oversees the city’s contract with FilmLA, pledged to prioritize local filming. “Local filming is vital to our city’s economy and City departments must prioritize their success,” he said.
Industry leaders praised the move. Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, chair of Bass’s Entertainment Industry Council, said Kang’s appointment signals Bass’s commitment to strengthening Hollywood. “Steve and his excellent team are ready to dive in and support Mayor Bass, working hand-in-hand with the industry,” she said.
The liaison role was first created under former Mayor Eric Garcetti in 2013, and industry advocates have pressed Bass to revive the position since she took office in late 2022. The appointment comes as Los Angeles continues battling production flight, with high costs, wildfires, strikes, and pandemic fallout pushing projects to other states.
State leaders have also doubled down, recently securing $750 million to expand California’s Film & TV Tax Credit Program. Combined with Bass’s executive directives, Kang’s appointment is seen as a key part of the broader effort to keep productions—and jobs—in Hollywood.
