LANCASTER – Pauline East, whose personal economic development productivity is measured in millions of dollars a year, will deliver good news about film industry impact at the annual Antelope Valley Business Outlook Conference, Friday, Feb. 22 at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds.
As the Antelope Valley’s one-woman, full service film and video link to Hollywood since 1998, East works to keep the cameras rolling and the shutters clicking at location shoots throughout the Antelope Valley portion of North Los Angeles County.
East is among a list of speakers who will report on many aspects of the regional economy during the day-long session organized by the Antelope Valley Board of Trade.
Looking back on the progression of her work, East separates the 15 years into three five-year components: The first five establishing a digital library to help producers find and secure film locations; the second five years streamlining the once cumbersome and bureaucratic permitting process for location shoots, and the past five years reaping the benefits of all that groundwork.
“It’s finally all come together,” she says.
East began her mission as Film Liaison for the City of Lancaster and director of the Antelope Valley Film Office, a full service film office in North Los Angeles County offering a range of services to the film production industry. She is one of 45 Film Commissioners designated by the State of California. In late 2005, East concluded a two-year term on the Board of Directors for FilmLA, Inc. to establish a North Los Angeles County satellite office for FilmLA, partnering with the City of Lancaster.
In mid-2008, East contracted with the City of Palmdale to streamline and establish a regional partnership for full coordination of filming activities in all of North Los Angeles County. This regional partnership allows production companies a true one-stop shop for permitting and production coordination. She says, “We’re at one piece of paper” for permits.
The Antelope Valley Film Office facilitates more than 300 film projects a year, on average, typically generating annual economic impact in excess of $10 million dollars to the North Los Angeles County region.
Film location work attracted to the Antelope Valley includes television programs, motion pictures and both still and video commercials. Currently, the new network TV series “Vegas” uses Antelope Valley locations. East quips, “I’m the closest desert to Hollywood.”
Pauline serves as Co-Chair for the California On Location Awards, an annual Hollywood event honoring location professionals and production companies. And she is a member of Film Liaisons in California, Statewide (FLICS.)
The upcoming Business Outlook Conference, hosted by the Antelope Valley Board of Trade, offers a full day of networking for only $150 (AV Board of Trade members receive a discount) with tickets at the door at $175. Check in is at 7:30 am with the program beginning promptly at 8:00 am and going through 2:30 pm. Contact the AV Board of Trade Office at (661) 942-9581 or teri@avbot.org for tickets.
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