Ventura County Film Commission Unveils Enhanced Website

    CAMARILLO, CA, November 13, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The film industry is steadily expanding its role in Ventura County's economy, contributing over $35 million in 2014 and showing significant growth for 2015. To ensure that film professionals can easily and efficiently access the latest information on available locations and streamline the permit process, the Ventura County Film Commission launched VenturaCountyFilm.com, a new and expanded website. The site has a clean, user-friendly layout and features a number of improvements, including an expanded database of locations and services, advanced search capabilities and updated access for personal computers, tablets, cell phones and other electronic devices.

Most significant is the enhanced search tool that allows film industry personnel to search within each city in the county or by location type, such as beach, historic building, town plaza or farm, with easy access to maps and jurisdictions, as well as permitting information. The website also provides links to other production services such as props, local production personnel, staging, parking, catering, hotels, photography, marketing and other local vendors.

Local residents and businesses also can register on the site to make their homes, commercial properties or venues available for filming.

The Ventura County Film Commission is a program of the Economic Development Collaborative-Ventura County. Film Commission liaison Bill Bartels worked with Stratosphere Marketing Solutions to update the existing site based on input from key members of EDC-VC's board and SBDC advisors who provide business assistance and training to area clients.

"Our goal with the website redesign was to provide filmmakers, location scouts and other production personnel with the assistance needed to ensure that filming in Ventura County is smooth, efficient and cost-effective," said Bartels. "With filming becoming an increasingly important piece of our county's economy, we wanted to make the site is as responsive as possible."

Filming benefits Ventura County's hospitality and retail sector by creating and sustaining at least two additional jobs for every job created in local film activity. In 2014, there were 825 projects filmed in all local jurisdictions, with local film revenues coming from a diverse range of activities, including music videos, feature films, independent productions, television and still photography, according to EDC-VC statistics. A sampling of projects filmed in Ventura County, and premiering in 2016, include Westworld (HBO, series), Pee-wee's Big Holiday (Netflix, movie) and Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders (CBS, series). This year, Ford, Toyota and Chevrolet filmed car commercials in the county.

About EDC-VC:
EDC-VC is a private, nonprofit organization that serves as a business-to-government liaison to assist businesses in Ventura County by offering programs that enhance the economic vitality of the region. For more information about the Small Business Development Center and loan, manufacturing outreach and international trade programs, contact Bruce Stenslie at 805-384-1800 ext. 24, or [email protected]. Visit http://www.edc-vc.com, and the Economic Development Collaborative-Ventura County on Facebook, Twitter (@edc_vc) and LinkedIn

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