Jennie Cook wipes the sweat off her brow. She has had to let almost half of her staff go, and she’s been working long days and even longer weeks in order to compensate for it. Though she’s had to power through exhaustion, she considers herself lucky. Her business is surviving, which is more than can be said for many of her peers. Cook owns Jennie Cook’s Catering, a Los Angeles-based company that derives almost all of its business from Hollywood productions. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in all film productions stopping, causing Jennie Cook’s, and thousands of businesses like them, to struggle to survive. “It’s been devastating,” said Cook. “Our business has taken such a hit. I’m … [Read more...] about Small businesses struggle to survive in pandemic-oriented film industry
Dan Taylor discusses COVID-19’s impact on the local film industry
From Captain Marvel to Pirates of the Caribbean, the film industry brought $1.4 billion to San Bernardino and Riverside Counties since 1995. This income is unlikely to continue as the film industry has been “hit hard,” says Dan Taylor, President of the Inland Empire Film Services. Taylor previously served as the Liaison for the San Bernardino Film Commission and the Deputy Director of the Inland Empire Film Commission. His primary role is to help production companies obtain filming permits and provide a resource center where they can hire local people and vendors.According to him, the film industry brought in $50 million to the Inland Empire last fiscal year. A number the region is … [Read more...] about Dan Taylor discusses COVID-19’s impact on the local film industry