FILM & PHOTO SHOOT HANDBOOK Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 217, Avalon, CA 90704 310-510-1520 www.CatalinaChamber.com Updated September 2019 1 Film & Photo Shoot Handbook TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Welcome letter 3 City of Avalon Fee Schedule 4 Shooting on Catalina Island - Jurisdictions 5 Important Phone Numbers 6 Catalina Island Facts 8 Map of Avalon 11 Map of Catalina Island 12 Permitting Process/Checklist 13 City of Avalon Filming Permit Application 14 City of Avalon Business License Application 16 Worker’s Compensation Insurance 18 Filming and Photo Shoot Economic Activity Report 19 2 Thank you for considering Avalon and Catalina Island as a location for your film or photo shoot project. Our unique island location makes for a very special location – and presents some unique challenges. This handbook is intended to help you identify and locate those businesses and entities with whom you will have to interface in order to have a successful shoot. The Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau is also available to assist you in processing your permits, answering your questions, and assisting you in finding the products and services you might require from local businesses. We look forward to working with you! With warm regards, The Honorable Anni Marshall Mayor, City of Avalon Jim Luttjohann President and CEO Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau 3 CITY OF AVALON FEE SCHEDULE The City of Avalon requires a business license, a location fee for use of its streets, beaches and piers and requires permits for all vehicles brought into the City of Avalon. The City also requires $1,000,000 additionally-named liability insurance coverage, unless aircraft are used, in which case the requirement is $5,000,000 additionally-named insurance. Fees are as of October 10, 2018. City of Avalon $236 / day – 10 or fewer employees at film location Filming Permit Fee $316 / day – 11+ employees at film location City of Avalon $134.75 good for calendar year Business License Still Photography $109 / day Permits Vehicle fees $ 30 / day OR $317 per month Catalina Island is 76 square miles in size. The City of Avalon is 2.7 square miles total. The remainder of the island is owned and operated by the Santa Catalina Island Company and/or the Catalina Island Conservancy. Location fees for use of either organizations property must be negotiated with that company. Contact names and information for the various parts of the island are included within the handbook. 4 SHOOTING ON CATALINA ISLAND Catalina Island is a very unique and desirable location; however it is not for everyone. There are unique and special features in staging and promoting shoot on Catalina Island, and in some cases these features create challenges in logistics and cost control. Jurisdictions There are several businesses/agencies/entities involved in shooting on Catalina Island. Each entity has its own insurance needs, requirements, permits and approval process. City of Avalon – The City is responsible for all of the roads, structures, services and facilities within the town of Avalon, unless otherwise shown as a Santa Catalina Island Company property. The City will be the clearinghouse and will drive the permitting process. The Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce helps facilitate the permitting process for the City. The City of Avalon will also generate cost estimates for city services, sheriff services and other pertinent fees, where applicable. City of Avalon Harbor Department – Operates all on water operations and the Green Pier. All moorings, boat traffic patterns and pier operations must run through the Harbor Department. Catalina Island Company (SCICo) and Catalina Island Resort Services (CIRS) – Operates the Casino Building, Catalina Island Golf Course, Catalina Island Country Club, Descanso Beach Club and other individual roads and facilities in the City of Avalon. The “Island Company” is a great resource for research and facility usage. They also own and operate some roads within the Interior. Catalina Island Conservancy – The Conservancy operates the Memorial Gardens in Avalon and the entire “Interior” of Catalina Island. If an event is to take place outside of the City of Avalon, then most likely it will be held on Conservancy property and a Conservancy issued permit will be required. Los Angeles County Baywatch Lifeguards – The lifeguard office has jurisdiction over all paramedic services on the island, they initiate any Search & Rescue operations, and oversee all safety issues on the beaches or in the water. 5 IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION The following are phone numbers for the specific agencies that you might need to contact regarding your film and/or photo shoot. All mail should be sent to the listed P.O. Box; all shipping should be sent to the street address. City Services and Agencies: City of Avalon, Recreation Department Dan Huncke, Recreation Coordinator 310-510-0220 ext. 230 David Hart, Recreation 310-510-0220 ext. 231 P.O. Box 1980 (400 Avalon Canyon Road) Avalon, CA 90704 City of Avalon Harbor Department 310-510-0535 Brian Bray, Harbor Master P.O. Box 1085 (at the end of the Green Pier) Avalon, CA 90704 Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, Avalon Station 310-510-0174 P.O. Box 1551 (215 Sumner Ave.) Avalon, CA 90704 Los Angeles County Baywatch Lifeguards 310-510-0856 Green Pier, Avalon P.O. Box 385, Avalon, CA 90704 Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce Film Liaison / Filming Permits 310-510-7649 Jim Luttjohann, President/CEO Fax: 310-510-7607 Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce Email: [email protected] P.O. Box 217 Avalon, CA 90704 Catalina Island Conservancy Filming Information Commercial Shoots, News/Documentary Shoots Peg Meehan, Unreel Locations 323-953-6189 2950 Los Feliz Blvd. Suite 206 Email: [email protected] Los Angeles, CA 90039 Catalina Island Company (CICo) / Catalina Island Resort Services (CIRS) Rudy Alvarez, Director of Sales 310-510-7430 P.O. Box 737 Email: [email protected] Avalon, CA 90704 6 Radio Communications: Catalina Island Amateur Repeaters Association 310-457-2231 Ww2.cara.nu Mike Fiola, President [email protected] (Additional information on this organization/service is found under the Catalina Island Conservancy information) Cross Channel Transportation Catalina Express (Long Beach, San Pedro, Dana Point) 310-519-7971 385 East Swinford Street, San Pedro, CA 90731 [email protected] www.catalinaexpress.com Catalina Passenger Service (Newport Beach) 800-830-7744 Catalina Flyer, 400 Main St., Newport Beach, CA 92661 www.catalinainfo.com IEX Helicopters (San Pedro, Long Beach, OC) 800-228-2566 1175 Queens Hwy., Long Beach, CA 90802 [email protected] www.iexheliopters.com Avalon Freight Services (water freight by barge) 310-221-6290 385 East Swinford Street, San Pedro, CA 90731 [email protected] www.avalonfreightservices.com Catalina Flying Boats (air freight) 800-834-3254 231 Catalina Ave., Avalon, CA 90704 On-Island Transportation Avalon Shoreboat / Island Navigation 310-510-0409, ext. 210 Catalina Transportation Services (taxi, charters & shuttle) 310-510-0342 Catalina Island Co. Safari Bus & Cyclone Boat 310-510-2000 Tram Charters (trams for private charter) 310-510-2000, ext. 1223 7 Catalina Island Fact Sheet OWNERSHIP: The world’s first commercial wireless telegraph station The first American owner was Thomas Robbins who was built in Catalina in 1902, and was the news source acquired the island in 1846 by a land grant from Pio for Avalon’s newspaper, The Wireless. The first Pico, the last Mexican governor of California. The commercial radio telephone system was installed at island land changed hands several times before most of Pebbly Beach in Avalon in 1919. The first American- the island was acquired by the Banning brothers who made submarine cables in the U.S. were laid between incorporated the Santa Catalina Island Company in Avalon and the mainland laid in 1923. The first civilian 1894. Present ownership of that company stems from use of microwave system (a World War II secret majority interest stock purchases made by William development), the Catalina microwave station was Wrigley Jr. in 1919. In 1975, the Santa Catalina Island installed in May 1946. Conservancy, a non-profit operating foundation, Transportation: acquired title to approximately 42,139 acres of Catalina, The first side-wheeler boat service to Catalina was in now owns approximately 88% of the island’s 76 square 1880. The first cross-channel steamer service began in miles. 1888. The first cross-channel airplane flight was made by Glenn L. Martin in 1912. The first commercial CITY OF AVALON: aviation service between Catalina and the mainland (by Avalon, the major city on the island, is a general law amphibian airplane) was in 1919. The first helicopter city and was incorporated in 1913. The population is service between Catalina and the mainland was in 1977. about 3,700, although summer and weekend population Avalon is the first city in California empowered by the rises to over 10,000. The area of the city is State Legislature to control the number, size, speed, and approximately 802 acres, or slightly over one square noise of vehicles operating within the city limits. mile. Approximately 30% of the land area in Avalon is Recreation: independently owned. The other 70% is owned by the The Catalina Island Golf Course was the first golf Santa Catalina Island Company. Private property may course in Southern California, built in 1892. The first be purchased from individual owners. successful glass bottom boat was launched in Catalina in 1896. The first cross-channel swim, named the Wrigley GOVERNMENT AND UTILITIES: Ocean Marathon, was held in 1927. Avalon is governed by a 5-member City Council, including Mayor. The chief administrator of Avalon is TRANSPORTATION IN AVALON: the City Manager. Avalon is in Los Angeles County Taxi, tram, and bus services operate in Avalon.