FILM FESTIVAL: USE OF PIER AND BEACH FOR FREE MOVIE PREVIEW

Recommendation

It is recommended by the Parks, Recreation and Community Resources Commission and staff that Council:

1. Approve the use of the Pier and beach north of the Pier by the Community Center Foundation for the Hermosa Beach Film Festival Preview scheduled for Thursday; and,
2. Authorize the Mayor to sign the attached contract.

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Background

The Community Center Foundation requested that the City approve a request to use the beach and Pier area to present a preview of "Hugo Pool" directed by Robert Downey Senior from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 24th.

At the September 24, 1997 meeting, Council allocated $5,000 from the DEC Fund to provide seed money for the Film Festival.

The Festival, scheduled for April 24th through 27th, will be held at the Hermosa Civic Theater and AMC Theaters. The Committee has not provided the City with any additional details with regards to the rest of the proposed activities.

Analysis

The Film Committee intends to open the Festival with this free beach event. Spectators will bring lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy this preview which will be projected from the Municipal Pier to a screen on the sand.

The event will be free and open to the general public and will not include any additional activities or structures. Factoring in the off season date and the newness of the Festival, the spectator draw is projected to be modest. As such, the impact to the City should be moderate as is reflected in the attached contractual requirements.

Considering that lower Pier Avenue will still be under construction at that time, this kind of event may serve a dual purpose to promote the Film Festival and to attract customers to the downtown area.

Fiscal Impact: None