Baywatch production will resume on local beaches without impediment from local authorities according to a release provided by Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath last week.
Horvath convened a meeting Friday at Fox Studios with local officials and producers from Fox and Fremantle to address permitting and logistical challenges facing the rebooted "Baywatch" series filming at Venice Beach.
The gathering brought together Councilmember Traci Park, the City of Los Angeles Board of Public Works film liaison, FilmLA, the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors, the county's lifeguard division and film office, and the show's creator.
Officials announced several steps aimed at keeping the production on track in Los Angeles.
Fremantle will seek an amendment to its Coastal Development Permit to allow more flexible production hours, with the revision expected to go before the California Coastal Commission at its May meeting. The production will also gain expanded access to parking lots and spaces within the coastal zone.
A dedicated on-site "concierge" contact will be established to streamline real-time communication among the production team, FilmLA and county departments. Horvath said she will introduce a motion at the Tuesday Board of Supervisors meeting to permit limited drone filming within designated times and locations.
"Bringing Baywatch back to Los Angeles is not just important — it's essential to sustaining our local economy and reinforcing our position as the global capital of the entertainment industry," Horvath said.
Park pushed back on speculation that the production might relocate.
"Despite the rumors, Baywatch was never leaving Venice or Los Angeles," she said. "The city, county and production team are deeply committed to the success of this marquee effort."
Jhamal K. Robinson, head of production for Fremantle, said filming is ongoing at Venice Beach and other locations across Los Angeles County and will remain based there, with additional county beaches included in the schedule as planned.