Santa Barbara County Explores Creating Film Commissioner Role

Supervisors show early support for attracting more film and media production to the county.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 10:48pm

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A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a vintage film camera, a director's clapperboard, and a reel of 35mm film against a clean, monochromatic seamless background, conceptually representing the abstract concepts of filmmaking, production, and the economic potential of the industry for Santa Barbara County.A showcase of the tools of the filmmaking trade hints at the economic opportunities Santa Barbara County hopes to capture by creating a dedicated film commissioner position.Santa Barbara Today

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors is considering creating a new film commissioner position to help attract more film and media production to the area. The idea is to provide a 'one-stop service' for productions, helping with location scouting, permits, local services, and other needs. The county has a rich history of filmmaking, from silent films in the 1910s to recent hits like 'Sideways' and 'One Battle After Another', and supervisors see economic potential in tapping into this industry.

Why it matters

Bringing more film and media production to Santa Barbara County could provide a significant economic boost through increased spending on hotels, restaurants, permits, and local services. The county's diverse landscapes and historic sites have already attracted major productions, but a dedicated film commissioner could help streamline the process and attract even more business.

The details

The idea of a county film commissioner isn't entirely new - Visit Santa Barbara previously had a film commissioner for about 30 years until 2019. The new position would help productions with location scouting, permits, local vendors, and other needs. County Planning Director Lisa Plowman said her staff currently receives about one film permit or location inquiry per week, but they're only able to assist with about half of those. The fees they charge amount to around $59,000 per year. Supervisors see the potential for much greater economic impact, citing the example of 'Big Little Lies' filming in Monterey County, which generated $3.6 million in spending and employed over 1,000 extras.

  • The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors discussed the idea of creating a film commissioner position on Tuesday, April 8, 2026.
  • The county previously had a film commissioner through the Visit Santa Barbara nonprofit until 2019.

The players

Lisa Plowman

Santa Barbara County Planning Director, who said her staff receives about one film permit or location inquiry per week, but can only assist with about half of them.

Daisy Weber

A staffer with Supervisor Roy Lee's office, who presented the film commissioner idea along with Lee's chief of staff, Wade Cowper.

Wade Cowper

Chief of staff for Supervisor Roy Lee, who presented the film commissioner idea along with Daisy Weber.

Joan Hartmann

Santa Barbara County Supervisor, who said funding the film commissioner position amid budget deficits could be problematic.

Bob Nelson

Santa Barbara County Supervisor, who recalled that the films 'The Spirit of St. Louis' and 'The Rocketeer' were filmed at the Santa Maria Airport.

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What they’re saying

“The county looks great on screen.”

— Daisy Weber, Staffer with Supervisor Roy Lee's office

“It takes money to make money.”

— Roy Lee, Santa Barbara County Supervisor

What’s next

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors will review the film commissioner proposal during upcoming budget discussions.

The takeaway

Santa Barbara County's rich history of filmmaking and diverse landscapes make it an attractive location for productions, and a dedicated film commissioner could help the county capitalize on this industry and generate significant economic benefits.