Louisiana Film Production
Movie Makers Lured by Tax Incentives, Culture and Natural Attraction
Jun 1, 2008
Louisiana’s flourishing new film industry was temporarily sidetracked by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, but it is back on a record-setting pace to earn the title "Hollywood South." The state is also building an infrastructure designed to hold off competition from a growing number of states.
According to the state’s Office of Entertainment Industry Development (OEID), about two dozen television and film projects were being conducted in Louisiana in the first quarter of 2008. That compared with a total of 53 in 2007.
In 2007, the state attracted about $500 million worth of film projects, compared to about $10.5 million in 2002, when the Louisiana Legislature approved a highly attractive tax credit program for producers. The state expects to establish another record in 2008.
Louisiana Productions Include Microwave Park, Curse of the Judas Chalice
The early 2008 projects included:
- The shooting of "Microwave Park" a New Orleans-based police story being shot in Shreveport, starring Val Kilmer, Sharon Stone and 50 Cent.
- Bob Newhart and Noah Wyle working on "The Librarian: The Curse of the Judas Chalice" in Harahan.
- Justin Timberlake and Jeff Bridges starring in "The Open Road" being shot in New Orleans
- Michael Douglas and Jesse Metcalfe doing a remake of "Beyond a Reasonable Doubt" in Benton and Shreveport
- Salma Hayek and John Reilly in Universal’s "Cirque du Freak"
- John Cena in another New Orleans police movie, this one called "12 Rounds."
Louisiana’s "Hollywood South" ambitions began in 2002 when the state legislature approved a highly attractive tax incentive program for movie and television producers. The program has recently been modified to provide producers a 25 percent tax credit for money that they spend within the state.
Tax Credits Prompted Second Look at Louisiana Culture and Natural Attractions
The Motion Picture Association of America estimates that major studios bring about $225,000 per day to their shooting locations, a figure that has prompted Louisiana and at least 30 other states to develop incentive packages for the film industry.
Louisiana’s tax credits have encouraged producers to take a second look at Louisiana’s hundreds of historic locations, swamps, plantations, French Quarter, New Orleans Garden District, Cajun country, unique Shreveport locations and a generally cooperative and appreciative citizenry.
State and Local Communities Building Film Infrastructure
Now the state and local communities are hurriedly working with producers to build the infrastructure and workforce needed to permanently support the film makers.
Jefferson Parish (county) on the western side of New Orleans is advertising for bids to develop film and video sound stages and production offices for use by movie makers. The parish can offer swamp, riverfront, lakefront and suburban locations for filming.
East Feliciana Parish is seeking ways to assist Armada Studios to build a 160-acre, $30 million complex near Baton Rouge to produce five movies annually. Plans call for the complex to include a 100-room hotel, office buildings, sound stages, a commissary and a storage warehouse for filming equipment and supplies.
The City of Lafayette has worked with Active Finance and three affiliated production companies to set up a permanent downtown base for filming, and production work.
In Shreveport, Nu Image/Millennium Films has announced plans to build a 7-acre production complex housing three sound stages, production offices, a mill and a prop house.
State agencies and several communities are also sponsoring festivals to promote Louisiana-made films, to establish both technical and college level courses for film-making and to introduce youngsters to the industry.
References:
- Lafayette Daily Advertiser, Feb. 19, 2008
- Baton Rouge Advocate, April 4, 08
- Stacey Plaisance, Associated Press, April 1, 2008
- David Carr, New York Times, May 20, 2008
- Alexandyr Kent, Louisianamovies.blogspot.com
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