Filming Industry in Top Three

New Orleans CityBusiness magazine hosted an online symposium between October 25-27th, exposing that the top three areas for high job growth post-Katrina are seen as health care, technology, and the film industry.
According to the online article, Alex Schott, director of the Louisiana Governor’s Office of Film & TV Development stated that, "The state was on track this year to exceed the 26 or so productions filmed in Louisiana in 2004. The film industry has generated more than $100 million in payroll in Louisiana with a strong economic ripple effect."
He said that filmmakers are interested in Louisiana primarily because of the tax incentives, but Louisiana has to be proactive with this interest.
The state has attempted to be proactive by relocating current productions around the state to places like Shreveport and northern Louisiana, who had little damage and offer alternatives to southeastern Louisiana.
The $100million Tony Scott and Jerry Bruckheimer flick, Deja Vu, which stars Denzel Washington, is set to begin filming in New Orleans in February. If it goes through, it would be the first film made in New Orleans after Katrina. In order to keep the film in the state, efforts have been made to seek an alternate place within the state, in hopes that the movie doesn't pull completely out of Louisiana.
There has been much concern over whether New Orleans would be ready for the film, citing speculation whether or not the film would even come back at all, and whether Tony Scott would continue his involvement in the film. Scott did rejoin the movie and quieted these rumors by clarifying that he was adamant about shooting in the city for creative reasons-- the script called for a dock and ferry in key scenes.
Credit should go to the governor's Office of Film and Television in Harahan, La, for working closely with the producers of the film in order to convince them to come back and film. The state has made great efforts in order to show that filming is definitely feasible in New Orleans. Repair has been underway on the city's dock, along with other parts of the city, in order for a winter shoot. As a big budget film, this movie is considered to be a crucial element in the state's economy in the next months. It would also help showcase what local crews can accomplish, due to the complex action sequences in the script. Overall, this movie could do nothing but help boost Louisiana's image, add to the economy, and help give citizens a feeling that New Orleans is coming back and life will go on.
Its important to note that some of Louisiana's most sought-after areas for film and video, the French Quarter, Warehouse District, and Uptown, survived Katrina.
There is hope yet.