Locals: The True Star of Louisiana Movies

Today the Louisiana Film & Television website reported on Baton Rouge and Shreveport's plans to attract movies to their city. Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden announced, along with Senator Jay Dardenne, that Baton Rouge and South Louisiana will host more than $200million worth of film and TV productions in the future. The politicians attended the American Film Market in Los Angeles earlier this month to talk with production companies and get commitments, after local production companies did the work to get the movies to agree to come here. For example, the movie Winter Heat is set to begin filming in January. The article states that movies such as Miamiland, My Funny Valentine, and Banner Days are also scheduled to begin in 2006.

The Shreveport Times reported today that Shreveport-Bossier has a window of opportunity for business within the film industry, but must use investments to create a master plan that will guarantee the longevity of this success. Mark Smith, Director of the Louisiana Entertainment Industry, spoke at a reception put on by the Robinson Film Center and in an attempt to encourage investments, he pointed out that, "Louisiana needs to understand: This is manufacturing. These are high wage jobs with benefits."

Officials promised that Shreveport-Bossier would not miss its chance to become an arts hub like Nashville or Austin. But they stressed that it is through local investments in businesses that Shreveport could maximize the tax credit system, by building on its infastructure.

As the nation's third-largest state for movie production behind New York and California, Louisiana is a virtual goldmine for success, but he expressed the need for a master plan that would not rely solely on the tax credits for support. Echoing this, David Dodd, a certified economic developer said, "If we don't have the infrastructure in place, all the tax credits in the world aren't going to help us."

You might ask, but how do these tax credits work?

Companies in Shreveport like Roberts Cherry & Company broker film credits by giving cash to out-of-state production companies in exchange for tax credits. The production company gets a percentage of what they spend in Louisiana in tax credits (25% of its total bill), but these out-of-state companies have little use for Louisiana credits. Roberts Cherry brokers a deal that helps out both sides. They buy the credits from the production company for less than the actual amount and give the company the cash, which they can use. Then they sell the credits to people within the state, who can receive the tax break. "We provide the avenue for them to realize the incentive offered by the state. It's keeping the productions here," said Allison Jackson, one of the CPAs at Roberts Cherry.

Other ways to foster business is to invest money in the local-based industry. One such company, RiverDream Productions, is owned by Shreveport lawyer Jim Davis. Davis said that he has been approached by people lately who say that they would like to invest money in his company, stating that there is a growing interest from people wanting to get involved with movies. The company just finished filming the movie, At Last, and will screen it locally before it goes into wide release. There are several other local production companies cropping out all over the state as well, that will become a great stimulus for the economy.

Smart buisness. This is what Louisiana needs. We've created the frame with the tax credit system but it is up to the local business to keep the industry afloat. As Hollywood sees Louisiana as an increasingly attractive place to film, it is our job to keep the state financially accessible and stable in order for it to survive. Louisiana has become a real competitor with Hollywood and New York in about 3 years-- this speaks volumes for what we can accomplish in the future if we set it in motion. We must remember that nothing is forever. Hollywood is a very temporary business. But we will continue to prosper through investing and creating resources for production.

Local companies also need to avoid excessive price gouging, which is never accommodating or fair. Companies within the state need to realize that although these movies have millions of dollars to spend, they won't be spending them here any longer if we continually drive the prices up. On Monday, Lynn Yeldell, an official with the Louisiana Institute of Film Technology, pointed out that companies are indeed making money off of productions, emphasizing that the movies pay well for the short time they need hotels, restaurants, painters, CPAs, doctors and other professionals. But it does happen all the time.

I was on a movie set a couple of months ago, and some of the actors told me how one hotel charged $22 for a hamburger. Let's get real-- they are real people too and they know when they are being ripped off. Let's do our part to keep them here by making the right choices.

It is time for Louisiana to bring itself up after Katrina, so we gotta use what we got. Visit the the Louisiana Film & Television website and check out the opportunities for investments and business in LA. It is an exciting world to be involved with, and it can only get better.

With our local companies directing, a tax credit system producing, and supporting cast in our locals, Louisiana is a great place to make a movie!!