“Hollywood of the South” may not be a big enough title for Louisiana’s film production after a recent study by Los Angeles-based nonprofit FilmL.A. ranked Louisiana first in number of feature films made in an area. The state also ranked second in terms of jobs, with nearly 14,000 jobs being created in Louisiana from the films examined.
The study examined 108 film productions from six major studios and five of the “best known independent studios.” Eighteen of those 108 were filmed in Louisiana, with Canada and California tying for second with 15 each.
Liza Kelso, executive director for the Baton Rouge Film Commission, said the study shows how much economic growth Louisiana is gaining from California’s losses.
The most significant driver of Louisiana’s growth in film production is the tax credit program, Kelso said. Louisiana offers a 30 percent tax break on production costs, including payroll for residents and non-residents, according to the study.
Baton Rouge Mayor-President Kip Holden pushed for the tax credits, Kelso said.
“He’s the reason why we’re here today, he gets all the credit,” she said.
Kelso rebutted concerns about the fleeting nature of film jobs, saying the film industry is shifting to more freelance work. Louisiana is keeping young, creative people in the state instead of losing them to traditional film hubs like New York and Los Angeles, she said.
In addition to the major film productions, Louisiana is also seeing an increase in smaller producers, Kelso said. She said a local welder and eight other men recently applied for a permit to shoot in downtown Baton Rouge.
University English professor Mari Kornhauser said in an email the tax credit program is not focused on creating content in Louisiana, but rather, it is aimed at producing and shooting films in Louisiana. She acknowledged, however, she can take advantage of the production credits as a content creator.
Baton Rouge keeps growing, Kelso said, with the upcoming “Fantastic Four” movie planned to begin shooting April 21. In addition, “Pitch Perfect 2” is also planned to shoot in Baton Rouge, just like its predecessor.
The film industry is shifting, Kelso said, with states having to offer incentives to stay competitive in the market.