Upload Films, a film production and post-production company with numerous film credits to its name, plans on bringing something entirely new to Louisiana as it has several times in the past.
With offices in both Hong Kong and California, and a subsequently expanding global market with massive room for growth, the Baton Rouge sector of Upload Films will be making its own film, entitled “Showing Roots,” in Baton Rouge from Dec. 1-20. The film is expected to be released sometime next year.
“Showing Roots,” though under wraps for the most part as it is still undergoing pre-production, is generating a reasonable amount of hype for a film from a relatively new and smaller studio. This is partly due to the fact that it is the studio’s first true full-production feature film.
Williams couldn’t say much about the specific nature of the film, but said the story hits close to home, and he felt it would be something that would make a lot of people in the area feel the same way.
“It’s a story that right when I saw it, I knew it was something I’d always wanted to make but just couldn’t quite put my finger on it,” said local Upload Films producer Todd Williams.
Almost exclusively known for its work assisting other companies with the use of its post-production facilities on Brookline Avenue, this marks the first time Upload Films will be entirely producing their own feature film, from shooting to sound to promotion and everything in between.
“We’ll be contracting certain services out that we wouldn’t be able to provide otherwise, like professional casting directors and that sort of thing,” Williams said.
Williams, committed to showcasing fresh faces and upcoming talent in the industry, has an extensive background in producing films and has had several appear as full features as well as others still on television. Under his guidance, Upload Films has done production work for films like Quentin Tarantino’s “Man with the Iron Fists” and Oscar-winner Martin McDonagh’s “Seven Psychopaths.”
“‘Showing Roots’ is a big thing for us,” he said. “It’s something we’ve really looked forward to doing for some time.”
In addition to Louisiana’s well-known tax incentives given to filmmakers both local and foreign who choose to shoot in the area, Louisiana has been said by several local filmmakers to have a sort of ethereal quality about it that makes for great storytelling.
“Not only have there been great stories made here in Louisiana, but we feel like there’s still a lot more the state has to offer as well,” Williams said. “It’s a great place to make films and a lot of people are starting to see that.”
Resumes are still being accepted by the company, and they acknowledge the impact local hirings will have on the community and vice versa.
“We know the movie has a good chance to turn out well because there’s just a lot of great, great people in the film industry,” Williams said. “We’re really starting to live up to that ‘Hollywood South’ nickname I guess.”