As Baton Rouge gains notoriety in the film industry, city officials aim to strengthen the symbiotic relationship.
East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President Kip Holden, in conjunction with the Baton Rouge Film Commission and Reel-Scout developers, announced the new iPhone and iPad application “By Baton Rouge” at a press conference Thursday. The app connects film and television producers with local vendors.
The app allows filmmakers to scout shooting locations, view resources and discounts from local vendors, view photos and get directions.
Holden said Baton Rouge received an estimated $200 million from the television and film industry last year.
The goal of By Baton Rouge is to help local businesses obtain a chunk of that change, Holden said.
“If you’re running a restaurant, a floral shop or even a pest-control service in Baton Rouge, you probably don’t spend much time thinking about going into show business,” Holden said. “But that’s about to change.”
Baton Rouge businesses will have the opportunity to share information about their goods and services through the app, directly reaching producers filming in
the city.
Holden hopes the app will encourage filmmakers to shop locally.
The By Baton Rouge logo unveiled at the conference will be posted in participating vendors’ storefronts to indicate to filmmakers that those businesses are TV-friendly and looking for business.
Donna Reichman, deputy director of the Baton Rouge Film Commission, said she anticipates a high registration number for the app.
“There are so many uses for different businesses in the film industry,” she said.
Reichman said she has already had several inquiries about the app, even before its launch
and announcement.
Ed Henegar, founder and
president of location-scouting
service, Reel-Scout, developed the By Baton Rouge app and said it’s already been downloaded more than 50 times.
“Because the film industry is so mobile, you need to be able to meet its needs in a mobile way as well. By Baton Rouge does exactly that,” Henegar said.
He said the iPhone app is important because those in the film industry are usually on location and need immediate access to the information.
The app launched Jan. 15 and is available for free download from the iTunes App Store.
 
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Contact Emily Herrington at [email protected]