The growing film industry in Louisiana will get a boost with the establishment of a new film studio in Baton Rouge. Studio City Louisiana, L.L.C. is financing the nearly $500 million project – River Studios and FilmPort – to be built in West Baton Rouge Parish. The studio should be operational by December 2008. Robert Newman, department of economics chair, said the studio will be a significant player in the parish’s economy, comparing it to the impact of a small oil refinery being built. “It’s going to bring primarily three things: new jobs, higher household incomes and additional sales for other companies and firms located in the community,” he said. “It’s also going to bring more tax revenues into the parish.” Newman conducted an independent analysis of the studio’s projected economic impact on West Baton Rouge’s economy in February. “Basically as you spend money, you’re bringing in money from the outside,” Newman said. “It’s going to be a net injection of new dollars into West Baton Rouge Parish.” As employees of the studio spend money within the parish – generating additional sales and profits – local businesses will hire more employees. These factors will increase tax revenues and household incomes for the community. “New jobs are created not only in the studio complex, but in other businesses as well,” Newman said. The report stated that by 2009, new business sales will total $925.8 million after construction and initial operation phases are completed, with more than 12,500 new temporary and permanent jobs being created. Household earnings in the community will total nearly $509 million, and new tax revenues for the parish will total nearly $23.7 million. “I don’t know what the total sales tax revenues are in West Baton Rouge Parish,” Newman said. “But $23.7 million is not ‘chump change,’ as they would say.” Michele LeBlanc, senior counsel for River Studios and FilmPort, said the project is pending the governor’s approval of $250 million in bond allocations. Once the bonds are closed, ground can be broken at the construction site. LeBlanc said construction contracts will go to local companies. The 150-acre facility will provide eight film and television sound stages, a wave and water tank, a commissary, and facilities for post-production, editing and administration. The project will be run by a group of film producers including Jonathan Sanger, Ed Elbert and Sarah Ryan Black, whose film credits include “The Producers,” “Vanilla Sky” and “Mission Impossible II.” Additionally, the complex provides direct access to the Mississippi River and proximity to sites such as downtown Baton Rouge, the state Capitol and the University. When completed, LeBlanc said films on the scale of “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Titanic” could be shot at the studio. “I think the big benefits the studio offers [are that] it’s the first world-class studio being built by producers for producers,” she said. The film industry in Louisiana has thrived since 2002, when legislation was passed to allow tax credit incentives to production companies shooting in Louisiana. Such incentives are available for projects ranging from full-length motion pictures to music videos. “[Filmmakers] didn’t come here by accident,” Newman said. “There are some tax advantages to locating in Louisiana, and [businesses] must find the amenities in Louisiana to be attractive enough to come here. This could possibly be another very important industry in the state.” LeBlanc and Newman said lawmakers have been aggressive in their efforts to stimulate industrial growth in Louisiana. “This will be the largest studio east of the mighty Mississippi,” State Sen. Robert M. Marionneaux Jr., D-Livonia, said in a news release. “Louisiana will be known as the movie mecca of the South once [the studio is] completed.” Though she could not provide details, LeBlanc said the studio has already generated interest in the filmmaking community. She also said more industry insiders are relocating from Los Angeles to Louisiana to capitalize on incentives the state provides. Newman said the studio’s impact will not be limited to West Baton Rouge. He said some money will also be spent in East Baton Rouge as well, at places like the Mall of Louisiana. He said the University should also feel some effects. Newman said the studio’s emergence will impact certain University degree programs. “It’s a big draw for certain industries,” he said. “Particularly if you’re talking about industries requiring high-skilled labor, which is essentially what a university produces.” LeBlanc, a Paul M. Hebert Law Center alumna, said River Studios will be like a small city, providing opportunities for students of nearly every major. “We’re very interested in working with LSU and its students,” she said. “We really anticipate opening doors to students interested in coming into that industry.” LeBlanc said the studio is looking into providing industry liaisons and internships, which will allow students to earn class credit while working on films and in training programs. Additionally, the Louisiana Film Institute of Recruitment and Staff Training, or LA FIRST, film school will be stationed on the studio’s campus. LA FIRST will teach students film and television techniques and provide hands-on experience.
—-Contact Parker Wishik at [email protected]