Louisiana Production Blog

Our state’s film and video industry has seen a lot throughout the last year, but one thing is certain—we have succeeded. In 2007, Louisiana experienced the highest statewide film activity growth in the United States, becoming the leading film location outside of the traditional production hubs of California and New York. With over 40 film and television productions in 2007, and the estimated production budgets spent in state alone is over $500 million.

We have seen a great effort from Louisiana state representatives, who continue to travel to Los Angeles to promote our film industry, and I applaud everyone within the Louisiana Film Alliance. Most recently, the Louisiana Film Foundation and Jefferson Parish have organized another trip and Louisiana party at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. Louisiana Film & Video Magazine will be on hand to help sponsor.

As we press on into another year, what will come? Only more growth and more movies.

Soundstage developments are underway from Jefferson Parish to Shreveport, the latter of which has been declared one of the top 10 places to film in the U.S. Nu Image/Millennium Films has shot five feature films since October 2006 in Shreveport and Northwest Louisiana, and is currently designing a $10.3 million studio for Shreveport’s Ledbetter Heights neighborhood.

Unfortunately, due to the writers strike, New Orleans has lost the production of K-Ville, but crews are not slowing down, preparing for January projects such as Cirque du Freak and 12 Rounds. In Shreveport, Sony Pictures is prepping for their big feature The Year One.

I look forward to this New Year and thank all our advertisers and readers for your support.

If you have a great story about Louisiana film in 2007, send us your thoughts.

New Orleans’ TV series, K-Ville, has shut down production this past week, as the WGA strike continues. The new show was just a few episodes shy of finishing its order, but because of the writers strike everyone went home and the stage is empty. The sets remain within the Beven Street Warehouse as the show hopes to come back soon and start production, but if the strike last too long, the show could never regain production.

This has put over a hundred local crew members out of work, but not for long.

State film officials say there is plenty of feature work available right now and most of the post K-Ville crew is picking up positions. November and December reveals a boost of production activity across Louisiana with 15 projects in production, such as The Way of War in Baton Rouge, Waking Madison in New Orleans, and Wonderful World in Shreveport to name a few.

Also stay watch for these Louisiana produced films coming to a theater near you!

The Mist releases November 21, 2007. View the trailer.

The Great Debaters releases December 28, 2007. View the trailer.

With the film industry in Louisiana growing at a phenomenal rate, regional film commissions are working hard to attract even more business to Louisiana. At this year’s American Film Market in the first week of November, many from our state will be at the conference promoting Louisiana as a great film venue, and hosting a “Louisiana Lagniappe” private reception. The coming issue of Louisiana Film and Video Magazine will have more coverage on this event.

In other news, K-Ville (above photo) is continuing production around the greater New Orleans area, and creating some explosive scenes to come in November’s episodes; be sure to watch Monday nights on Fox. New Orleans has several other projects in production, as well as Baton Rouge, and Shreveport.

Another television show making a scene in West Monroe, Louisiana is ESPN’s Varsity Inc. The show brings you into the life of high school football in the area and all the drama around it. Check out this recent promo for the show: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMRGVKVdie4.

Don’t forget about LSU’s Digital Media Education Forum on Nov. 1 & 2. As more college students express interest in animation, video game design and other forms of digital media, many colleges and universities are struggling to create academic programs that will prepare these students for careers in the digital industries. The university will host a two-day Digital Media Education Forum Nov. 1 and 2 at the Lod Cook Conference Center. The forum will feature speakers from academic institutions that have successfully implemented digital media curricula, as well as industry representatives who can discuss the skills students from these programs would need to enter the workforce. Registration fee is $125, and includes lunch for both days. In addition, we have a special evening of cajun dinner and dancing the evening of November 1, 2007. To register or learn more, please visit www.cct.lsu.edu/dme.

Barbara Slade, who has penned award-winning screenplays and developed scripts for Nickelodeon, Disney, ABC and Fox, will host a two-day workshop on “How to Sell your TV or Movie Script with One Sheet of Paper” on Saturday, Nov. 3 and Sunday, Nov. 4, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. at the Shaw Center for the Arts.

Workshop space is limited to 20 participants, and the registration fee is $195. In this workshop, participants should come with a screenplay or television series idea, and Slade will lead them through the story development stages. At the conclusion of the workshop, participants will be ready to write a solid, one-page pitch for their idea to take to producers or studio executives. The Baton Rouge Area Digital Industries Consortium is sponsoring Slade’s workshop. To register or learn more, please contact Amanda Liddell, Baton Rouge Area Digital Industries Consortium, 225-389-7182 or aliddell@cct.lsu.edu. If you know of any other workshops or seminars, let us know.

Shreveport Captures Horror Films and Matthew Broderick

It’s all sequels for North Louisiana with the productions of Pulse Invasion, and Feast 2 and 3 scheduled to be filmed at Mansfield Studios where much of the films will be shot on green screen. And Louisiana Production Consultants are producing Wonderful World, starring Matthew Broderick. The independent drama is the fourth local project for Louisiana Production Consultants. More on the slate for North Louisiana is Blackbird, (AKA Manbreak), Queen Sized, and Void Moon. As we roll into the Fall season, productions will be at high gear, as Louisiana’s infrastructure continues to support the business. If you’re working on any of these projects and have any comments, please let us know!

Big Easy Shorts Festival

The Big Easy Shorts Festival will take place November 16-18 at Canal Place Cinema (333 Canal Street). During the event, over 50 short films will be presented, including Louisiana-based films, (such as Mark Campbell’s Through a Saint’s Eyes). For details, visit our website: www.bigeasyshortsfestival.com.

Lafayette, Louisiana Making a Scene and the 2008 iDiDx is Now Taking Submissions!

Lafayette, Louisiana, a city of innovation and artistic expression, recently launched an Entertainment Industry Initiative to promote its viability as a prime destination for creative content production. Positioned as a forward-thinking, technologically advanced municipality, Lafayette is currently recruiting film, music and digital media production companies to participate in its development of next-generation infrastructure. Lafayette is distinguishing itself as a high-tech epicenter focused on smart growth and innovative economic development. You can contact Lafayette’s Entertainment Industry Liaison at 337-291-FILM (3456). Also in the works, so mark your calendars, the second annual international Digital in-Development expo (iDiDx) will take place Thursday, April 17 - Sunday, April 20, in Lafayette, Louisiana. iDiDx is taking Louisiana’s digital entertainment industry to the next level. The event contributes to the cultural fabric of Acadiana, while showcasing the spirit and essence of Louisiana’s way of life through digital high-tech media. Positioned as a forward-thinking, technologically advanced municipality, Lafayette is an ideal location for an event that explores the fusion of culture and technology. Don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of the creative venue that iDiDx brings to Lafayette. iDiDx is currently accepting submissions (details at www.ididx.com).

Baton Rouge Film Commission Announcement
The Baton Rouge Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Baton Rouge Film Commission have partnered to launch the Entertainment Industry Vendor Discount Program, which invites the participation of all local businesses, from restaurants and salons to office supply stores and casinos. All qualified film and television productions that have registered with the Baton Rouge Film Commission will receive Entertainment Industry Vendor Discount cards. This free program is an innovative and exciting way for community businesses to support our on-going efforts to make Baton Rouge the most film-friendly community in the country. Businesses interested in signing up for the program should email their contact information to vendordiscount@visitbatonrouge.com. Forms will also be available for download at www.FilmBatonRouge.com. If you have a successful vendor business working within the Louisiana film industry, tell us about it!

New Orleans Film Activity Moves Forward

We’ve wrapped our summer productions, including the features Black Water Transit, and Hunting and Fishing, and now gearing up for a busy fall. In production is the Disney TV series Imagination Movers, hosted at the NIMS Center, also feature films Welcome to Academia, Spring Break ‘83, and American Inquisition, plus K-Ville continues through December. If you’re looking for contact information for the latest projects crewing up in the city, please call the Office of Entertainment Industry Development’s Opportunity Hotline at 225-342-FILM.

The Office of Film and Video is in the midst of a website renovation. The new website will feature: an online production guide including a crew and services database, FAQ regarding filming in the Big Easy, a location photography gallery, relocation information, and much more. If you are a crewmember or support service and would like to be listed, please send your resume or contact information to jjday@cityofno.com. This is a free listing and all levels of experience are encouraged to submit. Those interested in renting out homes, businesses or property for film production use may also submit for online listing.

Television Keeps New Orleans Productive

How important is K-Ville to the local economy?

The average high-end budget weekly TV series has a direct location spend estimated at $300,000 per day. K-Ville is crewing up New Orleans and spreading their money around. With an 80 percent local crew and hundreds of extras used weekly, the show is putting dollar signs into the local economy. Almost the entire cast has moved into extended housing and enjoying the lifestyle of New Orleans. But how is the show doing in the ratings? Fox says very well!