Louisiana's position as Hollywood South is being cemented with every production that locates here. The scope and scale of Louisiana's versatility in motion picture and television production is on display in a movie called One Night in Miami.
"We've always had a history of being able to double for other places around the globe," says Chris Stelly, Executive Director of Louisiana Entertainment Development. He says standing in for Miami isn't a stretch. "Whether it's Japan or East Texas, or any other state for that matter we've doubled really well."
Stelly says whether its Miami, New York, or even Los Angeles, given the cost of shooting in actual locations, Louisiana can fit the bill for any budget. Louisiana's film schedule is booming, and with big motion pictures and landmark television shows, comes big-name talent in front of the camera
"We have Joaquin Phoenix, Hugh Jackman, and Ben Affleck are here, Brian Cranston doing a TV series," Stelly says. "Of course there's Scott Bakula, who's been here for six years on NCIS. Miss Niecy Nash with Claws."
Many actors who come to Louisiana, particularly New Orleans, have in the past ended living here and preferring to work here than in other cities. Of course, New Orleans has its own stable of well know working actors who live here full time and commute to Los Angeles for work.
The film industry in Louisiana is building a permanent production base that pays dividends in the form of expanding jobs. "We have a very deep skilled workforce which employs a lot of Louisiana residents," Stelly says. "We continue to see our payroll numbers go up over the years. It's creating job opportunities and opportunities for small businesses."
The film industry touches every skilled profession in the state. From construction, electrical, lighting, sound recording, postproduction, and music, film is driving the economy. Hollywood South is on the move, creating jobs, attracting big-name stars and big-budget productions.
But Stelly's eyes are on the next frontier for film and television: the merger of tech and film, two industries Louisiana is leading in. Now Louisiana is poised to take the next step."Creativity, more than anything else, is converging and not only in New Orleans, the entire state is poised to take advantage of that through our suite of incentives, which includes digital interactive media and software development."
As the state evolves into a leader in tech, the crossover to the entertainment industry means synergy between the two with growth and opportunity the outcome.