It has seemed like the heyday of “Hollywood South”, when movies were being filmed in New Orleans and across Louisiana, might be over. Shoots happening in the state have slowed nearly to a halt, with only a few projects publicly slated to be filmed in the area.
However, Jason Waggenspack is president of Film Louisiana and says there may be a resurgence on the horizon. “We’re actually seeing a little uptick. There are a couple of shows on the ground filming in New Orleans, a show in St. Francisville/Baton Rouge right now, and a couple more looking to get started around the end of the year. We actually just got back from Hollywood, and it looks like we’ll have a good uptick starting next year,” Waggenspack explained.
Waggenspack thinks 2026 might be the beginning of a Hollywood South resurgence in the region. He says the industry is looking to film more domestically and sees the benefits of filming in Louisiana. “You get diverse locations here in the United States, but especially here in Louisiana with the climate we have,” Waggenspack points out.
“You can double for many and multiple cities right here in Louisiana because of that,” Waggenspack added.
He says part of his mission with Film Louisiana in going to Hollywood to promote the state was to emphasize that Louisiana has many locations that make perfect backdrops to double as other locations in films and TV shows. He thinks that versatility is another reason Louisiana has a looming comeback on the horizon when it comes to film projects returning to the region.
While Waggenspack understands the confusion and frustration of many within the state who have been left wondering what exactly happened to Hollywood South, he pushes patience with the process. “It’s a consortium. It’s a long process of going out there as a large group and showcasing what the state can offer,” he emphasized. Waggenspack also acknowledges that Louisiana will have to compete and adapt to changing technologies within the film industry.
“We’re looking into what’s happening, the technologies that are changing, and really where we’re going to be heading. People will be looking at CGI and AI on a regular basis. People may get sick of that and want to go back to human realism and more reality. Who knows?” he added.