Production in Hollywood South has slowed down as the writers union prepares for negotiations on a new contract with the studios. Fears of a possible strike have resulted in many projects put on hold.
According to the Louisiana Entertainment website there is currently just one project in production.
It is "Five Nights at Freddy's (aka Bad Cupcake)." That's a feature film shooting through April in New Orleans.
Normally there's a much longer list of TV shows and movies in production in the state.
Talks begin next week between the Alliance of Motion Pictures and Television Producers and the Writers Guild of America, and the looming negotiations seem to be affecting production. Carroll Morton, director of Film New Orleans in the Mayor's Office of Cultural Economy, says it's not just Hollywood South.
"There has been a slowdown, but there has also been a national/international slowdown," said Morton.
And a strike would halt production almost entirely. Morton says some studios might shoot a movie if they're confident in the finished script, but for series, it's different.
"Often the final episodes aren't even written when they start filming," she said.
There hasn't been a writers strike since 2008. Back then, the sticking point was how to share profits from DVD sales. Now no one buys DVDs anymore, and figuring out how to pay residuals for streaming could be the stumbling block.
The WGA contract expires May 1.
