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Saturday, June 11, 2011

The Louisiana Film Tax Credit

By George Harris


While Louisiana may give a seemingly good deal in its -30% transferable incentive for total and state expenses related to the production of a film, there exist some major disadvantages in shooting there as compared to other states.

While tax incentives induce economic advantages to that particular state, secondary economic benefits also take place. One example is movie induced tourism or FIT. However, Louisiana hosts hundreds of films, all of which haven't increased or even experienced film induced tourism.

A number of other states in close proximity have both tax incentives and also have been observing film induced tourism for the past decade such as Georgia and North Carolina. Though seemingly perfect for a production that has a non-urban or suburban setting, Louisiana is incredibly identifiable and does not have that "Anywhere, USA" adaptability that other cities say Atlanta or Wilmington have. In contrast to Louisiana, North Carolina has shorelines that are comparable to that of California, minus the steep Hollywood production cost. Additionally, travel in and out of Louisiana, particularly New Orleans, just isn't a piece of cake, especially since Hurricane Katrina's devastation and the resulting infrastructural failures. Once more, Atlanta provides a really practical substitute for Louisiana, as Atlanta hosts the busiest airport in the country and provides very adaptable travel arrangements that any production officer could require. And also, EUE/ Screen Gems, a renowned movie and tv production company, are conveniently located six miles from Atlanta's Hartsfield- Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Louisiana has been hit hard by the recent economic depression as well as disasters, forcing numerous residents to move elsewhere. The output of the work force has proved to be unfavorable to the movie industry as many employees are now earning a living for other companies not based in Louisiana. With no convenient airport close by and a labor force that's been decreasing within the past few years, the movie industry in Louisiana isn't what it was in the past. Although major movies have been shot there, they're mostly computer animated and tv shows are leaning more towards the production sites in North Carolina and Georgia. Actually, EUE/ Screen Gems is now home to more than nine television programs this year, including a 9th Season of "One Tree Hill" that is presently being shot in Wilmington, North Carolina.

It is very essential to offer a functional location for shooting when selecting production studios to work with. As mentioned earlier, although Louisiana may offer cost-effective alternatives through extensive tax incentives, it does not offer a convenient urban location for filming. While New Orleans is definitely an enjoyable area rich in culture, it's distinctive and identifiable, and truly cannot be used when searching for a "generic city" type feel. Consequently, if a film or television show needs urban scenes, chances are that they'll have to go to a close convenient city, raising production costs with transportation fees for stars, staff, and crew. This hassle looks avoidable when EUE/Screen Gems production studios in Wilmington, North Carolina and Atlanta, Georgia have the 2 biggest stages eastern side of California.




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