Saturday, 11 June 2011

Learn More About The Louisiana Film Tax Credit

By George Harris


While Louisiana may offer a seemingly good deal in its -30% transferable incentive for total and state expenditures related to producing a motion picture, there can be found a few significant disadvantages in filming there compared to other states.

While tax incentives induce economic advantages to that particular state, secondary economic benefits also take place. An example is film induced tourism or FIT. Nevertheless, Louisiana hosts hundreds of films, which have not increased or even experienced film induced tourism.

A number of other states in close proximity have both tax incentives and have been witnessing movie induced tourism for the past decade like Georgia and North Carolina. Although relatively ideal for a production with a rural or suburban setting, Louisiana is very well-known and does not have that "Anywhere, USA" adaptability that other cities say Atlanta or Wilmington have. Unlike Louisiana, North Carolina has beach locations that are comparable to that of California, minus the high Hollywood production cost. Moreover, travel in and out of Louisiana, specifically New Orleans, is not very easy, especially since Hurricane Katrina's devastation and the resulting infrastructural failures. Once more, Atlanta gives a really practical substitute for Louisiana, as Atlanta hosts the busiest airport in the country and also offers very flexible travel arrangements that any production officer could require. Plus, EUE/ Screen Gems, a well-known film and tv production company, are conveniently located six miles from Atlanta's Hartsfield- Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Louisiana has been struck really hard by the latest economic depression as well as natural disasters, forcing a number of locals to relocate somewhere else. The outflow of the labor force has proved to be damaging to the film industry as many laborers are now earning a living for other companies not located in Louisiana. Without a convenient airport nearby and a labor force that has been reducing within the last couple of years, the movie industry in Louisiana isn't what it used to be. Even though big movies have been filmed there, they're mostly computer animated and television shows are leaning more towards the production sites in North Carolina and Georgia. In fact, EUE/ Screen Gems is now home to over 9 tv programs this year, including a 9th Season of "One Tree Hill" which is currently being shot in Wilmington, North Carolina.

It is very essential to offer a versatile location for filming when choosing production studios to work with. As mentioned earlier, although Louisiana may provide cost-effective options through extensive tax incentives, it doesn't provide a convenient city location for filming. While New Orleans is definitely an exciting place full of culture, it's unique and recognizable, and really can't be used when searching for a "generic city" type feel. For that reason, if a film or television show needs urban scenes, it is likely that they'll have to travel to a close convenient city, raising production expenses with transportation expenses for stars, staff, as well as 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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