Jindal backs B.R.'s bid to be film 'production center,' as negotiations break down

Published Aug 24, 2012 at 3:00 pm (Updated Aug 24, 2012)

In a letter dated Thursday, Gov. Bobby Jindal urges the IATSE—the largest entertainment industry union—and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers to designate Baton Rouge a "production center." The designation would make it cheaper to film in Baton Rouge and, possibly, make the capital city's film business more competitive with New Orleans and other production centers around the country. (You can get a rundown of the issues at hand in more detail from a story in the new issue of Business Report here.) IATSE and AMPTP this week have been negotiating a new three-year contract, and AMPTP has proposed adding Baton Rouge to the roster of 36 production centers nationwide. However, negotiations have broken down, and it is unclear as of this afternoon when the two sides might meet again. "Baton Rouge has been the location for many feature films and television series," Jindal's letter reads in part. "As a result, the city has a deeper skilled crew base with considerably more film activity than some existing production centers in other states. … Accordingly, we urge you to designate Baton Rouge as a production center, which would help our state continue to cultivate and sustain its thriving film and TV production industry." —David Jacobs