The Baton Rouge Film Commission has launched a new website and unveiled a new logo as part of a rebranding of the group. Liza Kelso, the commission's assistant director, says the new website reflects the lessons learned by the commission since it was formed in 2007 by Mayor Kip Holden to be a liaison between the city-parish and the film industry. "Basically, we've gathered everything that filmmakers have asked of us over the years and have put it all together on the new site," she says. "It's about making that connection between the production and the business community as easy as possible." The new site has information on permitting, production essentials and the state's film tax credits as well as a production guide. It also supplies pertinent information for those who want to find work in the film industry or make movies, says Kelso. Local businesses that are interested in serving the film industry are encouraged to sign up to be included in the site's production directory. You...
A bill that might have scaled back Louisiana's film production incentive program was tabled Wednesday, making it less likely that major changes will be made before the session ends next Thursday. "I don't think that you can get comfortable with anything until sine die," says Will French, president of the Louisiana Film & Entertainment Association, referring to adjournment. "Anything can happen, even at the last minute." Still, industry backers say they're finding traction with their argument that cuts to the film program won't produce immediate savings to fill the current budget hole, so there's no reason to rush through making changes that might harm the industry. Senate Resolution 132 establishes the Entertainment Industry Development Advisory Commission to review incentives for film, music, digital media and live performances before making policy recommendations by Feb. 1, 2015. Patrick Mulhearn, director of studio operations at Raleigh Studios Baton Rouge at the Celtic...
Celebrities and state politicians walked the red carpet Tuesday night for the Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association's Laissez Louisiana Film Rouler event at the Celtic Media Centre. While the affair brought a Hollywood vibe to Baton Rouge, its purpose was simple: to show support for Louisiana's film industry tax incentives. Currently, a bill approved by the House would reduce the tax credits for nonresident workers hired from 30% to 20%, while the credit for resident workers would remain at 35%. The event was dubbed Scott Niemeyer's "baby." Niemeyer is the chief financial officer of Gold Circle Films, the production company behind Pitch Perfect and the upcoming Search Party, both of which were filmed in Baton Rouge. "The Legislature has a big job cut out for them to balance the budget," he says. "We recognize that's not an easy task. We also want to mention the significance of our industry—the 15,000-plus jobs, the billions of dollars of in-state spending.
Construction on a $28 million movie production complex in New Orleans is slated to begin this fall, following approval Tuesday of a property tax break for Starlight Studios by the New Orleans Industrial Development Board. The project, to be built on a 32-acre vacant plot of land across from the Michoud Assembly Facility, is projected to include four soundstages with 96,000 square feet of space and a 30,000-square-foot office building. The Times-Picayune reports the industrial development board has agreed to assume title to the property for 10 years, during which time it will lease the land back to the Starlight developers in exchange for an annual PILOT, or payment in lieu of taxes. Starlight's first payment to the board in 2014 will be based on the current tax rate and the assessed value of the vacant property, which is approximately $10,000. Subsequent payments will be based on the projected value of the property upon the project's completion, determined to be $444,000. The...
Actors, actresses and politicians—including former Gov. Edwin Edwards and his wife, Trina—will be among those attending a private event in Baton Rouge tonight to promote the positive effect the film industry has in the state. And while the event was originally organized by the Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association to rally, at least in part, against a budget proposal that would have seen the film industry's tax credit cut by 15%, the shelving of that plan means there will be more fun and less politics tonight. Nonetheless, LFEA President Will French says the deal reached Monday in the House—which would result in a much smaller cut to the film tax credit—could still reduce Louisiana's competitiveness in relation to other states vying for film business via tax credits. "The question is, what exactly will it mean for us? Are we going to lose a little business, maybe a movie or two a year, or are we going to start to lose dozens of films, or worse?" French...
Filming of the History Channel's Bonnie & Clyde in downtown on Monday will force some road closures in the area and will include "loud simulated gunfire," city officials announced today. Filming is scheduled to take place between noon and midnight along Third Street, between its intersections with Laurel and Convention streets. During filming, police will be stopping traffic intermittently while the cameras are rolling to ensure no modern cars slip into the frame of the period feature. Along with partial street closures, parking will also be restricted on portions of Third, Laurel, Florida and Convention streets. The four-hour mini-series, distributed by Sony Entertainment, is being directed by Bruce Beresford and is based on the true story of legendary bank robber, Clyde Barrow. The cast includes Emile Hirsch, William Hurt, Holly Hunter and Holliday Grainger.
Filming of Jurassic Park 4 has been delayed, the studio confirmed to trade publications on Wednesday. While Universal Pictures has not said so publicly, it has been widely believed that much of the film would be shot in Baton Rouge. Universal reserved stage space at Raleigh Studios Baton Rouge at the Celtic Media Centre, and had been working toward a June 2014 release. Patrick Mulhearn, director of Studio Operations at Raleigh Studios, tells Daily Report he has not received any official word from Universal, but says their production office and construction mill on the lot have been told to shut down and pack up. "It wouldn't surprise me one bit if they were at least somewhat spooked by what the Louisiana House of Representatives is proposing," Mulhearn says in an email, referring to possible cutbacks to the state's film incentives. "For Baton Rouge and the studio, it is devastating to lose a huge production that was just in its infancy. I think there is still hope that...
A new audit says Louisiana shelled out $800 million over the last five years in tax breaks for the film industry. And the review released today by the Legislative Auditor's Office suggests the state's coffers get little in return for the expense. For example, the audit says the state spent $197 million tax credits for production projects in 2010—and received $27 million in tax revenue. Supporters of the program say the industry has created thousands of new jobs. Critics question whether Louisiana gets enough return on its investment. LED says a recent analysis estimated that every $1 issued in film tax breaks generates $5.71 in economic output. But the state also loses at least 85 cents in tax revenue for every $1 it spends. The process for granting credits could be strengthened if LED had some authority in selecting the certified public accountant used by the production companies to audit its cost reports, the audit states, adding that LED also did not collect all the required...
State Rep. Ted James, D-Baton Rouge, filed a bill for this session that would have slashed the value of the state's film incentives in half, made the credits non-transferable, and ended the state's buyback program for the credits. While James says he's not going to pull his bill, he plans to make changes to soften the impact it would have on the industry. He says he has learned the importance of credit transferability in funding small productions. He also says he has met with representatives of local people who work in the business behind the scenes. "I didn't want to do anything to hurt those guys," James says. "I still think we spend too much on the program." He says he'll continue to meet with industry representatives to find an appropriate way to tweak the program, and he hopes legislators will find ways to limit the budget damage from the state's myriad other tax breaks and incentives. "I don't think that the will of the Legislature is there to really take an honest look at our...
NASA has been renting out empty space at its Michoud Assembly Center in New Orleans for film productions. Patrick Mulhearn, director of studio operations at Raleigh Studios Baton Rouge, says the arrangement allows for unfair competition with facilities like his. Earlier this month, Mulhearn visited Washington, D.C., to participate in what he describes as a roundtable on government competition with the private sector, hosted by conservative Florida Congressman John Mica. "I think it's kind of a support group of people who feel like they've been wronged by the federal government," he says. "They felt like we could kind of be a poster child for unfair government competition." Congressman Bill Cassidy's office is looking into Mulhearn's concerns, as is NASA's inspector general. Mulhearn cites a policy directive that states: "NASA shall not compete with private sector sources in the provision of goods and services. NASA facilities and services may be made available under this policy only...
Oblivion hits movie theaters this weekend. The film stars Tom Cruise as the hero amongst an apocalyptic Earth, searching for clues and reminders of what once was for research as a part of a newly established colony in space. Oblivion "goes to 11" over the course of its running time, thanks to the special effects and thrills from director Joseph Kosinski, who helmed Tron: Legacy. This new film was largely shot at Celtic Media Centre and could signal another hit for Cruise and the Baton Rouge area. After production, Jeff Roedel caught up with Oblivion producer Duncan Henderson to get some insight on the sci-fi epic. Read the entire article from this month's issue of 225here.
Still jazzed after parading the Park City, Utah, streets—literally—during Sundance, organizers of the Louisiana International Film Festival are gearing up for the April 18-21 inaugural launch.
Was his shirtless scene in the movie indulgent? Perhaps. I mean, we get it Ben, you're still in good shape. But with Argo taking home statues for Best Screenplay, Best Editing and Best Picture at an awards ceremony with more parity among nominees than any in recent memory, Affleck the Director's career is, now more than ever, in great shape, too. Despite the bizarre Oscar snub in the director's category—Affleck wasn't even nominated—he can do pretty much whatever he wants behind the camera from here on out. And, apologies to those waiting for Armageddon 2: Here Comes Another One, but I think we'll see a lot less of the star on screen in favor of more directing projects in the near future.
It's easy to look at Side Effects and consider the film to be “small.” That's what many said about Soderbergh's first feature sex, lies and videotape, too, in 1989, and look how that turned out. That Baton Rouge-set film won Cannes and launched the modern indie film movement in America. So now, at the age of 50, and with just one more film on the way—HBO's Liberace biopic Behind the Candelabra—the lauded director and former Baton Rougean who has made lavish epics like Traffic, Ocean's Eleven and Contagion is retiring as a filmmaker to focus on painting, photography and whatever else a wealthy Oscar winner wants to do.
The second half of 2012 was pretty slow for the film business, in Baton Rouge and elsewhere. But now pilot season is upon us, and Patrick Mulhearn, director of studio operations at Raleigh Studios Baton Rouge, says his phone is ringing off the hook. "If even a fraction of these films and TV pilots land here," Mulhearn says, "2013 will blow the doors off every previous year in Baton Rouge." Liza Kelso, assistant director with the Baton Rouge Film Commission, agrees that the buzz is picking up, although the commission doesn't have any solid information to release yet. "It is exciting," she says. "We've got a lot of stuff hovering, hopefully making a landing soon. We cannot wait." Louisiana's film business is heavily subsidized by state tax incentives, and the industry will watch the next legislative session closely to see whether tax reform...
In the latest debate on hydraulic fracturing, the Obama administration scrapped a 2012 plan to impose tough new mandates governing the use of the drilling technique on public lands. Earlier this month, LOGA President Don Briggs found himself battling Hollywood, not regulators, over the way the Matt Damon movie Promised Land, directed by Gus Van Sant, portrays fracking. "It's dangerous to the industry because it's not factual," Briggs says. Though officials with the Louisiana Environmental Action Network say they did not see the movie, they're concerned about fracking not only in Pennsylvania—where the film is set—but also along the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale, closer to home. "You need sufficient regulatory requirements on the...
Effective Feb. 15, Donna Reichman will step down as executive director of the Baton Rouge Film Commission. Reichman, who took over the lead position at the film commission in the fall of 2011 following the departure of Amy Mitchell-Smith, announced her own exit in an email to colleagues, co-workers and friends. "It is with mixed emotions that I depart as I have thoroughly enjoyed working with each of you," she writes. Reichman also says in the email: "It is my intention to continue to contribute to filmmaking in Baton Rouge," but she does not elaborate on how she might do so. Calls to Reichman for additional comment on her plans after she steps down were not returned before press time. No further details on how the film commission will proceed with finding a new executive director have been released, and Reichman does not discuss a search in her email. —Steve Sanoski
When I was a teenager, prom night culminated in a tradition called “Grand March,” where high school juniors and seniors would strut down a catwalk under the watchful eyes and the “oohs” and “ahs” of the entire town—posing occasionally for our turn in the spotlight, or in this case, the many flashing lights from elated parents wielding disposable cameras.
Is this it? The first of the last? The initial trailer for Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh's (allegedly) final feature film, a prescription drugs drama called Side Effects. In case you've missed the former Baton Rougean's last half dozen interviews or so, the 49-year-old workhorse filmmaker is calling it quits to paint and travel and do whatever it is artists do when they retire long before most in their line of work even consider it. Sure the Traffic, Ocean's Eleven director has wracked up 35 directing credits and 33 producing gigs since shocking the world at age 26 with the Cannes-winning, Baton Rouge-set sex, lies and videotape, but it is still hard to believe that Soderbergh is hanging up his camera while, in all likelihood, he still has another decade “in his prime.”
The year is 1982; the place is Baton Rouge. An undercover police officer nabs the biggest criminal of his career and turns him into an informant in an effort to close several unsolved cases.
The state's generous tax credits for filmmakers may have brought in plenty of productions and jobs, but they also unleashed some destructive, terrifying and often ridiculous monsters on our cities and defenseless masses. Kudos to SyFy and Louisiana-based Active Entertainment for often forgoing Louisiana as stand-in-for and instead setting the campy terror right here in the Pelican State.
TIFF, The Toronto International Film Festival, that great arbiter of awards-contender dramas, ponderous art films and headline-grabbing documentaries, has come and gone, and there's been a fairly significant surprise in the Audience Award Category. Silver Linings Playbook, adapted from Matthew Quick's heart-rending mental illness novel by director David O. Russell who had a career renaissance in 2010 with Oscar-winner The Fighter, was the clear fan favorite in Canada last week.
NASA's deal with a New Orleans film studio does not undercut other Louisiana studios, says Robert Champion, deputy director of NASA's Michoud Assembly Center in New Orleans. Big Easy Studios has been renting space at Michoud, which a Baton Rouge studio head says is unfair to studios that built and own their facilities and have higher overhead. Champion says NASA works with state and regional economic development agencies to ensure that the rates the agency charges to outside entities do not underprice the regional market. Jerry Lathan, a partner with Big Easy Studios, says it chases major productions that aren't even considering Louisiana otherwise, and therefore does not compete directly with facilities such as Raleigh Studios Baton Rouge at the Celtic Media Centre. Lathan says Big Easy's ability to attract large productions benefits the entire state. "On a per-square-foot basis, our prices are higher," Lathan says. Patrick Mulhearn, director of studio operations at Celtic, which...
Digital Post Services of Hollywood, a movie post-production company that previously had a small office in Lafayette, is relocating to the Celtic Media Centre in Baton Rouge this month. DPS of Louisiana, as the company is known in the state, will occupy nearly 2,700 square feet in the studio's Cypress Building, and will hire a still undetermined number of local employees to do the post-production work that goes into making a movie: editing, mixing and special effects. The move is significant because one of the shortcomings of the local film industry is its lack of post-production companies and facilities. "This is one of the missing pieces of the puzzle," says Patrick Mulhearn, director of studio operations at Raleigh Studios in the Celtic Media Centre. "It's a really impressive operation, and to have a company like this offering a soup-to-nuts approach to production is a very positive development for us." DPS will be occupying the space previously used in the production of...
On first glance, the makeshift shelter for nearly 500 Red Cross volunteers might appear to be a scene from a movie. But in a case of life imitating art, one of the cavernous sound stages at Celtic Media Centre—the sound stage where scenes from Twilight and Battleship were filmed—is housing volunteers from around the country who are helping south Louisiana clean up from Hurricane Isaac. "We made an agreement with the Red Cross a while back that the film industry would help out if needed in an emergency," says Patrick Mulhearn, director of studio operations at Raleigh Studios Baton Rouge, which is based in the center. "Well, this is an emergency." Because the studio is equipped with such things as mobile kitchens, generators and portable lights, it makes an ideal shelter for the volunteers, who are fanning out to Ascension, Livingston and St. John the Baptist parishes, as well as other areas flooded during last week's hurricane. For the next two weeks or so,...
Baton Rouge will not be designated a film "production center" in the next three-year agreement between the IATSE, the biggest entertainment industry union, and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, according to Patrick Mulhearn, a local studio head who has been following the negotiations closely. The designation, supporters say, would have made it cheaper to film in Baton Rouge, and might have made the capital city more competitive with New Orleans and other production centers around the country. In an email, Mulhearn says the decision "cost Baton Rouge an untold number of productions, hundreds if not thousands of jobs, and millions of dollars in sales tax revenue," adding, "I guess we will try again in 2015." To read a recent Business Report story about this issue, click here. —David Jacobs
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 Reporthere.) 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...
Negotiations happening today in Los Angeles between the largest union for entertainment industry workers, the IATSE, and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers could affect the health of the Baton Rouge-based movie business for the next three years. Currently, Baton Rouge, unlike New Orleans and Shreveport, is not considered a "production center" by the industry, which makes it more expensive to shoot here than in cities with the designation. The AMPTP, according to sources, wants Baton Rouge to have that designation, but the Louisiana members of the IATSE, most of whom live in New Orleans, oppose the move (for a full explanation of the issue, read a story in the new issue of Business Reporthere). The two sides returned to the negotiating table this week to work out a union contract for the next three years, and Patrick Mulhearn, director of studio operations...
Patrick Mulhearn, director of studio operations at Raleigh Studios Baton Rouge, says there's not a single place in Louisiana, or even the Gulf South, that can come close to matching the 150,000 total square feet of stage space that he can offer. Except one: NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility.
Raleigh Studios Baton Rouge has 150,000 square feet of design-built stage space at the Celtic Media Centre, in the capital city of a state with one of the most generous film incentive programs in North America. But no one's shooting there right now.
A new report in Forbes says Louisiana has recently shown unprecedented growth in new film production, more so than anywhere else in the nation, putting the Southern state in competition with states that have long been dominating the film industry, such as California and New York. Boasting one of the most aggressive motion picture tax credit programs in the country, the state has wooed new film production into the state and steered the consistently increasing surge of the film industry, creating an economic impact on both local and national levels. "What we're seeing is an entire industry that is on the move," says William French, president of entertainment finance company Film Production Capital in New Orleans. Further explaining that the lower cost of living outside of the Hollywood area has been an important factor in a struggling economy, he adds, "The decentralization is fueled by massive technological improvements, which allow for films to be shot, edited, scored,...
Since they're not building booster rockets there at the moment, NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans has opened its doors to film producers, says Patrick Mulhearn, director of studio operations at Raleigh Studios Baton Rouge. He says the cavernous facility is the only place in the state that can compete with the 150,000 square feet of stage space at Raleigh, which is housed at the Celtic Media Centre. "Some large projects have based out of there," Mulhearn says. "It is tough for us to compete with them. The unlimited resources of the federal government make their operating costs very low. I've been told they've been able to undercut us and other stages in Louisiana that are private sector and purpose-built [for film]." He mentions Invertigo, a big-budget sci-fi flick that he says could have been a perfect fit for Raleigh but is filming at Michoud instead. Big Easy Studios rents out space at Michoud, he says. Big Easy Studios and NASA did not respond to calls seeking...
The Louisiana Budget Project, a left-leaning advocacy group, says in a paper released today that the state should make the film business tax credit incentives less generous over time. "People are getting rich on this deal, and it isn't Louisiana taxpayers," says Budget Project Director Jan Moller. "Louisiana needs to limit the cost to taxpayers without pulling the rug out from under the industry." The program cost $231 million in the just-ended fiscal year and more than $1 billion in the decade since the program was expanded in 2002, LBP says. The group offers multiple recommendations for "reining in the uncontrolled growth of this program, while still giving filmmakers an incentive to choose Louisiana." Suggestions include lowering the value of the tax credits over a number of years, capping the total amount of tax credits that can be claimed in a fiscal...
Zachary Godshall gained notoriety early this year when he brought his film, Lord Byron, to the Sundance Film Festival. Now, he's back in Baton Rouge, dreaming up his next big project and continuing a screenwriting residency at LSU. 225 caught up with Godshall to find out where he's taking his filmmaking talents next.
With our state facing another budget shortfall, a panel of legislators will set to work this month reviewing each of Louisiana’s tax incentive programs. Currently, more than 400 credits and exemptions are available, some dating back decades.
It's been a big week for Tom Cruise. The first trailer for Jack Reacher landed online, he was named Hollywood's most profitable actor, he turned 50, and to top it off, he was served with surprise divorce papers from wife Katie Holmes. Where does he find the time?
With initial reviews of Aaron Sorkin's HBO series Newsroom coming in mixed at best, another Oscar winner's name has popped up this week as a potential high-profile show runner for the premium cable channel: Former Baton Rougean Steven Soderbergh.
Audience members mingled in the lobby, buying snacks and wine. They checked their tickets, filed into the intimate Manship Theatre and silenced their cell phones.
Veteran directors like to warn upstart filmmakers of three things that can quickly derail a movie production: Shooting on water, casting very young actors and working with animals.
B.R. Film Commission launches rebrand
The Baton Rouge Film Commission has launched a new website and unveiled a new logo as part of a rebranding of the group. Liza Kelso, the commission's assistant director, says the new website reflects the lessons learned by the commission since it was formed in 2007 by Mayor Kip Holden to be a liaison between the city-parish and the film industry. "Basically, we've gathered everything that filmmakers have asked of us over the years and have put it all together on the new site," she says. "It's about making that connection between the production and the business community as easy as possible." The new site has information on permitting, production essentials and the state's film tax credits as well as a production guide. It also supplies pertinent information for those who want to find work in the film industry or make movies, says Kelso. Local businesses that are interested in serving the film industry are encouraged to sign up to be included in the site's production directory. You...
Louisiana film incentive backers not relaxing yet
A bill that might have scaled back Louisiana's film production incentive program was tabled Wednesday, making it less likely that major changes will be made before the session ends next Thursday. "I don't think that you can get comfortable with anything until sine die," says Will French, president of the Louisiana Film & Entertainment Association, referring to adjournment. "Anything can happen, even at the last minute." Still, industry backers say they're finding traction with their argument that cuts to the film program won't produce immediate savings to fill the current budget hole, so there's no reason to rush through making changes that might harm the industry. Senate Resolution 132 establishes the Entertainment Industry Development Advisory Commission to review incentives for film, music, digital media and live performances before making policy recommendations by Feb. 1, 2015. Patrick Mulhearn, director of studio operations at Raleigh Studios Baton Rouge at the Celtic...
Hollywood and local celebrities team up to promote tax incentives
Celebrities and state politicians walked the red carpet Tuesday night for the Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association's Laissez Louisiana Film Rouler event at the Celtic Media Centre. While the affair brought a Hollywood vibe to Baton Rouge, its purpose was simple: to show support for Louisiana's film industry tax incentives. Currently, a bill approved by the House would reduce the tax credits for nonresident workers hired from 30% to 20%, while the credit for resident workers would remain at 35%. The event was dubbed Scott Niemeyer's "baby." Niemeyer is the chief financial officer of Gold Circle Films, the production company behind Pitch Perfect and the upcoming Search Party, both of which were filmed in Baton Rouge. "The Legislature has a big job cut out for them to balance the budget," he says. "We recognize that's not an easy task. We also want to mention the significance of our industry—the 15,000-plus jobs, the billions of dollars of in-state spending.
With tax break OK'd, New Orleans set to get $28M movie studio
Construction on a $28 million movie production complex in New Orleans is slated to begin this fall, following approval Tuesday of a property tax break for Starlight Studios by the New Orleans Industrial Development Board. The project, to be built on a 32-acre vacant plot of land across from the Michoud Assembly Facility, is projected to include four soundstages with 96,000 square feet of space and a 30,000-square-foot office building. The Times-Picayune reports the industrial development board has agreed to assume title to the property for 10 years, during which time it will lease the land back to the Starlight developers in exchange for an annual PILOT, or payment in lieu of taxes. Starlight's first payment to the board in 2014 will be based on the current tax rate and the assessed value of the vacant property, which is approximately $10,000. Subsequent payments will be based on the projected value of the property upon the project's completion, determined to be $444,000. The...
LFEA president: Industry can survive latest proposed cut to film tax credit
Actors, actresses and politicians—including former Gov. Edwin Edwards and his wife, Trina—will be among those attending a private event in Baton Rouge tonight to promote the positive effect the film industry has in the state. And while the event was originally organized by the Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association to rally, at least in part, against a budget proposal that would have seen the film industry's tax credit cut by 15%, the shelving of that plan means there will be more fun and less politics tonight. Nonetheless, LFEA President Will French says the deal reached Monday in the House—which would result in a much smaller cut to the film tax credit—could still reduce Louisiana's competitiveness in relation to other states vying for film business via tax credits. "The question is, what exactly will it mean for us? Are we going to lose a little business, maybe a movie or two a year, or are we going to start to lose dozens of films, or worse?" French...
'Bonnie & Clyde' filming to close downtown streets Monday
Filming of the History Channel's Bonnie & Clyde in downtown on Monday will force some road closures in the area and will include "loud simulated gunfire," city officials announced today. Filming is scheduled to take place between noon and midnight along Third Street, between its intersections with Laurel and Convention streets. During filming, police will be stopping traffic intermittently while the cameras are rolling to ensure no modern cars slip into the frame of the period feature. Along with partial street closures, parking will also be restricted on portions of Third, Laurel, Florida and Convention streets. The four-hour mini-series, distributed by Sony Entertainment, is being directed by Bruce Beresford and is based on the true story of legendary bank robber, Clyde Barrow. The cast includes Emile Hirsch, William Hurt, Holly Hunter and Holliday Grainger.
'Jurassic Park 4' shoot in doubt
Filming of Jurassic Park 4 has been delayed, the studio confirmed to trade publications on Wednesday. While Universal Pictures has not said so publicly, it has been widely believed that much of the film would be shot in Baton Rouge. Universal reserved stage space at Raleigh Studios Baton Rouge at the Celtic Media Centre, and had been working toward a June 2014 release. Patrick Mulhearn, director of Studio Operations at Raleigh Studios, tells Daily Report he has not received any official word from Universal, but says their production office and construction mill on the lot have been told to shut down and pack up. "It wouldn't surprise me one bit if they were at least somewhat spooked by what the Louisiana House of Representatives is proposing," Mulhearn says in an email, referring to possible cutbacks to the state's film incentives. "For Baton Rouge and the studio, it is devastating to lose a huge production that was just in its infancy. I think there is still hope that...
La. spent $800M on film tax credits over 5 years
A new audit says Louisiana shelled out $800 million over the last five years in tax breaks for the film industry. And the review released today by the Legislative Auditor's Office suggests the state's coffers get little in return for the expense. For example, the audit says the state spent $197 million tax credits for production projects in 2010—and received $27 million in tax revenue. Supporters of the program say the industry has created thousands of new jobs. Critics question whether Louisiana gets enough return on its investment. LED says a recent analysis estimated that every $1 issued in film tax breaks generates $5.71 in economic output. But the state also loses at least 85 cents in tax revenue for every $1 it spends. The process for granting credits could be strengthened if LED had some authority in selecting the certified public accountant used by the production companies to audit its cost reports, the audit states, adding that LED also did not collect all the required...
B.R. representative plans to scale back movie credit bill
State Rep. Ted James, D-Baton Rouge, filed a bill for this session that would have slashed the value of the state's film incentives in half, made the credits non-transferable, and ended the state's buyback program for the credits. While James says he's not going to pull his bill, he plans to make changes to soften the impact it would have on the industry. He says he has learned the importance of credit transferability in funding small productions. He also says he has met with representatives of local people who work in the business behind the scenes. "I didn't want to do anything to hurt those guys," James says. "I still think we spend too much on the program." He says he'll continue to meet with industry representatives to find an appropriate way to tweak the program, and he hopes legislators will find ways to limit the budget damage from the state's myriad other tax breaks and incentives. "I don't think that the will of the Legislature is there to really take an honest look at our...
Local studio head in tiff with NASA
NASA has been renting out empty space at its Michoud Assembly Center in New Orleans for film productions. Patrick Mulhearn, director of studio operations at Raleigh Studios Baton Rouge, says the arrangement allows for unfair competition with facilities like his. Earlier this month, Mulhearn visited Washington, D.C., to participate in what he describes as a roundtable on government competition with the private sector, hosted by conservative Florida Congressman John Mica. "I think it's kind of a support group of people who feel like they've been wronged by the federal government," he says. "They felt like we could kind of be a poster child for unfair government competition." Congressman Bill Cassidy's office is looking into Mulhearn's concerns, as is NASA's inspector general. Mulhearn cites a policy directive that states: "NASA shall not compete with private sector sources in the provision of goods and services. NASA facilities and services may be made available under this policy only...
'225': On the set with Duncan Henderson
Oblivion hits movie theaters this weekend. The film stars Tom Cruise as the hero amongst an apocalyptic Earth, searching for clues and reminders of what once was for research as a part of a newly established colony in space. Oblivion "goes to 11" over the course of its running time, thanks to the special effects and thrills from director Joseph Kosinski, who helmed Tron: Legacy. This new film was largely shot at Celtic Media Centre and could signal another hit for Cruise and the Baton Rouge area. After production, Jeff Roedel caught up with Oblivion producer Duncan Henderson to get some insight on the sci-fi epic. Read the entire article from this month's issue of 225 here.
Promoting home
Baton Rouge couldn't hold Andre Champagne, who graduated from LSU in 2002 and set off for Los Angeles and a career in the movie business.
Screen test
Still jazzed after parading the Park City, Utah, streets—literally—during Sundance, organizers of the Louisiana International Film Festival are gearing up for the April 18-21 inaugural launch.
On the set
Duncan Henderson, producer of Tom Cruise's new film Oblivion, shared some insights with us on the sci-fi epic, which was largely shot in Baton Rouge.
The Second life of Ben Affleck
Was his shirtless scene in the movie indulgent? Perhaps. I mean, we get it Ben, you're still in good shape. But with Argo taking home statues for Best Screenplay, Best Editing and Best Picture at an awards ceremony with more parity among nominees than any in recent memory, Affleck the Director's career is, now more than ever, in great shape, too. Despite the bizarre Oscar snub in the director's category—Affleck wasn't even nominated—he can do pretty much whatever he wants behind the camera from here on out. And, apologies to those waiting for Armageddon 2: Here Comes Another One, but I think we'll see a lot less of the star on screen in favor of more directing projects in the near future.
Special Effects
It's easy to look at Side Effects and consider the film to be “small.” That's what many said about Soderbergh's first feature sex, lies and videotape, too, in 1989, and look how that turned out. That Baton Rouge-set film won Cannes and launched the modern indie film movement in America. So now, at the age of 50, and with just one more film on the way—HBO's Liberace biopic Behind the Candelabra—the lauded director and former Baton Rougean who has made lavish epics like Traffic, Ocean's Eleven and Contagion is retiring as a filmmaker to focus on painting, photography and whatever else a wealthy Oscar winner wants to do.
Buzz building for B.R. film biz
The second half of 2012 was pretty slow for the film business, in Baton Rouge and elsewhere. But now pilot season is upon us, and Patrick Mulhearn, director of studio operations at Raleigh Studios Baton Rouge, says his phone is ringing off the hook. "If even a fraction of these films and TV pilots land here," Mulhearn says, "2013 will blow the doors off every previous year in Baton Rouge." Liza Kelso, assistant director with the Baton Rouge Film Commission, agrees that the buzz is picking up, although the commission doesn't have any solid information to release yet. "It is exciting," she says. "We've got a lot of stuff hovering, hopefully making a landing soon. We cannot wait." Louisiana's film business is heavily subsidized by state tax incentives, and the industry will watch the next legislative session closely to see whether tax reform...
LEAN says fracking regulations won't hurt industry
In the latest debate on hydraulic fracturing, the Obama administration scrapped a 2012 plan to impose tough new mandates governing the use of the drilling technique on public lands. Earlier this month, LOGA President Don Briggs found himself battling Hollywood, not regulators, over the way the Matt Damon movie Promised Land, directed by Gus Van Sant, portrays fracking. "It's dangerous to the industry because it's not factual," Briggs says. Though officials with the Louisiana Environmental Action Network say they did not see the movie, they're concerned about fracking not only in Pennsylvania—where the film is set—but also along the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale, closer to home. "You need sufficient regulatory requirements on the...
B.R. Film Commission executive director leaving
Effective Feb. 15, Donna Reichman will step down as executive director of the Baton Rouge Film Commission. Reichman, who took over the lead position at the film commission in the fall of 2011 following the departure of Amy Mitchell-Smith, announced her own exit in an email to colleagues, co-workers and friends. "It is with mixed emotions that I depart as I have thoroughly enjoyed working with each of you," she writes. Reichman also says in the email: "It is my intention to continue to contribute to filmmaking in Baton Rouge," but she does not elaborate on how she might do so. Calls to Reichman for additional comment on her plans after she steps down were not returned before press time. No further details on how the film commission will proceed with finding a new executive director have been released, and Reichman does not discuss a search in her email. —Steve Sanoski
Stars are born
When I was a teenager, prom night culminated in a tradition called “Grand March,” where high school juniors and seniors would strut down a catwalk under the watchful eyes and the “oohs” and “ahs” of the entire town—posing occasionally for our turn in the spotlight, or in this case, the many flashing lights from elated parents wielding disposable cameras.
Soderbergh's Side Effects
Is this it? The first of the last? The initial trailer for Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh's (allegedly) final feature film, a prescription drugs drama called Side Effects. In case you've missed the former Baton Rougean's last half dozen interviews or so, the 49-year-old workhorse filmmaker is calling it quits to paint and travel and do whatever it is artists do when they retire long before most in their line of work even consider it. Sure the Traffic, Ocean's Eleven director has wracked up 35 directing credits and 33 producing gigs since shocking the world at age 26 with the Cannes-winning, Baton Rouge-set sex, lies and videotape, but it is still hard to believe that Soderbergh is hanging up his camera while, in all likelihood, he still has another decade “in his prime.”
Shooting stars
The year is 1982; the place is Baton Rouge. An undercover police officer nabs the biggest criminal of his career and turns him into an informant in an effort to close several unsolved cases.
Whitey Bulger back in Louisiana?
Is James "Whitey" Bulger headed back to Louisiana?
Monsters, Inc.
The state's generous tax credits for filmmakers may have brought in plenty of productions and jobs, but they also unleashed some destructive, terrifying and often ridiculous monsters on our cities and defenseless masses. Kudos to SyFy and Louisiana-based Active Entertainment for often forgoing Louisiana as stand-in-for and instead setting the campy terror right here in the Pelican State.
Always a Silver Lining
TIFF, The Toronto International Film Festival, that great arbiter of awards-contender dramas, ponderous art films and headline-grabbing documentaries, has come and gone, and there's been a fairly significant surprise in the Audience Award Category. Silver Linings Playbook, adapted from Matthew Quick's heart-rending mental illness novel by director David O. Russell who had a career renaissance in 2010 with Oscar-winner The Fighter, was the clear fan favorite in Canada last week.
NASA defends deal with N.O. film studio
NASA's deal with a New Orleans film studio does not undercut other Louisiana studios, says Robert Champion, deputy director of NASA's Michoud Assembly Center in New Orleans. Big Easy Studios has been renting space at Michoud, which a Baton Rouge studio head says is unfair to studios that built and own their facilities and have higher overhead. Champion says NASA works with state and regional economic development agencies to ensure that the rates the agency charges to outside entities do not underprice the regional market. Jerry Lathan, a partner with Big Easy Studios, says it chases major productions that aren't even considering Louisiana otherwise, and therefore does not compete directly with facilities such as Raleigh Studios Baton Rouge at the Celtic Media Centre. Lathan says Big Easy's ability to attract large productions benefits the entire state. "On a per-square-foot basis, our prices are higher," Lathan says. Patrick Mulhearn, director of studio operations at Celtic, which...
Movie post-production firm relocating to B.R. from Lafayette
Digital Post Services of Hollywood, a movie post-production company that previously had a small office in Lafayette, is relocating to the Celtic Media Centre in Baton Rouge this month. DPS of Louisiana, as the company is known in the state, will occupy nearly 2,700 square feet in the studio's Cypress Building, and will hire a still undetermined number of local employees to do the post-production work that goes into making a movie: editing, mixing and special effects. The move is significant because one of the shortcomings of the local film industry is its lack of post-production companies and facilities. "This is one of the missing pieces of the puzzle," says Patrick Mulhearn, director of studio operations at Raleigh Studios in the Celtic Media Centre. "It's a really impressive operation, and to have a company like this offering a soup-to-nuts approach to production is a very positive development for us." DPS will be occupying the space previously used in the production of...
B.R. movie studio sheltering Red Cross volunteers
On first glance, the makeshift shelter for nearly 500 Red Cross volunteers might appear to be a scene from a movie. But in a case of life imitating art, one of the cavernous sound stages at Celtic Media Centre—the sound stage where scenes from Twilight and Battleship were filmed—is housing volunteers from around the country who are helping south Louisiana clean up from Hurricane Isaac. "We made an agreement with the Red Cross a while back that the film industry would help out if needed in an emergency," says Patrick Mulhearn, director of studio operations at Raleigh Studios Baton Rouge, which is based in the center. "Well, this is an emergency." Because the studio is equipped with such things as mobile kitchens, generators and portable lights, it makes an ideal shelter for the volunteers, who are fanning out to Ascension, Livingston and St. John the Baptist parishes, as well as other areas flooded during last week's hurricane. For the next two weeks or so,...
Studio head: B.R. denied film 'production center' designation
Baton Rouge will not be designated a film "production center" in the next three-year agreement between the IATSE, the biggest entertainment industry union, and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, according to Patrick Mulhearn, a local studio head who has been following the negotiations closely. The designation, supporters say, would have made it cheaper to film in Baton Rouge, and might have made the capital city more competitive with New Orleans and other production centers around the country. In an email, Mulhearn says the decision "cost Baton Rouge an untold number of productions, hundreds if not thousands of jobs, and millions of dollars in sales tax revenue," adding, "I guess we will try again in 2015." To read a recent Business Report story about this issue, click here. —David Jacobs
Jindal backs B.R.'s bid to be film 'production center,' as negotiations break down
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...
Film union negotiations could have major impact on Baton Rouge
Negotiations happening today in Los Angeles between the largest union for entertainment industry workers, the IATSE, and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers could affect the health of the Baton Rouge-based movie business for the next three years. Currently, Baton Rouge, unlike New Orleans and Shreveport, is not considered a "production center" by the industry, which makes it more expensive to shoot here than in cities with the designation. The AMPTP, according to sources, wants Baton Rouge to have that designation, but the Louisiana members of the IATSE, most of whom live in New Orleans, oppose the move (for a full explanation of the issue, read a story in the new issue of Business Report here). The two sides returned to the negotiating table this week to work out a union contract for the next three years, and Patrick Mulhearn, director of studio operations...
Building movies, not rockets
Patrick Mulhearn, director of studio operations at Raleigh Studios Baton Rouge, says there's not a single place in Louisiana, or even the Gulf South, that can come close to matching the 150,000 total square feet of stage space that he can offer. Except one: NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility.
Empty feeling
Raleigh Studios Baton Rouge has 150,000 square feet of design-built stage space at the Celtic Media Centre, in the capital city of a state with one of the most generous film incentive programs in North America. But no one's shooting there right now.
La.'s film industry gaining ground on Calif., N.Y.
A new report in Forbes says Louisiana has recently shown unprecedented growth in new film production, more so than anywhere else in the nation, putting the Southern state in competition with states that have long been dominating the film industry, such as California and New York. Boasting one of the most aggressive motion picture tax credit programs in the country, the state has wooed new film production into the state and steered the consistently increasing surge of the film industry, creating an economic impact on both local and national levels. "What we're seeing is an entire industry that is on the move," says William French, president of entertainment finance company Film Production Capital in New Orleans. Further explaining that the lower cost of living outside of the Hollywood area has been an important factor in a struggling economy, he adds, "The decentralization is fueled by massive technological improvements, which allow for films to be shot, edited, scored,...
B.R. studio head says NASA undercuts his business
Since they're not building booster rockets there at the moment, NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans has opened its doors to film producers, says Patrick Mulhearn, director of studio operations at Raleigh Studios Baton Rouge. He says the cavernous facility is the only place in the state that can compete with the 150,000 square feet of stage space at Raleigh, which is housed at the Celtic Media Centre. "Some large projects have based out of there," Mulhearn says. "It is tough for us to compete with them. The unlimited resources of the federal government make their operating costs very low. I've been told they've been able to undercut us and other stages in Louisiana that are private sector and purpose-built [for film]." He mentions Invertigo, a big-budget sci-fi flick that he says could have been a perfect fit for Raleigh but is filming at Michoud instead. Big Easy Studios rents out space at Michoud, he says. Big Easy Studios and NASA did not respond to calls seeking...
La. Budget Project recommends scaling back film incentives
The Louisiana Budget Project, a left-leaning advocacy group, says in a paper released today that the state should make the film business tax credit incentives less generous over time. "People are getting rich on this deal, and it isn't Louisiana taxpayers," says Budget Project Director Jan Moller. "Louisiana needs to limit the cost to taxpayers without pulling the rug out from under the industry." The program cost $231 million in the just-ended fiscal year and more than $1 billion in the decade since the program was expanded in 2002, LBP says. The group offers multiple recommendations for "reining in the uncontrolled growth of this program, while still giving filmmakers an incentive to choose Louisiana." Suggestions include lowering the value of the tax credits over a number of years, capping the total amount of tax credits that can be claimed in a fiscal...
Thriving ‘Survivor’
Valerie Holliday may be new to the director’s chair, but she is eager to prove that what she’s experiencing is not just beginner’s luck.
Keeping momentum
Zachary Godshall gained notoriety early this year when he brought his film, Lord Byron, to the Sundance Film Festival. Now, he's back in Baton Rouge, dreaming up his next big project and continuing a screenwriting residency at LSU. 225 caught up with Godshall to find out where he's taking his filmmaking talents next.
Keep rolling on movie incentives
With our state facing another budget shortfall, a panel of legislators will set to work this month reviewing each of Louisiana’s tax incentive programs. Currently, more than 400 credits and exemptions are available, some dating back decades.
Cruise out of control
It's been a big week for Tom Cruise. The first trailer for Jack Reacher landed online, he was named Hollywood's most profitable actor, he turned 50, and to top it off, he was served with surprise divorce papers from wife Katie Holmes. Where does he find the time?
Steven Soderbergh: Show runner
With initial reviews of Aaron Sorkin's HBO series Newsroom coming in mixed at best, another Oscar winner's name has popped up this week as a potential high-profile show runner for the premium cable channel: Former Baton Rougean Steven Soderbergh.
Homegrown talent
Audience members mingled in the lobby, buying snacks and wine. They checked their tickets, filed into the intimate Manship Theatre and silenced their cell phones.
Beasts unburdened
Veteran directors like to warn upstart filmmakers of three things that can quickly derail a movie production: Shooting on water, casting very young actors and working with animals.