The Playmakers

Sherri McConnell

She came in three years ago when scandal was erupting at the state’s film office. Her predecessor Mark Smith eventually pleaded guilty to accepting bribes, but McConnell has since put a new face on Louisiana film by reorganizing LED’s entire Office of Entertainment Industry Development and making key hires. Her tenure has seen more film and television projects than ever, including 80 projects totaling more than $600 million in production last year alone.

State Rep. Cameron Henry

The young Republican from New Orleans wrote House Bill 898, which the Legislature duly passed and Gov. Bobby Jindal signed into law in June. Henry’s bill increases the film production tax credit from 25% to 30% and eliminates the phase-down of the tax incentives program, giving our film industry an instant leg up on other states.

Chris Stelly

As director of the state’s Film & Television Office, Stelly administers Louisiana’s innovative tax credit program. Major motion pictures the Baton Rouge native has worked on for incentives and logistics include Glory Road, All the King’s Men and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

Michael O’Connor

His father Brendan conceived a grand vision for the Celtic Media Centre. Since Brendan O’Connor’s untimely passing last year, son Michael has taken up the charge, seeing that vision of state-of-the-art soundstages and a true film lot through to fruition. Construction of the first phase was completed last summer, and more projects are in the works.

Amy Mitchell Smith

Battle-tested by years of working for the notoriously demanding and volatile Weinsteins at Miramax, Smith relocated from New York City after Katrina to serve as executive director of the Baton Rouge Film Commission. She works tirelessly to bring projects big and small to the city and to keep producers happy and productive while they are here.

Mayor Kip Holden

A vocal supporter since being elected of the film industry as an emerging economic development engine for the city-parish, Holden worked closely with Smith to present Baton Rouge to the Battle: Los Angeles team as a hospitable and capable host.

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