After losing out on film production opportunities in recent years, it appears Hollywood South is making a comeback. Lawmakers revised the state’s Motion Picture Tax Credit Program last summer in an attempt to lure filmmakers back home. It appears to be working and the impact is being felt across the industry.
Markel Lumber has been operating in New Orleans for just shy of a hundred years. More recently the company began supplying wood for set designs.
"We're usually at the beginning of the film process,” Gabriel Markel said.
Business took a hit after the 2015 revisions to the Motion Picture Tax Credit Program, which caused film production across the state to drop by 90 percent. More revisions to the tax credit program last summer are bringing production business back to Louisiana.
"We're up probably 90 percent over January and February this month compared to last year, which is fantastic obviously,” Markel said.
Markel Lumber isn't the only place enjoying the resurgence of film productions in the state. Those in the industry say the incentives are providing stability to people in all levels of production.
"Definitely more jobs in this area. We're busier than I've seen us in the three plus years I’ve been the business agent so there's a lot of jobs out there,” Cory Parker said.
Over at Second Line Stages, spaces are booked solid.
"The phones are ringing off the hook and I mean that very literally,” Trey Burvant said. “Studios are filled, crews are working and small businesses are benefiting from all this economic activity."
Burvant is the president of Louisiana Film Entertainment Association. He says ultimately the updated film tax credits are keeping money in the state and keeping residents at home.
"It means that residents are coming back here and living here in New Orleans and spending their money in Louisiana across the state,” Burvant said.
There are currently three feature films and four TV series filming in New Orleans as well as two major features filmed in the state that are in post-production.