It's non-polluting, unlike a lot of other industries we could attract down here." So the money gets out into the community fast. Every business in town gets used: the dry cleaners and the hotels and the car rental services. "There's a job for every trade," he insists, "carpenters and electricians and hairdressers. Now, dressed casually in jeans and a baseball cap, he's positively evangelical about the film industry. Petal used to be a lawyer for oil and gas companies here. He's building a seven-hectare complex in New Orleans that will house five sound stages and a film school. Malcolm Petal started his own film company, LIFT Productions, a few years ago. working mostly in television, but to come back and have opportunities in features, which is really what I want to do more of, it was perfect timing." Other actors have been drawn to New Orleans by the availability of roles in film and TV.Īnd now homegrown production studios are springing up. But locals are landing speaking roles, too. The choir in the movie is from a local church. Chaffin says Louisiana has amazing background talent. The film is better because we're in Louisiana." "This movie wasn't going to get made without the tax credits, that's the truth of the matter. So, as line producer Cean Chaffin explains, they rewrote the script to shoot here. They'll get up to 25 percent of the budget back as a tax rebate, including discounts for every local person they hire. The movie was to be set in Baltimore, Maryland, but producers found a better deal in Louisiana. It stars Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, and the budget is $150 million. In the middle of New Orleans' vast city park, a camera crew is filming a tent revival scene for The Mysterious Case of Benjamin Button. TV and movies are one industry that has actually grown bigger since Hurricane Katrina devastated the state's economy, and locals in the industry are determined to make their home into Hollywood South. Film and television studios are expected to spend more than $400 million in Louisiana this year.
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