Loiusiana Film Office

The Governor's Office of Film & Television Development is the public agency within the state of Louisiana Department of Economic Development that serves as an informational clearinghouse and provides technical assistance to individuals and entities engaged in film and television production in the state.

The Office of Film & Television Development supports production companies by identifying the key economic, social and cultural benefits of basing film and television projects in the state. Our goal is to make your job easy and to make accessible the many venues and values Louisiana has to offer.

• Advising and assisting production companies on all matters relative to the development of their film, motion picture, video, commercial, television, and/or still photography projects with the state

• Establishing, maintaining, and lending materials (including stock footage) from a resource library on the culture and history of the state so as to encourage an accurate depiction of Louisiana by filmmakers and television producers

• Aiding productions with their budgetary needs

• Providing technical assistance to indigenous filmmakers and television producers so as to encourage the development of their craft

• Increasing the film and television production opportunities for new and emerging indigenous filmmakers

• Sponsoring workshops, seminars, and festivals on filmmaking, television production, or both, including its legal and financial aspects, and assisting with film and television premieres and galas

• Maintaining an extensive digital location library from which to draw location suggestions.

• Providing a knowledgeable staff that can answer all your location and production-related questions

• Acting as a liaison between production companies, other state agencies and local governments to ensure a cooperative production experience for everyone

• Maintaining a comprehensive online directory of film-related personnel and services in Louisiana

• Maintaining a production hotline which announces upcoming production employment opportunities in Louisiana.

FILM INDUSTRY OVERVIEW

After Silicon Valley, the film and television production business remains the largest high-tech, high profit, non-polluting industry in the world generating over $40 billion per year. According to the Motion Picture Association of America, the film industry is one of California's leading economic engines, generating $27 billion per year in economic activity and employing 475,000 Californians. The film industry is economically good for Louisiana because 50%  of a production's total budget generally ends up as direct expenditures in the local community where the actual shooting is done.

For example, the 84 foreign mostly U.S. runaway productions that were shot in British Columbia in 2001 poured CAN$856.8 million ($544 million) into the local economy, compared with CAN$760 million in 2000.

All types of productions leave money in the state which effects a wide array of industries: purchasing set equipment, hiring a crewbase, lodging, restaurant patronage, catering, vehicle rental, gasoline purchase, location fees, security, wardrobe needs, hair supplies, prop purchases, among many other miscellaneous expenses. Filming also brings national and international exposure of local areas. Since July 2002, Louisiana has had over $900 million in new production come to the state and that number continues to grow daily. In addition, Louisiana resident payroll alone has amassed over $85 million in wages and benefits since 2003.  Communities and cities that have been featured in films over the past two years include:  New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Napoleonville, Clinton, Donaldsonville, Slidell, Zachary, Morgan City, and Thibodeaux just to name a few.

Visit the Louisiana Film Office website