Louisiana the new hot spot of filmmaking
- Thread starter ramsaur
- Start date
Ryan Patrick O'Hara
Veteran
Many states are creating incentives to shoot. Louisiana, New Mexico, Texas and others are among the most competitive.
Regardless, these places are not going to become Hot spots. If anything they are simply contributing to the slight destabilization of established hot spots.
The South West had it's year last year, just because of all the movies which required open spaces (No Country, There Will be Blood, Assassination of Jesse James, etc)
The truth is, Louisiana is never going to become a film mecca. It just may draw a little more productions there, instead of shooting on a stage in Los Angeles or New York. What has been established in the last few years is a strong Canadian film making center, but nothing of that scale in the states.
I haven't heard of too many going to Louisiana, although I do know several who have gone to New Mexico.
Either way, I'll go to New Orleans to shoot my next underwater film.
Regardless, these places are not going to become Hot spots. If anything they are simply contributing to the slight destabilization of established hot spots.
The South West had it's year last year, just because of all the movies which required open spaces (No Country, There Will be Blood, Assassination of Jesse James, etc)
The truth is, Louisiana is never going to become a film mecca. It just may draw a little more productions there, instead of shooting on a stage in Los Angeles or New York. What has been established in the last few years is a strong Canadian film making center, but nothing of that scale in the states.
I haven't heard of too many going to Louisiana, although I do know several who have gone to New Mexico.
Either way, I'll go to New Orleans to shoot my next underwater film.
Ryan Patrick O'Hara
Veteran
Just to clarify, when you say LA you mean Louisiana, right?
ramsaur
Veteran
Just to clarify, when you say LA you mean Louisiana, right?
yea, that gets confusing sometimes when talking to others about film but yes Louisiana. And I didn't make this because I live in Louisiana, just curious from anyone else who has done any work in Louisiana. I know there are other states but asking about Louisiana right now. We can talk about other states. I don't mind
GaryinCalifornia
Veteran
When I was producing my last feature a couple of months ago in Nashville... needed a pyro and some effects people... every time I found someone... they were in LA... and not LA on the west coast...
At the time I heard there was like 10 features and 5 TV shows going on down there... and more to come...
Mark Harris
Pain in the ass
No Drew, you get a 40% tax credit.
Ryan Patrick O'Hara
Veteran
See what I mean? My previous comments were not to say LA (Louisiana) would not be a place to film, but it is just ONE of MANY places starting to equally make NY and LosA less of a hotspot.
Texas, Canada, New Mexico, Mass, Louisianna, Michigan, etc... they are all offering incentives and competing with each other. They will all be mini-hotspots, in effect, but none are going to emerge as huge ones such as LosA/NY/etc.
My 2cents.
Texas, Canada, New Mexico, Mass, Louisianna, Michigan, etc... they are all offering incentives and competing with each other. They will all be mini-hotspots, in effect, but none are going to emerge as huge ones such as LosA/NY/etc.
My 2cents.
I think it is in the form of tax credits, not rebates. I know a producer who is on picture five out of ten which are all lensing exclusively in Louisiana this year.
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hoofandmouf
Well-known member
I'm from Louisiana and worked on several features there. I don't live there anymore, I'm in Portland OR now.
heres my take... (from a born and raised Louisiana boy and a filmmaker)
Shreveport has a lot of stuff going on and has had a lot of stuff for a few years now. Baton Rouge/NOLA area has a ton of stuff going on as well. So theres two big hubs, one in the northern part of the state, one in the southern part. Sadly though, when the tax credits expire (this december) I think it will slow and eventually stall the film industry there. Producers are only making films there because its cheap... period. I would love for it to be long term but I just dont think it will be. But right now, theres a ton of sh*t going on... you could move to NOLA or Shreveport and find work EASILY... hell, after a few gigs, you could join the union and be set.. that is if you want to work your way up that way, in one specific area. Like say, if you really want to be a gaffer or 1st AD or sound mixer, etc... ultimately I left because the quality of life there just isn't that great... a lot of racism, bigotry, "good ole boy" network type of stuff... its very conservative, very southern, very political... in fact.... the oil and gas industry has basically "paid" for the state to even allow these tax credits to happen.
all that said, its a cool state with cool pockets of culture and unique-ness.... go there, work, make some money, get some experience, and then bail... (YOU FILTHY CARPETBAGGER!!) haha jus kiddin'
heres my take... (from a born and raised Louisiana boy and a filmmaker)
Shreveport has a lot of stuff going on and has had a lot of stuff for a few years now. Baton Rouge/NOLA area has a ton of stuff going on as well. So theres two big hubs, one in the northern part of the state, one in the southern part. Sadly though, when the tax credits expire (this december) I think it will slow and eventually stall the film industry there. Producers are only making films there because its cheap... period. I would love for it to be long term but I just dont think it will be. But right now, theres a ton of sh*t going on... you could move to NOLA or Shreveport and find work EASILY... hell, after a few gigs, you could join the union and be set.. that is if you want to work your way up that way, in one specific area. Like say, if you really want to be a gaffer or 1st AD or sound mixer, etc... ultimately I left because the quality of life there just isn't that great... a lot of racism, bigotry, "good ole boy" network type of stuff... its very conservative, very southern, very political... in fact.... the oil and gas industry has basically "paid" for the state to even allow these tax credits to happen.
all that said, its a cool state with cool pockets of culture and unique-ness.... go there, work, make some money, get some experience, and then bail... (YOU FILTHY CARPETBAGGER!!) haha jus kiddin'
ProfessorU
Veteran
I think Iowa matches Michigan with the 40% tax credit. You just have to find someone to buy it.
New Mexico was offering a tax rebate of 20% last I checked.
Once you find your first $, it makes sense to talk to a lawyer and an accountant.
I think one of my projects got financed just because of a Wisconsin tax credit combined with a big write off.
The tax credits are a bizarre phenomenon. If any state actually established itself as a true California alternative (like, say, NY in 25 years), it would probably start taxing film productions again.
New Mexico was offering a tax rebate of 20% last I checked.
Once you find your first $, it makes sense to talk to a lawyer and an accountant.
I think one of my projects got financed just because of a Wisconsin tax credit combined with a big write off.
The tax credits are a bizarre phenomenon. If any state actually established itself as a true California alternative (like, say, NY in 25 years), it would probably start taxing film productions again.
ramsaur
Veteran
Sadly yes tax credits are expiring this december, but Governor Bobby Jindal is trying to keep it back up and going which is good.
and the reason you left, I totally agree with you. I mean yea I live there and live with it but I do hate it myself sadly enough.
Barry_Green
Moderator
Louisiana has a 25% tax credit. Michigan has a fully refundable tax credit, which effectively amounts to them writing you a check for 40% of your budget within 30 to 90 days of wrapping your production there.
Louisiana, last I checked, was offering a partial refund in that they'd buy your tax credit off you at something on the order of 78 cents on the dollar, so your net refund was about 19% (instead of the stated incentive rate of 25%).
The biggest distinction between these, as far as DVXUsers go, may be the threshhold. You've got to spend at least $250,000 before you're eligible for the Louisiana tax credit. You can qualify for the Michigan tax credit with a budget as low as $50,000. (last I knew; all statements should be fact-checked before anyone relies on this info).
Louisiana, last I checked, was offering a partial refund in that they'd buy your tax credit off you at something on the order of 78 cents on the dollar, so your net refund was about 19% (instead of the stated incentive rate of 25%).
The biggest distinction between these, as far as DVXUsers go, may be the threshhold. You've got to spend at least $250,000 before you're eligible for the Louisiana tax credit. You can qualify for the Michigan tax credit with a budget as low as $50,000. (last I knew; all statements should be fact-checked before anyone relies on this info).
Mark Harris
Pain in the ass
how does a 40% tax credit translate into 40% of your budget? I understand that to mean a credit for 40% of your TAXES paid to the state, because it's only usable on taxable items. And this is what a tax credit would mean in any other context as well. Not 40% of the money you spend. that seems insane and impossible for the state to do...
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Barry_Green
Moderator
Spend a million bucks there, they'll write you a check for $400,000. It's a REFUNDABLE credit. I spent a long time on the phone with the Michigan State Film Commissioner trying to clarify it, because I basically refused to believe it, but after going round and round, this is the conclusion that she eventually forced through my skull. :thumbsup:
The tax credit is based off your total expenditures in Michigan (i.e., the money you spent to make the film, including salaries and travel and hotel expenses, as long as those are all bought and paid in Michigan.) Their program is to give you a credit for (actually up to) 42% of your total expenditures (depending on which community you shoot in, you may qualify for an extra 2% incentive.) But, being a tax credit, it's initially designed to be a way that you don't have to pay that portion of your state income taxes. Which is kind of lame, especially if you set up as an LLC or s-corp or other pass-thru entity which, in and of itself, wouldn't owe any state income taxes anyway (as I understand). So Michigan's program is a refundable tax credit: you can either take your credit as a credit against your taxes, or say "refund me now."
So the net effect is: if you spend $50,000 there, and all the expenses are audited and verified as being legitimately spent in Michigan, they'll refund you 40% of those expenses (which would be $20,000, which is 40% of your budget). Hotels, travel, salaries, equipment rentals, stage rentals, and I believe even postproduction services all qualify (but as I said before, anyone relying on this info should triple-check with the appropriate film office).
The tax credit is based off your total expenditures in Michigan (i.e., the money you spent to make the film, including salaries and travel and hotel expenses, as long as those are all bought and paid in Michigan.) Their program is to give you a credit for (actually up to) 42% of your total expenditures (depending on which community you shoot in, you may qualify for an extra 2% incentive.) But, being a tax credit, it's initially designed to be a way that you don't have to pay that portion of your state income taxes. Which is kind of lame, especially if you set up as an LLC or s-corp or other pass-thru entity which, in and of itself, wouldn't owe any state income taxes anyway (as I understand). So Michigan's program is a refundable tax credit: you can either take your credit as a credit against your taxes, or say "refund me now."
So the net effect is: if you spend $50,000 there, and all the expenses are audited and verified as being legitimately spent in Michigan, they'll refund you 40% of those expenses (which would be $20,000, which is 40% of your budget). Hotels, travel, salaries, equipment rentals, stage rentals, and I believe even postproduction services all qualify (but as I said before, anyone relying on this info should triple-check with the appropriate film office).
Mark Harris
Pain in the ass
Wow, I guess I'm wrong about that. It seems way impossible that that is true, but all right. I guess I'm going to Michigan to make a movie like NOW.
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Pretty sure this is what is being done in Lousiana. The budget on the features I am aware of have been in the 1.5M per show range, so they qualify for all the incentives currently offered.
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I live 9 miles from New Iberia, LA. They were shooting a film called "In The Electric Mist" with Tommy Lee Jones, John Goodman etc. They used a house belonging to a friend of ours and some of our other friend's son is in it.
Didn't get to watch the filming, just got a glimpse of the equipment trucks on my way out.
Everyone was excited to see Tommy Lee, hell, I would have been more excited to see the camera rigs:thumbup:
Yea, Louisiana has it's share of films. The thing I don't like is the way they portay the cajun people as stupid, we don't have aligators crossing the road and whatnot.
Didn't get to watch the filming, just got a glimpse of the equipment trucks on my way out.
Everyone was excited to see Tommy Lee, hell, I would have been more excited to see the camera rigs:thumbup:
Yea, Louisiana has it's share of films. The thing I don't like is the way they portay the cajun people as stupid, we don't have aligators crossing the road and whatnot.