from The Shreveport Times.Com

Written by
Bobbie J. Clark
bobbieclark@gannett.com


The projects

2005/2006: 12 movie/TV productions (end of 2005 to end of 2006) with budgets totaling $300 million.
2007: 23 movie/TV productions with budgets totaling $182 million, 2,000 crew positions created and 557 production days.
2008: 23 movie/TV productions with total budgets of $258 million, 31,758 hotel/motel room nights, 539 production days and 2,448 crew positions created.
2009: 18 movie/TV productions with total budgets of $98.3 million, 14,763 hotel/motel room nights, 277 production days and 1107 crew positions created
2010: 15 movie/TV productions with total budgets of $182.1 million, 30,677 hotel/motel room nights, 473 production days, 1,280 crew positions created and 733 round-trip air tickets LAX to SHV or DFW.
2011: 4 movie/TV productions so far and more to be announced soon.
Source: Shreveport Office of Film, Media and Entertainment
Related Links
# Shreveport-Bossier Film Office
# Robinson Film Center

Shreveport-Bossier City's reputation as Hollywood South got a big boost last weekend, when "Battle: Los Angeles" topped the box office, raking in $36 million.

Though the movie was widely panned by critics, its success has given even more credibility to northwest Louisiana as a premier movie-making destination.

Over the last five years, the infrastructure to support film and television projects has grown by leaps and bounds. The area now boasts film studios, recording studios, an animation studio, special effects and sound stages.

While the total number of projects has decreased over the last few years, going from 23 in 2007 to only 15 last year, local stakeholders believe activity will soon pick up.

So far this year, there are four confirmed projects, including the feature film "Playing the Field," starring Gerard Butler and Jessica Biel. A&E television show Billy the Exterminator will soon begin filming its fourth season, and the show "Ghostbreakers" has started filming in Bossier City.

Arleena Acree, the director of film, media and entertainment for the city of Shreveport, said more projects are on the way.

"It has slowed down some, but it's getting ready to really get busy," she said. "One reason we didn't go to South by Southwest (in Austin, Texas) is because of all the phone calls we've been getting. In fact, we have a project preparing to come up and scout locations. We had two projects in at the same time last week."

Despite its success, "Battle" was not a hit with critics. Roger Ebert went even went as far as calling the movie stupid.

Regardless, Alexander Kent, the interim director of the Robinson Film Center, said reviews don't determine where a movie gets made.

"I don't think critical reception plays a role in the decisions about choosing locations," he said. "Louisiana is a very affordable place to make a movie, and Shreveport is even more affordable with the additional incentives."

Aside from state incentives, the city of Shreveport and Caddo Parish both give sales tax rebates to media companies that spend money in the city and parish.