Day to start work on movie studio

The first phase of the Red Stick Film Studio is scheduled to open before the end of the year. Robert Day has filed permits with the city-parish to turn some offices at his Southgate development into space for movie productions. The plan is to set up the area on Nicholson Drive with room for scoring stages, editing booths and general flex space for movies and TV shows shooting around Baton Rouge. “This is just the beginning,” Day says. Land is being cleared off O’Neal Lane for the $665 million studio Day plans to build out there, which would be part of his La Vie TND. “We’re going to be building in stages as we go,” he says. “It’s an ongoing process.” Day is involved in a lawsuit against the state over its infrastructure tax credit program, arguing that he’s legally entitled for more time to earn the maximum infrastructure credits for Red Stick. A district judge ruled in his favor this spring, but the case is being appealed. Day says movie and TV producers are interested in using his property for production and post-production work. For a look at Day’s plans for Red Stick, click here for a recent Business Report story.—Timothy Boone