As the Louisiana Legislature this week begins to debate bills that would reform, cut or end the state’s incentive program for film production, an internal industry dispute is pitting Baton Rouge-area stakeholders against their more numerous New Orleans counterparts.
At the end of this month, IATSE, the union that represents film industry crews, and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers will begin negotiations for a new three-year contract. Like the last negotiation in 2012, the producers are expected to ask that Baton Rouge be deemed a “production center” for films. And, like last time, Local 478, the branch of IATSE that covers Louisiana and southern Mississippi, is opposed.
New Orleans and Shreveport are production centers, while Baton Rouge is not. The difference in status means a Local 478 member who keeps a New Orleans address and comes to work in Baton Rouge is guaranteed a $56 per diem, while a Baton Rouge resident who goes to work in New Orleans does not.
Daily Report has the full story.
