With 18 feature films released into theaters last year—three more than each of the runners-up, California and Canada—Louisiana can now boast of being the film production capital of the world.
As CBS News reports, the state’s generous tax incentives for film—which since 2002 have provided a 30% rebate for productions shot in the state, among other inducements—are increasingly looking like an offer that movie producers just can’t refuse.
“It’s very difficult to justify shooting in California when you have these type of incentives,” says Jesse Berger, a producer of the upcoming thriller Abattoir, one of the many productions currently filming in New Orleans. “Coming here, the tax credit is a big draw for sure, because you get to actually put funds back into the production.”
Other states have taken notice of Louisiana’s success, and now some 39 states offer film-related tax incentives. Hollywood is feeling the pressure. Next year, California hopes to bring back the lost business with newly expanded tax credits of up to 25%.
But for now, Louisiana remains ahead of the pack. Read the full story.
