tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34411274.post541672991493633541..comments2023-11-02T07:54:07.368-05:00Comments on Louisiana Movies: Glamour, Geeks and Gumbo: If we build more, will more come?Alexandyr Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05358689836161734165noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34411274.post-78673214257990946792007-05-16T10:17:00.000-05:002007-05-16T10:17:00.000-05:00You guys are right about the crew and interesting ...You guys are right about the crew and interesting on-site locales, but you fail to realize that the owners of those locations probably don't want a film crew taking up the whole floor for a week of shooting as opposed to just shooting some exterior shots to set the scene, then taking the indoor to the more controlled soundstage. Louisiana is lacking the truly aggressive soundstage that will build a sustainable business (that can exist without tax breaks) and go get the crews, indies and post-production guys from Hooper- oops, Hollywood and bring them back to Louisiana.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34411274.post-88496805650191393932007-04-27T13:00:00.000-05:002007-04-27T13:00:00.000-05:00I think the big thing about roads is that most of ...I think the big thing about roads is that most of the large roadwork funds don't come from state funding. Especially not I-49. The interstates-- and even Youree Drive for Pete's sake-- are 75% federal funding. The signs are everywhere on youree $10+ Million federal funding and ~$6 Mil from the state. <BR/><BR/>Sure there are projects that need doing, but the money for roads is set aside in advance. There is a lot of local money (within the city) and in the state allocated funds for grants. And with the "booming" film industry down here- we need to take advantage of that money that can't be used anywhere else and if it doesn't get used- it goes to waste.<BR/><BR/>So the title statement shouldn't be "If we build more, will more come?"- it should be "When we support it- more WILL come."<BR/><BR/>I'll rant some more. Take Austin for example. Prior to it's self declaration as a big music town- it wasn't. It was just the capitol of Texas. But there were people who supported the arts... So when people started saying "We do music!" like we scream "film" here, they actually had the public interest and the government support acting together. <BR/><BR/>Right now Shreveport is out of sync. There is a lot of buzz about movies and everyone loves it- but not enough people are skilled workers to support that infrastructure. The government wants to help, but they are unsure of what to do. What we need to do is talk to our mayor and film commissioner and say "Hey, we need training... then you can build a studio." They will do it. Cedric and Arlena have been very flexible to the needs of the industry thus far- let's take advantage of that wonderful part of their leadership so we can become the big Hollywood of the south that everyone thinks we already are.Chris Lyonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12206736877781622369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34411274.post-20878364214070541112007-04-27T09:40:00.000-05:002007-04-27T09:40:00.000-05:00If they build too many sound-stages, the price for...If they build too many sound-stages, the price for use will go down, unless there is a price control.<BR/><BR/>Also, the State of Louisiana has quite a few other projects to work on with $1.6 billion. I-49 completion, and repairing of every other road in the state. How about giving some of the surplus back to the tax-ayers and eliminating the state income tax to entice workers and businesses to move to LA.<BR/><BR/>If what chris said is correct, the state of Louisiana needs to get in touch with the needs of the existing movie industry instead of what the govt thinks the movie industry needs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34411274.post-44441228429743867672007-04-25T20:05:00.000-05:002007-04-25T20:05:00.000-05:00The outcry I hear almost daily is experienced crew...The outcry I hear almost daily is experienced crew. Every movie set I have been on or everything I have heard from people on movie sets is that all the crew in higher up positions (Lead Key PAs, solid grips and bigger role electric workers) are all brought in from outside the city. Because of this, producers are paying housing and per dium on all of those workers where that money (probably) could be spent elsewhere in the production. <BR/><BR/>I haven't heard anyone screaming "We need a bigger soundstage!" or even needing a soundstage at all that can't be found. We need to concentrate on finding a way to get people trained. For example, BPCC has offered several crew classes including but not limited to everything from set etiquette to handling Panavision cameras. More classes and information like this will prepare our infrastructure to handle soundstages. <BR/><BR/>If more trained crew are here, more productions will come and then (and only then) will we need more soundstages.<BR/><BR/>In short, why build soundstages when there is no one to crew them. People first, buildings second.Chris Lyonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12206736877781622369noreply@blogger.com