New Orleans is a cultural epicenter of America — one of the most influential cities in the world for the arts. And yet, when it comes to film, New Orleans is largely neglected as a serious production hub.
While some TV and films have broken through, such as “Treme,” starring John Goodman and “Hit Man,” starring Glen Powell, New Orleans still isn’t a part of the national film conversation compared to cities like New York or Los Angeles.
Even if those cities have a greater infrastructure for blockbuster films and television shows, New Orleans still has much to offer. It is one of the most competitive film tax incentives in the country, has a vast talent pool and one of the strongest cultural identities of any city in America.
While some studios have looked to states like Georgia and Texas to film, like “English Teacher” or “Landman” for their competitive tax breaks, Louisiana offers up to 40% in transferable tax credits on qualified in-state expenditures.
“While Louisiana offers one of the strongest film incentive programs in the country, it is still considered a secondary market in terms of overall industry concentration,” casting director Ryan Glorioso said. “When productions choose New Orleans, unless the story is specifically set there, the decision is typically driven by financial considerations and the cost-effectiveness of filming in the region.”
In other words, good tax policy is not enough.
While some may argue that New York and LA have greater access to talent and actors, Glorioso disagrees.
“I’d confidently put our actors up against those from any major market,” he said. “One key difference is that actors here tend to get real opportunities to work and build careers more quickly … New Orleans is a smaller city with a tighter, locally based talent pool.”
New Orleans is truly singular and unique, so it should be an obvious choice for film and TV. From historic and distinct architecture to its strong cultural identity, New Orleans provides a cinematic backdrop that New York or Los Angeles could never replicate.
If the entertainment industry wants to diversify storytelling, it cannot continue recycling the same coastal perspectives or consolidating power in a few safe hubs. Expanding beyond those cities to places like New Orleans will help redefine an industry in desperate need of new film capital.