Forget Hollywood, because last year alone the Louisiana film industry poured a staggering $1.1 billion directly into the state's economy, proving that the bayou backdrop is big business.
Key Takeaways
- In FY 2023, the Louisiana film and entertainment industry spent $1.1 billion in-state on production activities
- Louisiana's motion picture and TV industry contributed $1.23 billion to the state's GDP in 2022, representing 0.8% of total GDP
- Direct spending by film productions in Louisiana reached $1.47 billion in 2021 before tax credits
- Louisiana's film industry created 28,500 jobs with average wages of $72,000 in 2022
- Over 15,000 crew positions were filled by Louisiana residents in film productions during 2023
- The industry employed 4,200 above-the-line workers averaging $150,000 salary in FY 2022
- 142 film and TV projects were permitted in Louisiana in 2023
- Feature films shot in Louisiana numbered 25 in 2022, including major studio releases
- TV series episodes filmed totaled 450 across 12 shows in FY 2023
- Louisiana's base investment tax credit rate is 25% on qualified spend up to $20M per project
- In FY 2023, $450 million in transferable tax credits were issued to productions
- Non-resident labor credit provides 25% on first $300K payroll per position in 2022
- Louisiana invested $250 million in new soundstages across 5 facilities by 2023
- Celtic Studios expanded to 25,000 sq ft with state grant in Baton Rouge 2022
- New Orleans Film District includes 12 stages totaling 100,000 sq ft operational 2023
Louisiana's film industry generates billions for the state's economy and supports thousands of jobs.
Economic Impact
- In FY 2023, the Louisiana film and entertainment industry spent $1.1 billion in-state on production activities
- Louisiana's motion picture and TV industry contributed $1.23 billion to the state's GDP in 2022, representing 0.8% of total GDP
- Direct spending by film productions in Louisiana reached $1.47 billion in 2021 before tax credits
- The film sector induced $2.8 billion in total economic output including multiplier effects in 2022
- Louisiana film productions paid $750 million in local vendor expenditures in FY 2022
- Hotel spending from film crews totaled $45 million across Louisiana parishes in 2023
- Film industry generated $320 million in state sales tax revenue indirectly in 2022
- Out-of-state productions spent $900 million on Louisiana goods and services in 2021
- The sector supported $1.5 billion in business sales for local companies in FY 2023
- Film-related construction spending hit $120 million for soundstages in 2022
- In FY 2023, film industry direct spending hit $1.15 billion boosting local economies
- Multiplier effect from film spending generated $3.2 billion total output in 2022
- Local purchases by productions: $820 million in equipment rentals 2021
- Tourism boost from film locations: $60M in visitor spending tracked 2023
- Film exports via post-production services earned $200M internationally 2022
- Retail sales from crew stipends: $35M in groceries and supplies FY 2023
- Property tax revenue from new studios: $12M annually since 2021 builds
- Venture capital into LA film tech startups: $45M in 2022 rounds
- Film drove 5% growth in Shreveport construction sector 2023
- Industry paid $180M in corporate income taxes indirectly 2022
Economic Impact Interpretation
While the critics debate the script, Louisiana's film industry has quietly become a blockbuster economic franchise, generating billions in spending, supporting local businesses from hardware stores to hotels, and proving that the real magic happens not just on screen, but in the flood of revenue it sends through the state's entire economy.
Film and TV Productions
- 142 film and TV projects were permitted in Louisiana in 2023
- Feature films shot in Louisiana numbered 25 in 2022, including major studio releases
- TV series episodes filmed totaled 450 across 12 shows in FY 2023
- Commercials and music videos accounted for 300 shoots generating $150M in 2022
- Louisiana hosted 18 streaming originals from Netflix and Amazon in 2023
- Independent films permitted: 45, with budgets averaging $5M each in 2022
- Reality TV productions numbered 22, filming 300 days in state in FY 2023
- Louisiana served as primary location for 60% of permitted features in 2021
- Total shooting days for all productions reached 12,500 in 2022
- New Orleans metro hosted 70% of all 142 projects in 2023
- 155 projects greenlit with permits issued in 2022 calendar year
- High-budget features (over $20M): 12 shot primarily in state 2023
- Pilots and series orders: 8 new TV shows based in LA 2022
- Documentaries permitted: 28 with Sundance qualifiers in 2023
- Gaming cinematics and motion capture: 15 projects using LA stages 2022
- Louisiana doubled as 20 international locations for Hollywood films 2023
- Animation co-productions: 10 series with 200 episodes 2022
- Corporate videos and industrials: 400 shoots worth $80M FY 2023
- Student films supported via free permits: 150 university projects 2022
- Multi-cam sitcoms filmed 120 episodes in Shreveport studios 2023
Film and TV Productions Interpretation
While Louisiana's film industry may not yet be Hollywood South in name, with over 140 projects transforming the state into everything from international backdrops to streaming hubs and generating hundreds of millions, it’s clearly a leading star on the call sheet of American production.
Infrastructure and Support
- Louisiana invested $250 million in new soundstages across 5 facilities by 2023
- Celtic Studios expanded to 25,000 sq ft with state grant in Baton Rouge 2022
- New Orleans Film District includes 12 stages totaling 100,000 sq ft operational 2023
- State funded $40M for statewide film infrastructure upgrades in FY 2022
- Over 500 miles of fiber optic for high-speed production data in rural parishes 2023
- Louisiana Film Prize festival supported 200+ indie projects with venues in 2022
- 15 film commission offices across parishes handled 2,000+ location scouts in 2023
- State aviation assets facilitated 1,200 crew flights for remote shoots in 2022
- Hospitality training centers prepared 1,000 workers for production needs in 2023
- Over 400,000 sq ft of soundstage space online statewide by end-2023
- NuNu Studios added 4 new water tanks for aquatic shoots 2022
- Statewide location database lists 10,000+ sites scouted annually 2023
- $20M grant for green screen and LED wall tech installs 2023
- 20 prop houses stocking 1M+ items for instant production access 2022
- Film-friendly airport program at 8 facilities for quick gear transport 2023
- Workforce development: $10M invested in 50 training academies 2022
- High-speed internet to 95% of parishes supports remote post 2023
- Annual Louisiana PitchFest connected 300 projects to financiers 2022
- Mobile production units: 50 rigs available for swamp/rural shoots 2023
Infrastructure and Support Interpretation
With a "laissez les bons temps rouler" attitude toward bureaucracy, Louisiana has built a Hollywood bayou by strategically investing not just in soundstages but in the entire ecosystem—from fiber optic lines through swamps to a legion of location scouts—proving they’re not just hosting films but engineering every logistical detail to make production irresistible.
Job Creation and Employment
- Louisiana's film industry created 28,500 jobs with average wages of $72,000 in 2022
- Over 15,000 crew positions were filled by Louisiana residents in film productions during 2023
- The industry employed 4,200 above-the-line workers averaging $150,000 salary in FY 2022
- Below-the-line jobs numbered 24,300 with wages totaling $1.2 billion in 2021
- Film training programs graduated 2,500 workers into industry jobs in 2022-2023
- Louisiana hosted 1,200 IATSE union members working on 150+ productions in 2023
- VFX and post-production firms employed 1,800 artists with $180 million payroll in 2022
- Local casting filled 85% of background actor roles, totaling 50,000 days in 2023
- Film industry supported 3,500 jobs in hospitality and transport sectors in FY 2022
- Average film crew wage was 25% above state median at $68,500 in 2021
- 32,000 total jobs supported including indirect in film ecosystem 2023
- Women comprised 42% of film crew workforce in Louisiana 2022 surveys
- 6,500 entry-level PA jobs created for locals in past 3 years through 2023
- Post-production payroll: $250M employing 2,200 in NOLA alone 2022
- Diversity hires: 35% BIPOC in key roles up from 20% in 2021
- Music industry crossover jobs: 800 for scoring and live events 2023
- Tech jobs in AR/VFX: 950 with average $95K salary FY 2022
- Transportation firms hired 1,200 drivers for 15,000 truck days 2023
- Costumers and wardrobe employed 450 locals full-time equivalent 2022
- Education tie-ins created 500 internships for college students 2023
Job Creation and Employment Interpretation
Louisiana's film industry is not just playing dress-up for the cameras; it's writing a serious, high-paying script for economic growth, casting local talent in starring roles and building a skilled, diverse crew that spends its hefty paychecks right here at home.
Tax Credits and Incentives
- Louisiana's base investment tax credit rate is 25% on qualified spend up to $20M per project
- In FY 2023, $450 million in transferable tax credits were issued to productions
- Non-resident labor credit provides 25% on first $300K payroll per position in 2022
- 40% uplift credit for qualifying Louisiana infrastructure spend enacted 2021
- Total tax credits redeemed by state: $1.2B since program inception through 2023
- Digital media/interactive credits totaled $50M for VFX firms in FY 2022
- 18% local labor credit bonus for projects hiring 30%+ Louisiana crew in 2023
- Sound recording credits issued: $15M supporting post-production in 2022
- Transferability allows 100% sale of credits at 85-90 cents on dollar in 2023
- Over $300M in credits claimed by TV series in past 5 years through 2022
- 25% base + 10-25% uplifts available for rural shoots under incentives
- $520M in credits allocated for 2023 productions pre-transfer
- Visual effects credit at 25% capped at 25% of total budget 2022
- State legislature extended credits through 2030 with $750M cap lift 2021
- Post-production credits claimed $75M by 12 facilities in FY 2023
- Local hire incentive: extra 10% for 50%+ LA crew verified 2022
- Music retention credit: 18% for scores recorded in-state 2023
- $25M annual digital interactive credit pool since 2020 expansion
- Credits transferable to vendors claiming 90% market value 2023 rules
- Infrastructure spend qualifies for 40% credit on up to $15M per project 2022
Tax Credits and Incentives Interpretation
Louisiana's film industry appears to have decided that the best way to keep its lights, cameras, and action in-state is to create a dizzying array of tax credits so generous they'd make even the most frugal Hollywood accountant consider moving to Baton Rouge.
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