Legislative Update from LFEA, June 20

The following is a legislative update being sent on behalf of the Louisiana Film & Entertainment Association.

 

I’m happy to report to you that last Friday Gov. John Bel Edwards signed SB 254 into law. This is great news for film in Louisiana and it bodes well for the stability and predictability our industry has needed for more than two years.
 
I would like to thank Sen. J.P. Morrell for his fearless advocacy for our industry and his work to shepherd this legislation. Of course, this could not have been done without your help and the help of our partners, including LED, IATSE Local 478, SAG-AFTRA and many others. 

Your LFEA board, our advocates and partners overcame many obstacles in pursuit of saving our industry from extinction. To the naysayers who may think me overly dramatic, I assure you that our efforts were vital. Admittedly, this legislation was a compromise on many levels, from front end/back end caps to incentivizing work across the state. Without a willingness to come to the table with all parties involved, listen, and prioritize, we faced potentially detrimental cuts to the overall cap and to our industry as a whole.
 
SB 254 will make our industry more stable and more predictable for crew, indigenous filmmakers and small businesses. Importantly, the bill enables the power of the ripple effect of spending when productions are taking place in small, medium and large cities across Louisiana. We will be sure to highlight this spending and revenue generation from projects as we move forward.
 
LFEA and our board members and partners will now shift focus to scheduling a trip to Hollywood to meet with producers and answer any questions they may have as we push forward. We want to assure them that the Louisiana film industry remains open for business and is ready to welcome them back to one of the best environments for film in America.
 
In closing, thank you for fighting alongside us for the future of our industry during this legislative session. It was a hard fought battle, in which we collectively achieved victory. Your support has never been stronger, and for that, I am grateful. 

Sincerely,   
 
Robert Vosbein
LFEA President