SAG-AFTRA Attends Louisiana Entertainment Summit

SAG-AFTRA members and staff attended the inaugural Louisiana Entertainment Summit in Baton Rouge on March 27 to celebrate the state’s motion picture and music tax incentive programs. The main takeaway from the event was “Film = Jobs.” There are currently 17 productions filming in the state, employing principal and background actors. NCIS: New Orleans alone has spent $6 million on wages for background actors over the past four years.

Secretary of Louisiana Economic Development Don Pierson reminded the audience that Louisiana has a 100-year history producing major motion pictures such as Jurassic World, Ray and the Twilight series. He also noted that from 2002 to 2016, the film industry generated almost $7 billion in motion picture production activity in in the state. Gov. John Bel Edwards outlined his four goals for the incentive programs: Provide fiscal predictability, increase the return on investment for the state, create a sustainable industry and reach greater statewide impact.

In short, the message of the summit was that the state is looking to attract and retain new entertainment ventures. Be assured that the SAG-AFTRA staff and Local Board supports these efforts on behalf of our members in both Louisiana and Mississippi.