There are numerous secondary opportunities within the Louisiana entertainment industry as the industry grows. In a video interview with Sherry McConnell, the Director of the Office of Entertainment Industry Development, the industry is raw and robust.For instance, McConnell spoke of a situation where there would be a mobile Starbucks set up at the movie sites as a single example.She also said that when productions come into town, they initially use their own talents and then are struck by “Louisiana’s level and depth of talent” and the next time they produce they use more of the Louisiana talent.McConnell said the office is looking at opportunities and for the ways to catapult into the next generation of growth.
McConnell also discussed the importance of digital media tax credits.She said that most of the digital media tax credits have gone for video games but that the credits have also been expanded to other areas such as educational tools.The media needs to meet three of five criteria such as sound, text, animation.
McConnell said that setting up a digital media industry is more difficult than the movie industry.For instance, a movie producer would shoot a movie and then consider digital media opportunities.They would come into the state to produce a movie or a television show lasting a couple of months and then take advantage of the digital media industry tax credits.While she admitted that Secretary Stephen Moret felt that the digital media industry could surpass the movie industry she said it was more difficult for these digital media companies to set up temporary shops for the tax credits and then remain in Louisiana.However, McConnell said that Louisiana had many venues for the growth of digital media but the process right now involved more traditional economic development.
Secondary opportunities in the entertainment industry
