BOSSIER PARISH, La. — Film production activity is picking up in the Shreveport-Bossier area, with local officials saying productions are lined up through Thanksgiving and three more projects are expected before the end of the year.
Stacy Brown, president of Visit Shreveport-Bossier, and Wade Marshall, executive director of the Shreveport-Bossier Film & Entertainment Commission, gave an update Wednesday to the Bossier Parish Police Jury on efforts to rebuild the region’s film production pipeline and expand the local workforce and vendor base.
“As it stands right now, we have production happening all the way up until Thanksgiving,” Marshall told jurors.
One production, Wedding War, was wrapping filming Wednesday. Marshall said the feature grew out of a Louisiana Film Prize short and is the fifth Film Prize project to be developed into a feature film.
Brown said three additional productions are expected before the end of the year.
The update comes as the local film office works to regain momentum after years of fluctuating production activity in Northwest Louisiana.
Marshall said the commission has worked to establish itself on a broader industry level and is now certified through the Association of Film Commissioners International. He said the commission plans to return to Los Angeles in April to meet with studios and continue marketing the region.
New database targets locations, crew and vendors
A major part of the commission’s strategy is a new online database that allows productions to search for local filming locations, crew members and vendors.
Brown said local residents and businesses can submit properties that may work as filming locations, including homes, farms, lakes, businesses and other sites.
The system is designed so producers outside the region can search for specific settings and view available locations in Northwest Louisiana.
Marshall said the tool has already helped the commission market the area to productions.
He described Shreveport-Bossier as similar to a large movie backlot because downtown, rural areas, neighborhoods from different eras and other settings are located within relatively short distances of one another.
“You can literally drive five minutes from any downtown metro area here and be in the middle of the country,” Marshall said.
He cited Cypress Black Bayou as an example of how local locations can be marketed creatively. When one production asked about finding a beach setting, the commission showed producers photos of the area and was able to demonstrate how it might work for their needs.
The same database also allows local workers to register for crew opportunities and gives businesses a way to market services to incoming productions.
Brown said productions routinely need local providers for services including catering, costumes, construction and other support work.
Focus on economic impact
Marshall said the effort is ultimately centered on economic development rather than simply attracting film crews.
“At the end of the day, this is about economic development,” he said.
He said the impact of a production extends beyond direct film spending to local restaurants, hotels, lumber suppliers, construction companies and other businesses.
“It’s not about just them spending money from the film itself,” Marshall said. “It’s the indirect spend.”
The commission plans to begin collecting more detailed information on that indirect impact so local officials can better quantify the economic value of productions.
Marshall said even a smaller film with a budget of $1 million to $2 million can have a meaningful impact on the local economy.
The commission is also working to build a larger local crew base through training and industry events.
Marshall said the organization recently held a film industry meetup that introduced attendees to lighting, cameras and other elements of a working film set.
“We can put you on set with no experience,” he said, adding that film production can provide a path into higher-paying careers for workers willing to learn the industry.
Arena discussed as possible production space
The commission is also looking at unconventional spaces that could potentially support film production.
Marshall said officials have discussed the possibility of using Brookshire Grocery Arena as temporary film studio space during periods when the arena has fewer scheduled events.
No formal project or agreement was announced, but Marshall said the conversation reflects the commission’s broader effort to identify local assets that could be used to support productions.
The area has already hosted productions at facilities such as Camp Minden, which Marshall said is used frequently for filming. He cited Apex Predators Club, filmed there last year, as one example.
Advisory committee forming
Brown said the Film & Entertainment Commission is also beginning to form a special advisory committee and asked the Bossier Parish Police Jury to appoint a representative.
The committee would provide another link between the film office and local governments as productions often need quick coordination involving roads, parks, public safety agencies and other public resources.
Brown said production schedules can change rapidly because of weather or other factors, making established relationships with local governments important when crews need access to locations or services on short notice.
The film office is also working to counter the perception that Louisiana’s film tax incentives have disappeared.
Marshall said the state remains competitive nationally and that misinformation about the status of Louisiana’s film incentives continues to affect perceptions of the market.
For Shreveport-Bossier, the renewed push is aimed at turning current production activity into sustained growth.
With productions expected to continue through the fall, local officials are now focused on expanding the workforce, connecting more businesses to film spending and building the infrastructure needed to attract larger-budget projects in the future.