Labor shortage threatens New Orleans movie industry

New Orleans CityBusiness, Mar 12, 2007 by Richard A. Webster

Schott said this means "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" starring Brad Pitt and now filming in New Orleans, is likely the last big-budget film to be shot here.

"When we first created the tax incentives, we had to lure the industry here with an attractive program. We didn't want to price ourselves out of the market by saying you can only spend money in the state. We wouldn't have gotten any of the projects we had if we made it that restrictive in the beginning. We intentionally made it more liberal in the early part to attract the industry, grow our infrastructure and enhance our crew base.

"And although budgets will decrease, the number of films won't, spending in-state will go up and the payroll will remain the same or increase."