Movies turn to Tulane as summer production site

Five films are currently in the pre-production or filming phase in New Orleans, with several shooting scenes on Tulane University's Uptown campus over the next few weeks.

By August, New Orleans will have hosted 13 major film projects including Universal's "Cirque du Freak," World Wrestling Entertainment's "12 Rounds" and the Sony feature "Mardi Gras."

The university, which typically is unable to accommodate large- scale Hollywood film projects during the school year, has played host to movies during the summer months when students are away, but the campus has never been in such demand.

"We've received nearly a dozen inquiries this year, and it looks as though three or four films have committed to filming on campus this summer," said Michael Strecker, director of public relations, whose office acts as campus liaison for film companies.

Various academic and administrative offices serve as the locations for filming.

Last week, "Mardi Gras," starring Carmen Electra, wrapped up a four-day shoot at the Woldenberg Art Center's Freeman Auditorium.

"Hurricane Season" began shooting Thursday inside Tulane's Fogelman Arena and will continue on campus through this Thursday. Starring Forest Whitaker, Isaiah Washington, Bow Wow, and Lil' Wayne, "Hurricane Season" is based on the true story of the John Ehret High School basketball team that hosted players from five different high schools who were displaced after Katrina. The team won the 2006 Louisiana state championship.

Starting Wednesday, "Living Proof," a Lifetime television movie starring Harry Connick Jr., with Renee Zellweger as executive producer, will be filming inside a laboratory in the Israel Building. This film, which will shoot for a week, is based on the true story of Dr. Denny Slamon, who helped develop a breast-cancer drug called Herceptin.

Still under negotiation for later this summer is the use of Tulane's football practice fields for an independent horror film, "10,000 Doors."

"We understand and appreciate how important the film industry is to New Orleans," Stecker said. "So while logistically it is challenging to host big-budget productions, we do our best to accommodate them when we can."

Louisiana's tax incentives for the filming industry are driving the number of movie productions in the New Orleans in recent years. A 25 percent tax credit is granted to motion picture investors based upon the total in-state expenditures of a production, and an additional 10 percent labor tax credit is given for the hiring of Louisiana residents. In addition, Louisiana offers a 40 percent infrastructure tax credit for the building and establishment of state-of-the-art facilities for filming.

The first two quarters of this year are the busiest the city has seen, said Micha Haley of the New Orleans Office of Film and Video.

"This is a record-setting year for film in New Orleans," Haley said. "Total budgets for films have totaled over $250 million this year so far. And in terms of what they spend here locally, 2008 is already blowing 2007 out of the water. Local spending for the greater metro New Orleans area just for 2008 so far is roughly $180 million."

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