Katrina Devastates Hollywood South

New Orleans: Cinematic no longer

Thousands are feared dead. Tens of thousands more have lost their homes, their jobs, their businesses, their cities. But as is tradition in the movie biz, the show must go on. And so, producers of films that had been in production in Louisiana--the state with the most generous tax incentives for film--when Hurricane Katrina hit are already scheming their next moves.

Among these films are Warner Bros. Pictures' "The Reaping," produced by Joel Silver and starring Hilary Swank; CBS telefilm "Vampire Bats," starring Lucy Lawless; Element Films comedy "The Last Time," starring Michael Keaton and Brendan Fraser; and two Disney pics: "Deja Vu," produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and starring Denzel Washington; and "The Guardian" starring Kevin Costner. Other productions that were slated for production in Louisiana this year include "Bug," starring Ashley Judd, and FX TV series "Thief."

Last year 27 feature and TV films were made in Louisiana. The state paid out $67 million in tax credits that year.

The L.A. times quotes Jack Kyser, chief economist with the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp., as saying "This is probably going to put [Louisiana] out of competition for a while." The Hollywood Reporter reports that a Warners spokesperson expects "The Reaping" to resume shooting in New Orleans on Thursday, while someone on the production admitted this would be challenging because "Flights, electricity, manpower, car rental -- there are going to be massive infrastructure problems."

>> Desperation, chaos in storm zone [Miami Herald, 8/31/05]
>> Storm Could Cut Filming in Louisiana [L.A. Times, 8/30/05]
>> Katrina derails production [Hollywood Reporter, 8/30/05]
>> Hurricane Batters New Hollywood, Old Hollywood Sighs Guilty Relief [Defamer, 8/30/05]

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