Let's make movies

There's been some regional commentary on Shreveport's recent rise and replacement of Austin as film capital of the South, due largely to Louisiana's 6-year-old financial incentive program. The La. incentives offer filmmakers 25% cash rebates (or tax credits) for all in-state spending on things like equipment rentals, food service, hotel rooms and, at a lower rate, labor. The primary rebates are five times the rate of Texas movie incentives and much larger than ours. I understand that it's not uncommon to run into celebrities on any night of the week at local restaurants in Shreveport like the Superior Bar and Grill.

I normally get Arkansas Business a few days later than most, but here's a good column by Jeff Hankins in the 5/26 edition on our current incentive act, which gives a qualified 100% refund of state sales tax paid on the purchase of property and services in connection with a film. There's been some legislation kicked around for the last couple of sessions, but nothing has been enacted. Meanwhile, the editorial in today's edition comes out against the lottery proposal. Here's the link.