Is Shreveport Ready to Become the New “Hollywood South”?

Film production in Los Angeles has declined, according to a recent report. With Hollywood filmmakers now seeking new locations, Shreveport, Louisiana, is emerging as a strong contender. At one point, Shreveport was posed as "Hollywood South," so could we see the Red River city regain its status?

Hollywood's Shifting Sands Drive California's Film Decline

It's been no secret that movie production in Hollywood has changed. According to FilmLA's latest report, the number of on-location shoot days dropped 6.2% across the Greater L.A. area. According to the Guardian, only a fifth of movies watched in North America are shot in California.

The main culprit? Other states and cities have offered tax credits and incentives for big-budget projects to pick them over the default choice of filming in Hollywood. It's a problem that the State of California has only recently tried to mediate with an update to their tax incentives, but it could be too late for the Golden Gate State.

The New "Hollywood South" Finds a Home in Shreveport

Louisiana just had the state's tax incentive program reworked to incentivize more films to take advantage of Louisiana's program. The new laws have no caps on person or project size, meaning larger scale films can get heaps of tax benefits. Shreveport is the prime player for Louisiana's new "Hollywood South," thanks to the city's vast options for beautiful filming locations. Shreveport has been the shooting location for a long list of feature-length and short/indie films.

Shreveport hasn't had a lot of movies made here in recent years, but one man has staked his claim on Hollywood South with millions of dollars for a new film studio empire. Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson has signed a lease with the City of Shreveport to renovate an old soundstage into a full studio for G-Unity Studios to make the city its home.