Can Louisiana’s Film Industry Make a Comeback? New Tax Credit Overhaul and National Strategy Offer Hope

Once a rising star in the American film industry, Louisiana’s motion picture production economy has dimmed. In just three years, film and television production in the state has plummeted by 65%, as international competitors like Canada, the U.K., and even Bulgaria lure projects with more generous incentives and streamlined processes. In stark contrast, Louisiana has zero major productions filming today—down from 14–16 projects in any given month during 2022.

Now, state and local leaders are taking action. A new legislative push aims to give Louisiana Economic Development (LED) more discretion and flexibility in administering the state’s $125 million annual film tax credit program. Spearheaded by Sen. Adam Bass (R-Bossier City), the reform would empower LED to award a flat 40% credit to productions that meet high-impact criteria—eliminating the current patchwork of "kickers" tied to location, local labor, or services.

"This bill has the potential to get people working again," said Patrick Mulhearn, former head of Celtic Studios in Baton Rouge. “There’s a higher bar to qualify, but if you meet that, you go to the front of the line.”

The new structure would also remove outdated caps on tax credits for big-budget films and major stars, giving LED the flexibility to recruit marquee productions like NCIS: New Orleans back to the state. Industry support for the bill is strong, and it has already advanced through legislative committee with backing from major studios and production leaders.

But Louisiana’s efforts don’t stop there. Katie Pryor, executive director of Film Baton Rouge, is co-leading a national effort—Film USA—to create a federal film office within the U.S. Department of Commerce. Modeled after national film commissions in Canada and Europe, this office would market U.S. locations globally, coordinate workforce development, and unify America’s fractured film strategy.

“The U.S. is a victim of our own success,” Pryor said. “We had a hold on the industry and we were playing in our own sandbox. But now there's a global playground being built around us.”

Support for a national film office is growing in Washington. Pryor says Senator Bill Cassidy’s office is supportive of the concept, and former President Donald Trump has even floated tariffs on foreign films as a way to revitalize the domestic film economy.

As the global arms race for production heats up, Louisiana has the history, infrastructure, and cultural cachet to compete. The challenge is adapting fast enough—and strategically enough—to bring the cameras back.