Louisiana Delegation Trip to Los Angeles During American Film Market Announces Production Commitments For Greater Baton Rouge Area For 2006

$217 million of production funds coming to LA.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) November 9, 2005 -- Senator Jay Dardenne (R-Baton Rouge) and Baton Rouge Mayor-President Kip Holden (D-Baton Rouge) are pleased to announce 2006 film production commitments for the Greater Baton Rouge area. Their successful trip to Los Angeles, during the American Film Market, resulted in agreements to produce over $200 million of film and television projects in the
Baton Rouge and South Louisiana region.

Mayor-President Melvin L. “Kip” Holden stated,” Our city and parish are truly grateful for the new opportunities provided in the film and
television industry with the creation of this fund. It offers us the diversity we look for in economic development. Based on this partnership we are poised to become one of America’s next greatest cities.”

Meetings with Senator Dardenne and Mayor-President Holden and executives from numerous production companies resulted in multiple entertainment projects that include Spice Factory/Cameo FJ Entertainments’ slate of high concept commercial feature films whose genres include thrillers, action and comedy. WINTER HEAT, a heist movie will start production in January. The high-energy action thriller, to be directed by Harley Cokeliss, was written by Michael Grais and is produced by Spice Factory Ltd, Cameo FJ Entertainment, Barzo Productions Ltd., Michael Grais Productions, Ron Hamady Film and Hope & Glory. MIAMILAND, written and directed by Derek Hass and Michael Brandt (2 FAST 2 FURIOUS), will be produced by Michael Lionello Cowan and Jason Patie - Spice Factory Ltd, and Francesco Julliand of Cameo FJ Entertainment Inc. MY FUNNY VALENTINE, written by Jennifer Field will be directed by Duncan Roy and produced by Freddy Braidy and Francesco Juilland for Cameo FJ Entertainment, Michael Lionelio Cowan and Jason Patie for Spice Factory, and Rolfe Auerbach.

V Entertainment Group’s CEO Sidney Balkin, announced BANNER DAYS, a feature film based on a true story and book of the same title written by Penny Banner, the first female wrestling champion, who had a long liaison with entertainer Elvis Presley. Pat Bradley (“The Buddy Holly Story”) wrote the screenplay. Additional South Louisiana-based projects for V Entertainment Group include a television pilot/Movie of the Week and murder mystery feature. Balkin’s company is bringing $10 million to greater Baton Rouge.

The delegations’ trip on November 3 and 4 also included Paul Arrigo, Baton Rouge Area Convention and Visitors Bureau President/CEO and Director of Projects Stacy Simon; and Chris Stelly of the Governor’s Office of Film & Television Development. “We’re delighted that Baton Rouge was received so warmly by the film industry,” said Paul Arrigo, Baton Rouge Area Convention and Visitors Bureau President/CEO. “We are truly excited about the number of films committed to the Baton Rouge area in the future because we recognize the great value the film industry has in our city’s economic growth.”(MORE)

Michele LeBlanc, Senior Partner of Art & Entertainment Law Group of Le Blanc and Associates, PLC, a Louisiana film financing and entertainment firm initiated and organized the delegation trip. Michele LeBlanc states, “We are proud to be a part of this incredible team and working with both city and state officials to bring the motion picture and television industry to the area. We support the teams’ vision and leadership, and the aid of the Baton Rouge Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, all of which made this trip so successful.”

Featured meetings with executives of major studios included SONY Pictures Entertainment, NBC Universal, Paramount Pictures, The Walt Disney Company, Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Brothers, Lifetime Television, Showtime Television, and BET (Black Entertainment Television). Numerous one-on-one meetings were also held with independent producers and film financiers, which are anticipated to bring in additional productions to South Louisiana.

Economic Development Manager, Chris Stelly of the Governors Office of Film and Television Development noted, “We are very excited about the substantial new productions coming to the area as a result of the delegations trip and are pleased to support the efforts of the city and state.”

Fred Milstein, President of leading completion guarantor cineFinance, (a subsidiary of Houston Casualty Company) commented, “We are committed to providing completion bonds and, through brokers film production insurance coverage to productions that want to film in the greater Baton Rouge area. We believe that the state of Louisiana has some of the leading incentives for filmmakers in the country and we want to support this effort in a major way.”

State Senator Jay Dardenne concluded, “We had productive discussions with studio executives and producers who are extremely interested in greater Baton Rouge area. Recognizing the post-hurricane growth of our area, the film and television industry expressed a continuing commitment to projects in South Louisiana. Our aggressive tax incentives program is a magnet for those who invest in these projects.”

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