Chatgris Press
Film Work IN NEW ORLEANS and Louisiana
Although Chatgris Press is a book publishing company, it also is a part of the New Orleans community. As such, Chatgris Press has a vested interest in the economic health and welfare of the city, and promotes and encourages creative growth and prosperity. To this end, Chatgris Press has added to its Web site information on the video and film industry in New Orleans and Louisiana. The information provided below is posted as received; if incorrect or outdated, feel free to notify the publisher.
Film and Video Industry Awareness Month
In an effort to increase visibility and appreciation of the film and video industry in New Orleans and Louisiana, Gary Michael Smith of Chatgris Press drafted and submitted a proclamation to the Governor’s office during the third week of January 2005. On Monday, January 24, 2005, Governor Blanco approved and signed the proclamation declaring the month of March “Film and Video Industry Awareness Month” for the state of Louisiana. Download the proclamation (224KB) here. To celebrate this occasion, a special screening (85KB) of the Lions Gate Entertainment film A Love Song for Bobby Long was organized on March 26 with various speakers preceding the screening. Read the keynote (13KB) address.
Tax Credits
New Orleans is flourishing with film work for actors and extras. This is thanks to the following legislation:
· Investor Tax Credit (Act No. 6, Senate Bill 108 and Act 1240, House Bill 892)
· Employment/Labor Tax Credit (Act No. 1, House Bill 17)
· Sales and Use Tax Exclusion (Act No. 5, Senate Bill 85)
Read a Summary of Motion Pictures Incentives (88KB).
Read articles regarding these tax incentives from the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
Working As an Extra
If you are interesting in working as a film extra, there are a few steps that you should follow to get started:
1. Develop a résumé using a standard Hollywood Format Résumé Template.
2. Complete a Motion Picture Extra Profile Sheet.
3. Take high-quality digital photos or pay a photographer to shoot some “head-shots.”
4. Apply your picture to the Template and Profile Sheet.
5. Send a cover letter with your résumé and profile sheet to a Film Extra Casting Companies.
If you prefer to work as a speaking actor, follow these steps:
1. Take some Acting Classes or hire an acting coach (see next section below).
2. Send your résumé and profile sheet to agents and/or talent agencies.
You can follow up with emails and phone calls if you haven’t heard from the casting company or talent agencies. Just understand that these are busy professionals with a job to do; if they haven’t contacted you, it could be because they don’t need someone with your particular look or experience at the moment. Patience is a virtue.
For Talent Agents
If you are a talent agent new to the area, here are three of the biggest local commercial production companies who hire local actors.
Photos from Film Shoots
See images of extras from some films:
· Faith of My Fathers; a) eight high-ranking officers, (220KB) b) five women (143KB), photography by Catherine Martorana
· Locusts!; extras cast (860KB)
· All the King's Men; 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Articles
Want to read about the The Life of a Movie Extra (24KB)?
Or maybe you would like to read the Memoirs of a Hollywood South Film Extra (54KB).
Instruction
If you want to learn how to be a movie extra, take the course Movie Extra 101 at the University of New Orleans during the summer and fall 2005 semesters. This course is taught by Gary Michael Smith (21KB). See the Classes, Resources, Services link for more information.
Film and Video in New Orleans
For more information on video and film work in Louisiana, follow these links:
· New Orleans Office of Film and Video
· Robert E. Nims Center for Entertainment Arts
· New Orleans Access Television
· New Orleans Video Access Center
· Hurd Casting Network (info)
Services
· Acting Classes
· Paul Rosefeldt (Theatre)
· Hale Talent (flyer and form, 84KB)
· Voice and Diction
· Accent Reduction (University of New Orleans, 760KB)
Film and Video in Louisiana
· Louisiana Office of Film and Television Development
· Louisiana Institute of Film Technology
Film and Video, General Information
For general information on the film and video industry, follow these links:
· The Big Picture (networking information)
· FLM (magazine)
· CastingAudition.com (nationwide casting database)
· International Modeling Guide Glossary
Film Industry Meet-up Groups
Interested in joining a film industry meet-up group or in getting on an email list?
· New Orleans Film Industry Meetup Group (Lynn Yeldell)
· The Hurd Casting Network Monthly Meetup Group (Wayne Morgan)
· New Orleans Access Television (Mimi Loftus)
Film Commissions
Want to contact a film commission anywhere in the United States? See this Film Commission Directory.
