Q&A: Will New Orleans return back to the ‘Hollywood South’ it once was?
By: Sanghia Shallcross, Contributor
August 19, 2024
“Hollywood South” is the endearing nickname given to New Orleans due to the number of movies and television shows that are filmed in the city. At one time, there were film crews on almost every street, and celebrity sightings were greater than that of Los Angeles. But recently, New Orleans is seeing a different reality. As the saying goes “the only constant is change”, and the once booming movie business has come to a near halt in the city. But is the halt a brief occurrence or has it become the new way of life?
The film industry is attempting to rebound from the Covid 19 pandemic and numerous writer strikes, leaving many curious if Hollywood will ever be the same.
The Herald spoke with Xavier Alumnus Ruston Henry. Henry graduated in 2013 and has been working freelance in the film industry for the past ten years. He says there are a lot of variables that contribute to the success and failure of the movie business in New Orleans.
Did you work during the Covid 19 pandemic? If so, what did you work on and how often were you able to work?
I did when they finally came back from the pandemic. It was definitely an adjustment, some good and some bad. When Covid hit I was on this series of Blumhouse/Amazon Prime horror movies, and we shut down in the middle of production. When we finally went back to work, I was on the production till the beginning of 2021 then jumped onto another series of Blumhouse films that lasted over a year. I will say, working during Covid times made some aspects of our job, PAs, difficult.
What does the post Covid 19 film industry look like?
Well, post Covid, jobs like Covid Compliance and Health & Safety… the departments in charge of testing, mask enforcement, etc. have been phased out. But as far as there being less jobs because of it, I don’t think that has any big effect on it. It’s more so because of other factors such as: the recent writers’ strike, tax incentives not being what they were, etc. But as of now, it’s definitely less jobs because of fewer shows being shot down here. I know former crew members, who have to take up other jobs because they don’t have a show lined up or anything.
What does the future look like for the film industry in New Orleans? Do you think it will pick back up?
I think it depends on certain factors; particularly, how the tax incentive will be. That will ultimately determine where it’s headed. Because it’s no shortage of people who want to work or availability of places. Currently there are 2-3 shows shooting down here right now, but still tons of film industry folks are out of work. Some have said it will hopefully pick up next year, and it might with the Super Bowl being down here. But right now, we’re not sure. But this isn’t the first time there has been a shortage of film work like when Bobby Jindal basically cut the tax incentives in 2015. I believe, so maybe it will pick back up like it did before.
Lastly, any words of advice for current Xavier students who are considering working in the film industry?
My advice would be to just do it. Start small if you have to. Do background work, intern, or help other people with their shorts or projects. Also, keep in contact with the people you meet on and off set. Because they may remember you when they are looking for people for a project they are doing and not just the above-the-line people: other PAs, crew members, even background or extras. You never know when you may need a favor like working on your film or if they may want your help with a project.
Henry, like many others, remains hopeful the New Orleans film industry will fully rebound. However, he at times has become reliant on income from his family’s business due to the lack of jobs. He also encourages students and those interested in film to check websites such as Filmneworleans.org and Production weekly for updates on jobs. He hopes the film industry will jump back into “action”!
