Today Mayor Cedric B. Glover announced the implementation of the City of Shreveport's film industry incentive program and the awarding of the first sales tax rebates under the ordinance.

Passed by the City Council by Resolution 86 of 2009, the program provides sales tax rebates on production expenditures including lodging within Caddo Parish to qualifying film projects. District A Councilman Calvin Lester Jr. sponsored the legislation and Arlena Acree, the Mayor's Director of Film and Entertainment, provided advice and guidance to see the ordinance through to passage.

The first two film projects to take advantage of this program are Straw Dogs and Drive Angry, two productions based in Shreveport earlier this year. Together, they spent $5,515,089 in eligible production expenses and paid $252,069.99 in total sales taxes (parish plus city). Under the incentive program, the projects received $137,877.23 in total rebates representing the 2.5% paid in city sales tax.

“We are proud and pleased to be implementing this film industry incentive program,” said Mayor Glover. “We recognize and firmly believe that the name of the game in this industry is “competition,” and we also firmly believe that these innovative local tax incentives will make Shreveport and the surrounding area even more competitive in attracting investments and future film projects. I want to thank Arlena Acree on my staff who continues to work tirelessly to promote and expand the film industry here in Shreveport, as well as the City Council for their vision and determination in working to keep this exciting, high-growth industry here in Shreveport.”

As of September 1, Shreveport has hosted 13 film (movie or television) productions so far this year with total budgets of more than $170 million. These projects have logged 450 production days and created 1,241 positions for crew. The industry has also provided a healthy boost to the local economy, with film projects responsible for 30,553 hotel room nights and 730 round trip airline tickets purchased between Los Angeles and Shreveport or Dallas Fort Worth.