At the premiere of the expected blockbuster - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - in Harahan Monday night, the stars were out. They were quick to talk about the Crescent City's rise in the movie industry, and how it's setting impacted the film. Brad Pitt plays lead in the film. He and wife Angelina Jolie say the movie thrived because of its location.
"Well it was big tax breaks that brought us here. I mean, that's not my department, but that's what brought us here,” said Pitt. “I'm telling you, it did something else for the film. It suddenly grounded it in a way that wouldn't have worked in other places. You know, there's magic and rhythms to New Orleans, that something mystical could happen here." It was a vibe that was critical for a movie about a man who ages backwards.
"From what I saw visiting the set, just all of the local people from the crew to the actors -- they come with such wonderful commitment and it's also such a creative place," added Jolie. While the city offers charm and mystery to films, the industry brings in much-needed cash to the area. Louisiana has become a major hub for movies -- some have dubbed it "Hollywood South."
And New Orleans is getting a nice piece of the pie. Officials with the city's Office of Film and Video say the metro area hosted more than 20 major movie and television projects in 2008, which brought in budgets of more than $275 million.
Jennifer Day, the film office’s director, says it all adds up to a record-breaking year for films in New Orleans. "That is absolutely back up to any Pre-Katrina levels that existed, and we're hoping to keep up the pace in 2009," Day said. Day cautions, the current economic climate could put a dent in things. But, points to an already healthy slate of projects set for the coming year. Producers for ‘Benjamin Button’ aren't surprised to hear that.
“We’re hoping the legacy that we’ve left here from ‘Benjamin Button’ is reinvigorating the film industry (here), and a place where a lot more movies will be made,” said producer Frank Marshall. "I think it offers an enthusiasm for one. I think there's a tremendous potential crew base here, that can make films and I think that the locations are a wide variety of looks and feeling to such a beautiful city, that it really offers a lot of opportunity," said producer Kathleen Kennedy.
‘Benjamin Button’ was originally scheduled for filming in Boston, but plans changed, and producers say New Orleans gave them exactly what they were looking for.
Brad Pitt is an on-and-off New Orleans resident himself – someone who has become a cheerleader for the city. But ask the actor if he's spreading the word about the city’s place in filmmaking, and he'll tell you, that isn't necessary. "I don't have to speak for New Orleans. New Orleans speaks pretty well for itself as it is," Pitt said.
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