Written by new-contact on Sep 9, 2013. Posted in On Location

Louisiana doubling for Kansas and Massachusetts in new filming projects

Louisiana is doubling for Kansas and Massachusetts in two separate productions. Charlize Theron is among the stars heading to Shreveport for new Kansas-set thriller Dark Places, while TV series Salem, based on the 17th Century witch hunts in Massachusetts, is also filming in Shreveport.

“You have so many different looks around town. It's not just about the studio, it's about the city and the things the city has to offer,” said Diego Martinez, of Millennium Studios in Shreveport, to media outlet KSLA: “This city has doubled for many places, from Alaska, to Paris, to LA, to New York; we can make downtown look like New York.”

Louisiana is one of the main production hubs in the US because of its base 30% filming tax credit, but shooting tends to focus on Baton Rouge and New Orleans in the south.

The production industry in Shreveport has been calling for a direct flight to be established linking the city directly to Los Angeles to help boost its appeal to Hollywood. More regional training programmes are also being planned to expand the city’s crew pool.

(Bridge photo: Nathan Pham)