N the Summer of 2013, Ncis Writer Gary Glasberg Was Researching Story Ideas for the Upcoming Season of the Hit Cbs Procedural Dr
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+782120A CIVIC LEA 8 DER SH IP Musicians perform at the famed A generous incentive program has lured significant TV and Maison Bourbon Jazz Club C film production to the Big Easy. U L T U R A L From Mardi Gras to Jazz Fest and countless other live L I F E music events, New Orleans is a cultural destination. Access to capital and renewed confidence make this E N T R city a good environment for startups. E P R E P I N H E S U R DESTINATIONS 2016: NEW ORLEANS 2016: DESTINATIONS NEW NEW ORLEANS RAMANI SANDRA BY THE CRESCENT CITY IS HARNESSING THE CREATIVITY OF THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY TO BOLSTER ITS ENTREPRENEURIAL LANDSCAPE. N THE SUMMER OF 2013, NCIS WRITER GARY GLASBERG WAS RESEARCHING STORY IDEAS FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON OF THE HIT CBS PROCEDURAL DRAMA WHEN HE CAME UPON THE REAL-LIFE NAVAL CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIVE SERVICE’S OFFICE IN NEW I ORLEANS. Managed for 25 years by essentially one man—a “larger-than-life, eccentric, fantastic guy,” Glasberg notes—the New Orleans NCIS stirred Glasberg’s imagination, and he planned a two-part episode set in the city. When he pitched the idea to his producers, they realized that the setting could be an entire spin-off series. “New Orleans provides a wonderful backdrop of heart, soul, music, fun, food, celebration and history—not to mention amazing people,” says Glasberg, now creator and executive producer of NCIS: New Orleans. COSMO CONDINA/GETTY IMAGES CONDINA/GETTY COSMO WORTH.COM JUNE-JULY 2016 079 Glasberg is hardly the only writer- hiring local crew and engaging local producer attracted to the city. From businesses. Following the early success 2012 to 2015, New Orleans hosted 60 of this program, the state launched productions, with feature films such similar initiatives targeting sound re- as Django Unchained, Lee Daniels’ The cording, live performances and digital Butler, Jurassic World and The Big Short, interactive media. The latter program, and TV series including Scream Queens, which includes tax credits for qualified and two seasons of American Horror payroll and software-development Story all shot on its streets and sound- costs, was just getting started in 2005 stages. Driven by New Orleans, Louisi- when Katrina struck, and changed ana earned the nickname “Hollywood everything. As post-Katrina New NEW ORLEANS 2016: DESTINATIONS South”—and surpassed California and Orleans saw an influx of innovative all of Canada in the number of films minds in architecture, sustainability, produced during that period, according real estate and entrepreneurship, as to the Los Angeles film office, FilmLA. well as an increase in out-of-state in- Film and TV producers like New vestments, the entertainment industry Orleans for more than its ambience; became a catalyst for the city’s rebirth. they are enticed by a generous incen- Among the digital media companies tive program for the entertainment that set up shop here was Gameloft, a industry launched by the Louisiana French mobile-gaming designer that Clockwise from left: Django Unchained being filmed at Economic Development agency in 2002, arrived in 2011. “We have a history of Evergreen Plantation; Gary a time when the city needed help. Long seeking out emerging cities, like Glasberg rides in the 2015 Krewe before Hurricane Katrina hit, New Or- Montreal, Bucharest and Guadalajara,” of Orpheus Parade; musician Gary Clark Jr. guest stars on leans was in decline. “For more than 30 says Mathias Royer, general manager with five employees. Today it has more NCIS: New Orleans years, we hadn’t been moving forward,” of the New Orleans site—Gameloft’s than 200 full-time workers and $22 mil- says Michael Hecht, president and CEO lion in revenue. The company recently only U.S. location. of Greater New Orleans, a business The booming production industry helped stage the live-from-NOLA tele- BY SANDRA RAMANI SANDRA BY development nonprofit that supports spawned other companies. In 2009, vision production The Passion for the entrepreneurship in the city. “We were real estate developer Susan Brennan Fox network. “This is a city that values coasting on our railroad and shipping decided to turn the site of a stalled eccentricity and creativity, where you past, and drawing upon our two biggest condo project into Second Line Stages, can make a difference, see results and resources—the energy industry and a state-of-the-art, LEED Gold-certified enjoy a dynamic quality of life,” Solo- our unique culture—but not sustaining soundstage complex that has since mon says. “I wouldn’t want to do this what we had or growing.” Crime, cor- hosted dozens of A-list productions, anywhere else. This is where I want to ruption and a broken education system and houses offices for related busi- eat, hear music and live.” were also contributing to a “lack of con- nesses, from casting agents and That work-play-live culture shared fidence and community drive,” remem- post-production artists to Hollywood among young professionals has helped bers Tim Williamson, a native New Trucks, an eco-friendly film-equipment spur the growth of the hospitality Orleanian and cofounder of the Idea transport company. industry as well. In 2014, visitors to Village, a local business incubator that A budget crisis is making some state the city spent nearly $7 billion, and hosts the annual New Orleans Entre- lawmakers try to chip away at the the demand for new restaurants and preneur Week (see page 146). “The city incentive plan, but the momentum of hotels has revitalized neighborhoods didn’t feel open to new ideas or people, the past 14 years has produced a more that had not previously attracted tour- and was losing its best local talent.” diversified local economy. Entertain- ism dollars, such as Treme, Faubourg The incentive program—known ment now generates thousands of Marigny, the South Market District and as the Motion Picture Investor Tax high-paying jobs for millennials who the emerging Warehouse Art District, Credit—perhaps the most generous had never before encountered these home to the new Ace Hotel New Or- of its kind in the country, helped turn opportunities in New Orleans. One leans. Chef Nina Compton, who owns things around and lure the entertain- example is Gary Solomon Jr., who after Compère Lapin at the Old No. 77 Hotel & ment industry to Louisiana—specifi- studying theatrical lighting design Chandlery in the warehouse area, first cally New Orleans. Incentives include in New York at NYU's Tisch School, lived in town while competing on the subsidies of up to 35 percent of a film’s returned to New Orleans and in De- 11th season of Top Chef. “I kept thinking budget for productions with budgets cember 2008 cofounded the Solomon of how I could get back. The city has of over $300,000, as well as bonuses for Group, an event-production company, such a pull and is also very supportive,” DJANGO: ANDREW COOPER/THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY; NCIS: CBS PHOTO ARCHIVE; GLASBERG: ERIKA GOLDRING/GETTY IMAGES ERIKA GOLDRING/GETTY ARCHIVE; GLASBERG: NCIS: CBS PHOTO COMPANY; WEINSTEIN ANDREW COOPER/THE DJANGO: WORTH.COM JUNE-JULY 2016 081 Compton says. “Lots of people have come here, you realize there is no As the city approaches its 300th an- thanked me for moving here”—some- other New Orleans.” In some cases, niversary in 2018, the local economy is thing the Idea Village’s Williamson the city has doubled for other loca- strong, thanks to its new diversity—in might attribute to the prevailing “feel- tions—such as 1963 Dallas for a JFK contrast to the rest of Louisiana, which ing of paying it forward, because we biopic—but often “New Orleans starts continues to rely on the constantly know we didn’t do this alone.” speaking to filmmakers, and they are fluctuating energy sector. Violent CITYSCAPE Entertainment, too, has played a inspired to change their scripts to fea- crime is still a concern—the killing CITYSCAPE role in the growth of tourism. “A ture the city,” says Christopher Stelly, of former New Orleans Saints player survey on how film and TV impacts executive director of Louisiana En- Will Smith this spring cast a dark visitor decisions revealed a huge tertainment for Louisiana Economic cloud over an otherwise prospering [ WHERE TO WORK, INVEST AND PLAY IN NEW ORLEANS ] change in the perception of the city,” Development. “It is such a deep, rich city—but the murder rate is at its low- NEW ORLEANS 2016: DESTINATIONS says Patrick Comer, founder and CEO place that it often becomes a part of est level in 40 years. Major initiatives of Lucid, a market-research software the story itself, much like New York such as the Reinventing the Crescent company that has become a major or Paris.” Case in point: NCIS: New riverfront development plan—which player in New Orleans’ tech space. Orleans. “We needed a setting that was will transform six miles of unused “Movies and TV shows are revealing so unique it functioned as a character commercial and industrial space along the real culture, and then once you on the show,” says Glasberg. the Mississippi River into parks, arti- san booths, bike trails and an extended streetcar line—seek to reduce crime Piety Bridge in Bywater's further while reinvigorating public Crescent Park; below: a spaces. At the development’s heart traditional painted house on Lower Bourbon Street in the is Crescent Park, a $30 million linear French Quarter park along 20 acres that opened its BUSINESS HOTELS RESTAURANTS EXPERIENCES first phase in 2014 to great fanfare and GREATER NEW ORLEANS ACE HOTEL THE CATAHOULA BESPOKE national praise, allowing the city to This public-private partnership NEW ORLEANS HOTEL CAFE AND EXPERIENCES capitalize on its momentum as one of supports local economic de- Opened in March, the Roman PISCO BAR Whether you want private the fastest-growing metro areas in the velopment and entrepreneur- and Williams–designed hotel The intimate bar and restaurant access to working artists’ ship by advising on incentive draws crowds to the Warehouse studios, a VIP night at a RAMANI SANDRA BY South.