LM 8-10 editorial:layout 1/19/11 5:09 PM Page 36 THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME AN INTERVIEW WITH BRYAN BATT BY FRANK LEE WILLS, GUEST COLUMNIST PHOTO BY GARY MICHAEL SMITH, SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT EDITOR ust as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz J chanted “There’s no place like home” over and over, Bryan Batt feels the same sentiments. When Batt and I met last month in New Orleans at Hazelnut, his Magazine Street store for fine gifts and home furnishings, he wanted nothing more than to be working back home in the Crescent City. Over the past several years his career has taken him to both the East and West Coasts, working in New York on Broadway theatre productions and in Los Angeles for the AMC series Mad Men, in which he plays Sal Romano. As we talked about the growth of the film industry here in Louisiana over the last 10 years—particularly in New Orleans—his ambitions were to return to his hometown to work. Batt states, “Since working in L.A. these past few years, a lot of my acting friends constantly say that they’re going to Louisiana to do some filming.” Indeed, infrastructure additions such as Second Line Stages—the new continued on page 38 Bryan Batt NEED COST REPORTS5 2 AUDITED 433 NOVAC is proud to offer high-quality training 467 554 and certification in Apple Pro Applications to 3432 businesses and individuals at one of the t reports. 346 lowest rates in the country. g cos lm M. Dienes,n LLC has alco e auditi 98 ••••••••••••••• M rienc expe dits ost Report Au iation MAKE NEW ORLEANS YOUR tion C NEXT TRAINING DESTINATION. Produc , Bonus Deprec es GO ZONE Legislationt Tax Credits :Employmen IRS Audit Representations for Casualty Loss Planning LA Film Credit ervices and Tax Tax S ilations, and Reviews , Comp www com Audits .malcolmdienes. JOHN THERIOT FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT US AT: [email protected] 504 207.1712 504.940.5780 OR [email protected] KATIE KUCHLER-DAVIS MALCOLM M. DIENES, LLC [email protected] www.novacvideo.org CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS 504 207.1717 36 LOUISIANA FILM & VIDEO MAGAZINE ISSUE EIGHT LM 8-10 editorial:layout 1/19/11 5:10 PM Page 38 Bryan Batt, roots, finding his life ambitions on a East Coast, West Coast, or South answered, “I’d love to do more film continued from page 36 New Orleans Recreation Depart- Coast, Batt has not had a tough and television. There’s so much LEED-certified environmentally- ment stage. “New Orleans has time with his accent. When I asked going on here, I’d love to be more conscious soundstage in the lower always been home,” he admits. “I him about any problems with his involved, and being a local hire I Garden District—has been a think if you don’t lose track of who dialect while working in the enter- think that should be a plus.” major attraction for feature films you are or where you came from, it tainment industry, he explained, “I He continued, “I like that a lot like Green Lantern, which recently really says something about you.” really didn’t have that heavy New of people are coming here and wrapped filming there. He continues, “You can never Orleans accent, although I did taking advantage of what we have One of the many features the lose track of your roots, and I just have to get rid of a few things.” to offer.” new studio offers is the ability to happen to love being from New There are so many different Batt continued to talk about his audition actors for possible roles in Orleans. It’s a great city to be New Orleans accents and Batt affection for his home city and the major productions. from.” was quick to point out the 1980s opportunities it has to offer an actor, “I have not been over to see the Batt also notices the flourishing film The Big Easy, where he, like but he still had not answered my studio,” Batt explains, “but I’d love opportunity. “Now that there is many New Orleanians, cringed question on what he wanted to play. to be called in for something while more work down here in the film when they heard Dennis Quaid try I sensed something was missing I’m here. It’s really nice to consider and television industry, I’d love to to facilitate a New Orleans accent. and something he longed for, so I New Orleans the Hollywood of the be a part of it and have some work He observed, “I think Treme has asked him, “If you had a wish list, South, along with Shreveport and here in New Orleans. I think it’s gotten it down right,” referring to what would be on it as far as Baton Rouge. I’d love to work more great that the city has come back the HBO series created by Eric acting goes?” This time he was here rather than go up to New York so well since Katrina. But the one Overmyer and David Simon and more forthcoming. “Right now I’d or out to L.A.” thing that has come back strong is shot locally in New Orleans. have to be completely honest and Being a Newman and Tulane the TV and film industry.” By a chance meeting at a local say I’d love to be on Treme. I love graduate, Batt is still loyal to his Whether he is working on the restaurant, Batt was approached that show; I think it’s wonderful.” by the producers of the recently Which brings us back to the shot indie movie Brawler. He was chant: “There’s no place like “IT’S REALLY NICE TO CONSIDER given the part of would-be fight home.” promoter “Fat Chubby” in this NEW ORLEANS THE HOLLYWOOD boxing flick. He was not too FRANK LEE WILLS IS A NEW thrilled by the name of the char- ORLEANS-BASED ACTOR. HE CAN BE OF THE SOUTH, ALONG WITH acter, so I asked him if there was REACHED THROUGH HIS AGENT DEL any particular role he’d like. Some- CORRAL AT 504-324-3782 OR SHREVEPORT AND BATON ROUGE.” what dodging the question, he DIRECTLY AT [email protected]. 38 LOUISIANA FILM & VIDEO MAGAZINE ISSUE EIGHT.