From The Times-Picayune
by Laura Maggi
Mark Smith, the former lead recruiter responsible for recruiting movie companies to make films in Louisiana, will serve a two-year prison term for accepting bribes in exchange for giving lucrative state tax credits to a film producer, a federal judge ruled today.
U.S. District Judge Kurt Engelhardt told Smith that he believed he was "sincerely remorseful," but said that his actions had tarnished the fledgling movie industry. "We live with the damage today," the judge said, as he put the finishing touches on two-year investigation of how the state awarded benefits to the companies that finance entertainment productions in the state.
Engelhardt said in determining the two-year prison sentence, much less than time Smith could have gotten, he balanced Smith's cooperation with federal investigators after his guilty plea in the fall of 2007 against the damage he wrought by accepting cash bribes from a film producer in exchange for doling out too many lucrative state tax credits.
That cooperation led to others being charged in the case: Malcolm Petal, the co-founder and head of the New Orleans company LIFT Productions and other firms and William Bradley, a Hammond attorney. Both men also pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to bribe a state official.
The bribes, worth $135,000, were channeled from Petal to Bradley, a former law-school friend of Smith, who then split the money with Smith. Engelhardt ordered Smith to pay a $67,5000 fine, saying he couldn't allow him to keep the ill-gotten gains.
"The sentence is fair and justified," Smith told the judge at the end of the proceedings. He was ordered to report to prison on August 31.
As the state's film commissioner, Smith had the authority to determine how many tax credits to award to productions filmed in Louisiana. Federal prosecutors have said he gave "way more" tax credits to Petal than he deserved based on how much money he actually spent.
The credits were valuable because upon receipt producers could sell them at a slight discount, meaning that they generated instant cash.
The focus of the investigation was $1.35 million in tax credits received by one of Petal's companies, Break Beat, for filming the 2003 Voodoo Music Festival.
The sentencing today brings the case to a close. Bradley was sentenced to 10 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Lance Africk earlier this month. Petal received the stiffest sentence, a five-year prison term also handed down by Africk.
Africk said at the time that he gave Petal the maximum sentence because his actions bolstered the state's reputation for rampant political corruption at a time when residents are striving to shed that image.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Former La. film official to be sentenced
From The Daily Advertiser
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal judge is set to sentence a former Louisiana film commissioner who pleaded guilty to taking bribe money to secure tax credits for a movie producer.
Mark S. Smith faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison when he is sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Kurt Engelhardt.
Smith served as the state's film commissioner from 2003 to 2005. He pleaded guilty in 2007 to taking about $65,000 in bribes to help movie producer Malcolm Petal secure about $1.3 million in state tax credits for filming live music festivals.
Petal was sentenced in April to five years in prison for his role in the scheme. William Bradley, a lawyer who was the middleman for bribe payments to Smith, was sentenced earlier this month to 10 months in prison.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal judge is set to sentence a former Louisiana film commissioner who pleaded guilty to taking bribe money to secure tax credits for a movie producer.
Mark S. Smith faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison when he is sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Kurt Engelhardt.
Smith served as the state's film commissioner from 2003 to 2005. He pleaded guilty in 2007 to taking about $65,000 in bribes to help movie producer Malcolm Petal secure about $1.3 million in state tax credits for filming live music festivals.
Petal was sentenced in April to five years in prison for his role in the scheme. William Bradley, a lawyer who was the middleman for bribe payments to Smith, was sentenced earlier this month to 10 months in prison.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
La.'s growing film industry boosts need for student actors
From The Daily Reveille
By Xerxes A. Wilson
At first glance it could look like any library, restaurant, bar or student workplace with people mulling around like any typical day. But after that initial glance, the fabricated nature of the moment quickly becomes apparent.
Movie sets are becoming a more common sight throughout Louisiana, and more students are using the growing film industry as an opportunity to both make ends meet and pursue their dreams.
Many students find the easiest way to get involved in the industry is as an extra, said Andrei Constantenescu, extra casting manager for Glorioso Casting, which is based in Shreveport.
For more, click here.
By Xerxes A. Wilson
At first glance it could look like any library, restaurant, bar or student workplace with people mulling around like any typical day. But after that initial glance, the fabricated nature of the moment quickly becomes apparent.
Movie sets are becoming a more common sight throughout Louisiana, and more students are using the growing film industry as an opportunity to both make ends meet and pursue their dreams.
Many students find the easiest way to get involved in the industry is as an extra, said Andrei Constantenescu, extra casting manager for Glorioso Casting, which is based in Shreveport.
For more, click here.
‘The Collector’ Brings Hard 'R' Goodness
From http://www.rabiddoll.com/node/841
Bringing a visceral edge back to American horror, “The Collector” is a film inspired by the uncompromising early works of such masters of horror as Dario Argento, John Carpenter and Tobe Hooper.
“Saw IV-VI” and “Feast” trilogy writers Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan co-wrote the film, with Dunstan stepping behind the camera to make his directorial debut. They were at Comic-Con International in San Diego to promote the film’s July 31 theatrical release, and set down Saturday with RabidDoll.com’s Bryant Griffin to discuss the project.
Originally conceived as a prequel to the "Saw" franchise and developed prior to Dunstan and Melton writing their Project Greenlight film "Feast," "The Collector" was sold as a pitch to Fortress Features and subsequently cut as a $5,000 trailer that caught the eye of Dimension Films. With Dimension providing a $3 million budget, the film was born and shot in 19 days in Louisiana.
The film stars Daniella Alonso ("Wrong Turn 2," "The Hills Have Eyes II), Josh Stewart, Michael Reilly Burke ("Ted Bundy"), Andrea Roth, Madeline Zima, Karley Scott Collins, Robert Wisdom and Juan Fernandez.
Film Production Update last week of July 2009
Welcome to (225) 342-FILM, the official hotline of Louisiana Entertainment. Here’s what’s happening for the last week of July 2009:
Pre-Production (9)
The Sony Pictures feature film Battle: Los Angeles starring Aaron Eckhart is in pre-production in Louisiana with shooting scheduled for Shreveport from September 9 - October 9 and Baton Rouge from October 11- December 10. Resumes and inquires are being accepted by fax at (225) 330-6961 (no headshots, please).
The Disney feature film Secretariat starring Diane Lane is in pre-production in South Louisiana with shooting scheduled from September 28 through December 4. Resumes and inquiries are being accepted by e-mail at secretariat.themovie@gmail.com.
The Screen Gems feature film Straw Dogs starring Alexander Skarsgard, James Marsden, and Kate Bosworth is in pre-production in Shreveport with shooting scheduled to begin August 17 for eight weeks. Resumes and inquiries are being accepted by e-mail at strawdogslouisiana@gmail.com.
The independent feature film The Somnambulist is in pre-production in New Orleans with shooting scheduled from August 10 through August 29th. Resumes and inquiries are being accepted by e-mail at tst.nola@gmail.com.
The Nu Image/Millennium feature film The Mechanic starring Jason Statham will begin pre-production in New Orleans on August 10 and will shoot for nine weeks beginning October 14. Contact details are coming soon.
The Films in Motion feature film Wrong Side of Town Part II starring Rob Van Dam and Batiste is soft-prep in Baton Rouge with three weeks of shooting scheduled for late August and September. Resumes and inquiries are being accepted by e-mail at info@filmsinmotion.com.
The Bullet Films feature film Monster Wolf is in pre-production in Lafayette with shooting scheduled from September 21 through October 14. Resumes and inquiries are being accepted by e-mail at jobs@bulletfilms.net.
The Bullet Films feature film Swamp Shark is in soft-prep in Lafayette with shooting in Lafayette scheduled from Oct. 26 – November 18. Resumes and inquiries are being accepted by e-mail at jobs@bulletfilms.net.
The independent feature film Keep It Together will begin pre-production in late August and will shoot for five weeks in the New Orleans area. Details are coming soon.
Now Filming (4)
Horizon Entertainment’s feature film Father of Invention starring Kevin Spacey, Camilla Belle, Heather Graham, Virginia Madsen, Johnny Knoxville and Craig Robinson is shooting in the New Orleans area through July 31. Inquiries are being accepted by e-mail at fatherofinvention2009@gmail.com
The second season of the September Films A&E reality television series The Exterminators starring Billy Bretherton is shooting in the Shreveport area through the end of August. Inquiries are being accepted by e-mail at vexcon@bellsouth.net.
The Disney Channel children’s television series The Imagination Movers is shooting in Jefferson Parish through September 17. Resumes and inquiries are being accepted by e-mail at. imnola504@gmail.com
The Most Wanted Films feature film Death House is shooting in Baton Rouge through August 15. Inquiries are being accepted by e-mail at info@mostwantedfilms.com.
And for more information about the film and television industry in Louisiana please visit us online at www.louisianaentertainment.gov
Pre-Production (9)
The Sony Pictures feature film Battle: Los Angeles starring Aaron Eckhart is in pre-production in Louisiana with shooting scheduled for Shreveport from September 9 - October 9 and Baton Rouge from October 11- December 10. Resumes and inquires are being accepted by fax at (225) 330-6961 (no headshots, please).
The Disney feature film Secretariat starring Diane Lane is in pre-production in South Louisiana with shooting scheduled from September 28 through December 4. Resumes and inquiries are being accepted by e-mail at secretariat.themovie@gmail.com.
The Screen Gems feature film Straw Dogs starring Alexander Skarsgard, James Marsden, and Kate Bosworth is in pre-production in Shreveport with shooting scheduled to begin August 17 for eight weeks. Resumes and inquiries are being accepted by e-mail at strawdogslouisiana@gmail.com.
The independent feature film The Somnambulist is in pre-production in New Orleans with shooting scheduled from August 10 through August 29th. Resumes and inquiries are being accepted by e-mail at tst.nola@gmail.com.
The Nu Image/Millennium feature film The Mechanic starring Jason Statham will begin pre-production in New Orleans on August 10 and will shoot for nine weeks beginning October 14. Contact details are coming soon.
The Films in Motion feature film Wrong Side of Town Part II starring Rob Van Dam and Batiste is soft-prep in Baton Rouge with three weeks of shooting scheduled for late August and September. Resumes and inquiries are being accepted by e-mail at info@filmsinmotion.com.
The Bullet Films feature film Monster Wolf is in pre-production in Lafayette with shooting scheduled from September 21 through October 14. Resumes and inquiries are being accepted by e-mail at jobs@bulletfilms.net.
The Bullet Films feature film Swamp Shark is in soft-prep in Lafayette with shooting in Lafayette scheduled from Oct. 26 – November 18. Resumes and inquiries are being accepted by e-mail at jobs@bulletfilms.net.
The independent feature film Keep It Together will begin pre-production in late August and will shoot for five weeks in the New Orleans area. Details are coming soon.
Now Filming (4)
Horizon Entertainment’s feature film Father of Invention starring Kevin Spacey, Camilla Belle, Heather Graham, Virginia Madsen, Johnny Knoxville and Craig Robinson is shooting in the New Orleans area through July 31. Inquiries are being accepted by e-mail at fatherofinvention2009@gmail.com
The second season of the September Films A&E reality television series The Exterminators starring Billy Bretherton is shooting in the Shreveport area through the end of August. Inquiries are being accepted by e-mail at vexcon@bellsouth.net.
The Disney Channel children’s television series The Imagination Movers is shooting in Jefferson Parish through September 17. Resumes and inquiries are being accepted by e-mail at. imnola504@gmail.com
The Most Wanted Films feature film Death House is shooting in Baton Rouge through August 15. Inquiries are being accepted by e-mail at info@mostwantedfilms.com.
And for more information about the film and television industry in Louisiana please visit us online at www.louisianaentertainment.gov
Monday, July 27, 2009
Casting Calls, July 27th
According to a craigslist posting, the indie-comedy "A Hot Mess" is still looking for actors.
Casting Call:
Saturday, Aug. 1
11am-2pm
@ The Continental
2144 First Street
Slidell, La. 70458
If you are interested, email a head-shot and resume to ahotmessfilm@gmail.com.
Click here for more information.
_________________________
According to a craigslist ad, a new TV series is seeking Saints fans
A new television series on Coach Payton and the Saints is searching for the most die-hard, loyal, who dat fan(s) around.
Email iamasaintsfan@hotmail.com with your contact information, and a brief description of why you think you are the biggest Saints fan.
Casting Call:
Saturday, Aug. 1
11am-2pm
@ The Continental
2144 First Street
Slidell, La. 70458
If you are interested, email a head-shot and resume to ahotmessfilm@gmail.com.
Click here for more information.
_________________________
According to a craigslist ad, a new TV series is seeking Saints fans
A new television series on Coach Payton and the Saints is searching for the most die-hard, loyal, who dat fan(s) around.
Email iamasaintsfan@hotmail.com with your contact information, and a brief description of why you think you are the biggest Saints fan.
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