For the past few years Louisiana has been solidifying its position as Hollywood South. While serving in the state Senate I was honored to author the legislation creating Louisiana’s aggressive film tax credits. Those credits and the diversity of Louisiana’s landscape make our state a perfect place to film movies and television shows.

Last night an Academy Award pushed Louisiana another step closer to Hollywood status when Shreveport’s Moonbot Studios took home an Oscar for best achievement in animated short film. Two native Louisianians, author, illustrator and co-director Bill Joyce and co-director Brandon Oldenburg received the award for their work The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, a film made entirely in Louisiana.

Upon receiving his Oscar in front of a television audience of more than 30 million people, Joyce exclaimed “Look, we’re just two swamp rats from Louisiana.” We know better. Joyce and Oldenburg are Louisiana gold and we are proud to share in their success.

The film and television industry is quickly changing the economic landscape of Louisiana. From reality television shows like Swamp People to other Oscar-nominated films like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Louisiana continues to prove a favorite location within the entertainment industry.

We are thrilled to play host to the industry and show off our beautiful landscapes, interesting characters and unique culture. We hope people see our assets on the big and small screens and come to see them live and in person. It looks like Hollywood is letting others know what we have known for two centuries. Louisiana is as wonderful as the fantasy created in movies and television shows.