NEW ORLEANS - The set of HBO's new series 'Treme' is bustling, as crew members gear up for an April 11 premiere.
The show's executive producer, Eric Overmyer, says many New Orleanians are helping push this Crescent City-themed project forward.
"A lot of our crew is local. Some of the key people are local, and - even more important - we're using local actors and musicians, who are spectacular," Overmyer said.
Officials with the New Orleans Office of Film and Video say it's all part of a surging industry in the city.
From cable television series to big budget feature films, officials say Hollywood's presence in town is peaking.
"This is the busiest spring lineup we've ever seen,” said office director Jennifer Day. “We had shows going into production in January of this year. They usually wait until after Mardi Gras, but the demand is so high for Louisiana - well New Orleans in particular - crew, resources, and locations, that we just hit 2010 running."
Two films recently wrapped shooting, while nine other productions are scheduled to get underway in New Orleans during the first half of the year.
The headliner is Warner Brothers 'The Green Lantern' - a big budget motion picture, to be shot over the next six months in locations across the city.
Kevin Murphy, Director of Studio Operations at Second Line Stages in the Lower Garden District, says the busy lineup is a big boost in business opportunities for locals.
"There is a large workforce here,” Murphy said. “The union rolls have gotten larger with each month. So that, you know, as more productions keep coming in, the stable gets bigger and people stay for longer periods of time."
Day agrees, saying the yearly economic impact from the city’s film industry is around $100 million.
"Movies, television shows, industrial videos need all kinds of goods and services to accomplish their goals,” she said. “So, we're talking about dozens, and probably hundreds of local vendors - everything from security service providers, port-a-potties, hardware supplies, I mean movies need everything to accomplish their goals"
From the state's successful tax incentives for films, to the overall backdrop the city provides -- officials believe Hollywood is here to stay.
