Filmmaking in Louisiana 101
Join officials from the State of Louisiana as they share the latest and greatest about the benefits of filming in Louisiana. The open discussion will be lead by Chris Stelly, Executive Group Director of Louisiana Entertainment & Digital Media.
presented by Louisiana Office of Entertainment Industry Development
Speakers
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Chris StellyExecutive Director of Louisiana EntertainmentA native Louisianan, Chris joined Louisiana Economic Development’s entertainment office in 2004. Under Stelly’s tenure and direction, Louisiana quickly became one of the top film production destination. Due to the trailblazing incentive program, Louisiana experienced exponential growth and the state became a powerhouse in the film industry.
As Executive Director of Louisiana Entertainment, a division of Louisiana Economic Development, Stelly currently leads a team of 7 business development and entertainment industry professionals promoting Louisiana as a holistic place to do business. Overseeing four unique statutory programs – motion picture, sound recording, live performance and digital interactive media & software development, Stelly is committed to educating community leaders and citizens about entertainment development opportunities. He also is committed to working closely with industry allies and economic development partners throughout the state to attract and nurture entertainment businesses.
“I am very proud of the work our office has done. We have poured the foundation for these industries to become major economic forces in Louisiana. Over the past few years, Louisiana has seen increased growth in all of these sectors and now boasts an industry which impacts the economy at over $1 billion a year. The excitement of the ever-evolving nature of this business drives me to work even harder to ensure the success and longevity of the entertainment industry in Louisiana,” says Chris, adding, “To compete in today’s ever-changing world, you have to be innovative and on the cutting edge. Through my work here in the entertainment sector, I feel like I’m doing my small part to ensure that Louisiana becomes a major leader in the industry, not only within the United States, but around the world. Louisiana is poised to become an entertainment industry engine for years to come.”
Stelly is a resident of Baton Rouge and shares his home with his wife Lindsey, & three children, Alexander, Isabella and Sophia. -
Katie Patton PryorExecutive Director of the Baton Rouge Film CommissionKatie Patton Pryor was appointed executive director of the Baton Rouge Film Commission in April 2017 and is responsible for promoting Baton Rouge worldwide as a location for film and television. She works to attract, retain, and grow the creative economy and industry support. She is a Louisiana film advocate, an active member of The Association of Film Commissioners International, co-founder of the non-profit Film USA, and an adjunct professor at the LSU film program. Katie’s background is in marketing, political consulting, and film.
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Meaghan McCormackChief Executive Officer for the St. Bernard Economic Development FoundationMeaghan McCormack is the Chief Executive Officer for the St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation. Her efforts center on business retention, expansion, and attraction, strategic neighborhood development, workforce development and marketing the parish as a great place to live, work and play. She has previous experience working for the World Trade Center New Orleans and the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program. Meaghan is a graduate of Loyola University New Orleans with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Business Management and Marketing and minors in Sociology and Mass Communication.
