Horizon Entertainment couldn't have scripted it any better.
The Emmy Award-winning television studio and production company,
based in Atlanta since its 2007 inception, was looking for a new
setting. They found it in New Orleans.
"We're excited to have our company headquartered in New Orleans,
a city rich in tradition and charisma," said Jason Sciavicco,
Horizon founder and president. "This area's entertainment industry
has not been fully tapped into, and we are going to benefit from
it. Our goal is to continue to help grow the film and television
business in the area."
Horizon received assistance from Louisiana Economic Development,
which helped with the site search process and identified financial
incentives. Louisiana has the third largest film industry, in the
nation, behind only California and New York. Industry experts
credit much of the growth of the motion picture industry in
Louisiana to the state's unique film/television tax incentive
package, which was enacted in 2002.
Since then, the film industry in Louisiana has seen progress and
achievements on many fronts. The skilled crew base has grown over
400 percent, and infrastructure continues to mature rapidly, with
sound stages and post-production facilities open in New Orleans,
Baton Rouge and Shreveport, just to name a few. In 2008, Louisiana
set a production record with more than 80 major film and television
projects, representing over $800 million in production budgets,
including approximately $500 million spent in state.
In late 2008, through a partnership with Tom Benson's Louisiana
Media Company, Horizon moved into a newly built-out production
facility in New Orleans. The company will have five high-definition
editing suites and full field production capabilities. A
5,000-square-foot sound stage has also been erected on the
property.
"We were very impressed with the work and innovation of Horizon
Entertainment and felt that we could offer them a great home here
in New Orleans," said Benson, who is also the owner of the NFL's
New Orleans Saints. "The fact of the matter is that we would not
have been able to pull this off without the great work of the staff
at Louisiana Economic Development and the very progressive business
plan they have created to facilitate getting a company like Horizon
Entertainment to decide to relocate here. We are glad to be a part
of making that happen."
Horizon currently has two television series in production in
Louisiana, including a high school football reality series set to
air on ESPN, and is developing a major motion picture to be shot
and edited in Louisiana.
