Mississippi Coast Film Office

Need The Film Industry is a $60+ billion industry.  It provides 1.3 million jobs and $10 billion in income and sales taxes. Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, Carolinas have active state film commissions which are great incentives to filmmakers. Mississippi now matches those incentives. We offer a Mississippi Motion Picture Incentive Program, a right to work state, diverse locales and unique geography, experienced professionals and the USM Film School on the coast. This area can be somewhat of a nightmare for filmmakers though, because we also have three counties (six in the region) and eleven cities (fifteen in the region), twenty-five places, and thirteen chambers of commerce. Organization throughout these different counties, places, and chambers of commerce is nearly impossible for someone from another region.

Mission If we had a local film office, we would have “feet on the ground” to “close the loop” by providing on-location expertise and personal contacts. This would save time and money for filmmakers. The film office will coordinate with the Mississippi Film Commission, and the natural partner for this would be the Chamber of Commerce.

As the Mississippi Coast Film Office we will work in support of the Mississippi Film Office to attract film, television, video, and commercial production to shoot on-location on the Mississippi Coast. The office will provide scouting for specific location needs; break down scripts and prepare customized photo files; provide pre-production research into production services, accommodations, production personnel, state regulations, weather and climate; and maintain an updated Mississippi Gulf Coast Location and Production Guide. We will coordinate and facilitate cooperation with local state and federal officials, businesses, civic and institutional leaders, universities, labor unions, news media, neighborhood associations and residents; be on call at all time to address changing needs as they arise; coordinate with and support the Mississippi Film Office and serve as the state film office’s on-location team; and provide a convenient web-based Production and Location Guide. This guide will include all local restaurants, talent, crew and support database and will be interactive.

Progress The committee for the Mississippi Coast Film Office will be chaired by Cathye Ross-Amos. The committee will be using the Mississippi Film Office Production/Location guide as a template, and will be updating local data. They also will be recruiting local experienced professionals to make this film office more efficient 

MS Movies Music Sun & Sand Festival 2011

MS Movies Music Sun & Sand Sponsor Booklet

Mississippi Film Office Location and Production Guide

For a list of additional resources, visit the Coast Chamber's Membership Directory