The state of Louisiana brings to mind a number of cultural hallmarks. There’s Mardi Gras, jazz, ornate architecture, and great Creole food – but it’s probably safe to say this isn’t the first place you think of when it comes to filmmaking.

Over the past couple of years however, Louisiana has quickly become a new hot spot for motion picture and television production, thanks to special tax incentives, and a growing influx of talent to the area. Among them is Full Sail Film graduate Jose Figueroa-Baez, who moved to New Orleans shortly after graduation to pursue his career as a freelance photographer and camera tech in the city’s emerging film community.

“Louisiana has just blown up, and New Orleans is the biggest producer of films in the state,” he says. “It’s got everything from $100 million features to low-budget independent movies. It’s growing so much, and a lot of really good work is coming into the area. It’s an exciting place to be right now, I’ve met a ton of great people and learned so much about film.”

Jose came to the city in early 2010, following a lead from Full Sail’s Career Development department about a position on the horror feature Mirrors 2. Having grown up in his native Puerto Rico fascinated by photography, Jose pursued an internship in the camera department, where he managed the video cable, batteries, and charging stations for the RED cameras used during the shoot.

“It was such a great experience because the crew really took me in,” he says. “Louisiana is a place where if you work well with those around you, more people are going to start hiring you. You’ll run into the same people over and over again, because it’s a smaller community, and that’s why people love this area. That first experience was pretty much how I’ve gotten most of my credits, through people that recommended me because of the quality of my work.”

Six months later, the relationships Jose developed with the Mirrors crew has already led to him camera assistant positions on a range of projects. This includes the SyFy movie Swamp Shark, the Discovery Channel series The Colony, and his recent favorite, the upcoming ABC Family movie Revenge of the Bridesmaids, starring Raven Symone.

“Revenge of the Bridesmaids was special because I learned a lot from the cast and crew and had a really great time on set,” he says. “It was four weeks running around New Orleans, and really getting to know how to work on a tight schedule and building trust with the people around you. Everyone really liked each other and it was a very easygoing shoot even though it was very fast-paced. It was really like a family by the end, and that makes all the difference in film.”

The warmth of the people and culture is what’s helping make the Louisiana film community an attractive alternative to the fast pace of New York and Hollywood, and as more television and film projects base themselves in the state, Jose is grateful to be a part of building the reputation of the area’s talent.

“The Louisiana attitude is just amazing, and it reminds me so much of Puerto Rico,” he says. “You can really see that difference with the crews here, and sometimes I just can’t believe I’m doing this – working in this city, with these people, in a business that a lot of people just dream about.

“It took a lot of sacrifices for me. I moved very far away from home, and left a lot of friends and family, but I’d never be where I am in my career if I hadn’t taken that chance. It’s been a great ride and I’m sure it’s going to take me to some really great places. I’m just absorbing everything I can from everybody I work with.”