Lafayette sites featured in new slate of Christmas movies

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Show Caption Hide Caption What will the CREATE tax be spent on? The Nov. 18 ballot includes re-the re-dedication of .25 mills of an existing property tax to the CREATE -- Culture, Recreation, Entertainment, Arts and Tourism -- initiative. It would generate about $500,000 a year.

Three films made in Lafayette Parish this year are set to premiere over the holidays. These films will feature locations, actors and events familiar to local citizens, including Acadian Village and Downtown Lafayette.

The Christmas Contract premieres at 7 p.m. Nov. 22 on Lifetime.

Christmas Cupid's Arrow premiers at 8 p.m. Dec. 2 on ION.

Hometown Christmas premieres at 7 p.m. Dec. 16 on Lifetime.

"The Christmas Contract" is a reunion of sorts for cast from the show One Tree Hill. It stars Hilarie Burton, Robert Buckley, Danneel Ackles, Antwon Tanner, Jordan Ladd, Cheryl Ladd, Bruce Boxleitner, Jason London, Hunter Burke, Teri Wyble and Ritchie Montgomery, with a musical appearance by Tyler Hilton.

The film is a holiday homecoming, business arrangement that turns romantic and is set in Lafayette with Mayor-President Joel Robideaux playing himself in the film. Lifetime network will also air a one-hour special, ‘Tis the Season: A One Tree Hill Cast Reunion at 9 p.m., following the premiere of The Christmas Contract.

"Christmas Cupid's Arrow" stars Elizabeth Harnois, Jonathan Togo, Chad Michael Collins, Sasha Jackson and Lafayette native Marcus Lyle Brown. The movie was made in Lafayette, including Downtown locations and businesses. The story follows a college professor, Holly, in her attempts to find true love. That leads to romantic confusion involving fellow professor David and new attorney Josh.

"Hometown Christmas" stars Beverley Mitchell, Stephen Colletti, Melissa Gilbert and Danny Boaz. The film was made in Youngsville and features several familiar sites. In the story, Noelle Collins returns to Louisiana for Christmas and begins resurrecting her town's live nativity. The project leads to Noelle potentially reconnecting with her high school sweetheart, Nick Russell.

A total of 10 films have been made, are in production or are scheduled for production in Lafayette Parish this year. Active Entertainment produced The Christmas Contract and Hometown Christmas while Lighthouse Pictures produced Christmas Cupid’s Arrow.

Earlier this year Curmudgeon Films filmed You Might Be The Killer in Lafayette which premiered on SyFy in October.

"These companies are boosting the film economy in Lafayette through production costs, renting local facilities and offering jobs for citizens of Lafayette. In addition to these benefits, the movies feature local businesses and assets as settings for the films made in Lafayette, which helps to promote Lafayette to a global audience," Lafayette officials said in a news release.

Through the CREATE Initiative, Robideaux is partnering with Lafayette Economic Development Authority (LEDA), Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission (LCVC) and several other partners to make Lafayette an attractive location for filmmakers.

In response to the film industry requests in Lafayette, the CREATE office has created a film resource package available to assist in communicating benefits and permit information for potential productions. More information is available at CREATELafayette.la/film

Robideaux unveiled CREATE at his 2017 Annual Address to bring attention to the importance of the local cultural and recreational economy. Since then, Lafayette Parish voters approved $500,000 in annual funding for CREATE. This important initiative will celebrate, support and grow the Lafayette Parish creative community and enhance its potential as a lead economic driver.

Studies show that Lafayette’s local culture provides for the second largest economy and employer in the Parish. Through sustained focus, CREATE aims to further galvanize and diversify commerce associated with artistic, cultural and recreational opportunities in the area for more jobs and greater community economic growth.