Cory Parker has objectives for 2024. Just two weeks in as the new executive director at Baton Rouge's Celtic Studios, he's looking at the big picture, literally.
"I am inheriting a great team here, and my goal is to fill the studio and build partnerships with major studios so we can put more Baton Rouge residents to work in this great industry," Parker says.
He's taking the helm at the largest purpose-built motion picture stage facility in the Gulf South at a challenging time. With TV and film productions stagnant, save for indie projects, for months during the Writers' Guild of America and Screen Actors' Guild strikes, Parker is now tasked with returning the studio to full operation.
"My hope is we can land a series or large feature with this next wave of planning that the studios are preparing for now, so hopefully we can see some movement as early as March," Parker says.
Specifically, Parker notes that there are some smaller feature projects in the planning stages for Celtic.
Cory Parker
" … And the (major) studios are hopefully ramping up soon now that the SAG and Writers' strikes have ended."
The WGA reached a deal with the heads of major studios ending the strike on Sept. 26, while the SAG-AFTRA agreed to a tentative new three-year contract on Nov. 9.
Parker, 53, is a native of Duncanville, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. Single with a teenage son, he lives in New Orleans and plans to commute, for now.
"But my goal is to buy a place in Baton Rouge so I can spend more time in the community," he says.
Parker arrived at Celtic with impressive industry credentials. Launching his film and television career in 2001, he worked in the set decoration department on productions filming in Austin. In 2003, he relocated to Louisiana where he joined IATSE Local 478, the largest behind-the-camera union in the state. Work on a number of box office hits followed.
In 2014, Parker was elected Business Agent of IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees) Local 478, headquartered in New Orleans. In that post, he represented film and television professionals throughout Louisiana, southern Mississippi and Mobile, Alabama. He's also an active executive board member of the Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association.
“Cory has assisted hundreds of productions that have hired local crew and filmed in Louisiana over the past decade," says Keith Chappell, senior vice president of The Celtic Group, which owns and operates Celtic Studios. "From scripted television series to Academy Award-winning feature films, Cory’s track record and unique insight into filming in Louisiana over the past two decades is a tremendous asset to our team.”
Here, Parker recalls how he landed in the industry, past projects and Celtic's future.
You’ve done work at Celtic Studios previously. Would you elaborate on that?
I had the privilege of working on the first major feature Celtic hosted, "Battle Los Angeles," in 2009. My role was in the set decoration department and I was the on-set dresser. The on-set dresser is basically the person that helps manage the look of the film that the department has created while production is underway and keeps up with the continuity of the decorations as production moves all around the sets.
What are the most notable projects you’ve worked on?
I have worked on both television and feature film projects and have over 40 film credits. I have worked on a few projects in Baton Rouge, with the last being the "Bonnie & Clyde" episodic (miniseries airing on A&E, Lifetime and History). I worked as the on-set dresser on "The Expendables," both "21- and "22 Jump Street" movies, and "Olympus Has Fallen." I think my favorite experiences were on "The Good Guys" television series and "The Great Debaters."
Do you have special expertise in or a favorite area of the film process?
I liked working both in props and in the set decoration department. The majority of my credits are as an on-set dresser.
What led you to pursue a career in film?
It wasn’t a lifelong dream of mine, even though I am a cinema lover. I was in corporate America and my brother John was making a name for himself in the industry and I was so interested in what he was able to do — be creative and have a sustainable career. I started talking to him about opportunities and I was offered two weeks' work on a feature and I walked away from the corporate world with just a hope that two weeks could turn into two more, and here I am, 22 years later still loving the industry.
How can the community help Celtic thrive again?
I would suggest keeping an eye on what NOVAC (New Orleans Video Access Center) has going on in regard to training. We need to grow our crew base here, which will make choosing Baton Rouge that much easier for productions. Another important thing to keep an eye on is political action requests you see from Celtic or Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association. We need to continue to educate our legislators about the importance of these jobs to our community.
Anything to add?
I am grateful for the opportunity that The Celtic Group has given me and I look forward to the many successes we will have here and within the community.