Movie plots often fall into one of a number of formulas. One of them is “Local boy makes good.”

Both of Peter Ricchiuti’s guests on this edition of Out to Lunch fall into that category. Nobody is making a movie about either of them, but they’re both making movies.

Trey Burvant grew up in Covington. After a successful nationwide and international career as an actor, Trey returned to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Today, Trey continues to act, as well as write and produce movies, and he’s the Studio Director at Second Line Stages Film Studio.

Scott Niemeyer grew up in Algiers. After spending 30 years building Gold Circle Films a successful film production business in Hollywood that has produced hit movies like Pitch Perfect and the sequel to My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Scott is back on the West Bank where he is building a $64m film studio, called Deep South Studios.

The movie business in Louisiana is as dramatic as Gone With The Wind. Its fortunes have ebbed and flowed largely as a result of the State’s decisions on how to award financial incentives to film productions in the form of tax credits. Having gone through a golden period followed by an exodus, it looks like, in the tradition of Hollywood movies, we’re seeing a third act resurrection. The movie business is back, but is it better than ever?

Photos over lunch in the wine room at Commander’s Palace by Jill Lafleur.