Nude Badu video raises filming questions for Shreveport

Actor Josh Brolin, right, filming "W" in 2008.

Singer Erykah Badu stripped down to her birthday suit in March for a music video filmed in Dallas. Apparently the city didn’t find out until after she got naked.

Dallas has a permitting process that it may beef up to punish folks who don’t follow city regulations for filming. Of course that made me wonder about Shreveport’s permitting process.

Our city does permit videos and movies. The intent, however, does not appear to be regulating the industry. It’s more for tracking and logistical purposes. Keeping tabs means crews working at the same time won’t book the same venues. And knowing budget sizes and the reach of some media can help Shreveport-Bossier City sell itself as a place to do business.

At the moment, according to the city film office, there are four productions in town:

• “Drive Angry”
• “L.A. Art Show”
• “The Gates”
• “Butter”

Expect to learn more about those next month in a few articles from me and fellow Times reporter Christine Bradley. Got anything in particular you're wondering about? Let us know.