Louisiana film credits are weighing big on local pocketbooks as members of the Columbia film crew "All the Kings Men" have settled into the St. Mary and Iberia parish area over the past few weeks, selecting several local sites as movie locations.

"It's hard to estimate, but I would guess at least 100 people are here with us," said Larry Kaplan, one of the film's publicists, who is in town for several shootings.

While here, Iberia Parish Convention and Visitors Center's Executive Director, Fran Thibodeaux said that members of the crew are eating, lounging and shopping in Iberia Parish, which spells dollar signs for the local economy.

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"These people spend an enormous amount of money. Many are doing touring on their time off. They're renting equipment; they're using caterers, hotels; they're buying gas and going to restaurants," she said.

So far the Teche Area has been selected for several scenes in the movie.

Although film crews are hoping to work with as little recognition from the general public as possible, local participants in the film have revealed that a place of business on Irish Bend Road in Franklin has been used as a setting, so has a plantation home in the Franklin area, a church on Flattown Road in Charenton, St. Mary Sugar, Lakeview Plantation in Charenton, and Albania Plantation in Jeanerette.

"We have several rooms rented by film crews," said Ann Simoneaux, a front desk clerk at the Best Western Forest hotel in Franklin. "They've been here for more than a week so it has increased business."

Other hotels in the New Iberia area said they have signed confidentiality agreements with the film company stating they would not release any information concerning the guests that are occupying their rooms.

As for the economic benefits of their stay, Thibodeaux said that just being here will do good for the area, not only as the film is being made, but even after it's released.

"We look at it as a marketing tool. We have visitors come by the center all the time who are intrigued by our landscaping and beautiful plantation homes. They've either seen a movie about Louisiana or read a book and decided to visit," said Thibodeaux.

Thibodeaux said she credits Louisiana's tax credit program as the major reason film crews are being drawn to the state as well as the Teche Area.

"I think we'll see more film crews in the future," she said

All the Kings Men is a film starring several of Hollywood's biggest names, including Sean Penn, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, Mark Ruffalo, James Gandolfini, Patricia Clarkston and Anthony Hopkins. The movie's setting takes place in the Deep South during the 1940s and 50s. It's based on Robert Penn Warren's 1946 Pulitizer winning novel which was inspired by the career of Louisiana governor Huey P. Long.