Georgia earned $1 Billion in 2013 and the number of productions continue to grow!
It is hard to deny the growing presence of film cameras, elite television producers, and A list actors walking down Peachtree Street. Over the last 4 years, the growing television industry has boomed in Georgia. With the tax benefits, a major airport hub, and lax regulations, Georgia has become the go-to place for filmmakers. The Hollywood Reporter, examined the benefits of filming in Georgia and it is hard to deny that Georgia is becoming a home for producers, actors, and filmmakers.
Since 2010, 11 studios have opened, expanded or announced plans to operate in Georgia, including Pinewood, which established its first presence outside the U.K. It joins Tyler Perry‘s studio, Raleigh and others. Tax rebates as high as 30 percent helped lure 76 series, specials and TV movies in 2012, the most recent year for which detailed figures are available. AMC’s The Walking Dead, Lifetime’s Drop Dead Diva and BET’s original series now call Georgia home. Only California hosted more TV in 2012 with 215 projects, though it has lost most of the lucrative hour long dramas that shoot (and spend) nine months a year [THR].
Even though, Louisiana is still a major hub for the movie industry, Georgia is still growing. The number of investors has spiked over the last few years. Pinewood Studios has recently opened their doors and Marvel has decided to film their next major motion picture, ANT-MAN in the newly built studio. Even, Tyler Perry purchased several hundred acres to expand to an even larger studio.
But, one benefit that seems to draw a lot of filmmakers is the number of highly trained employees.
“Some states have an A and a B crew base, and after that you are in trouble,” he says. “Georgia has real depth to its crew base.” That’s in part because the state has benefited from the presence of Turner Entertainment in Atlanta, where generations of camera operators, editors, set designers and others have trained. “Georgia actually has had more people employed in the industry sector permanently in production than even Louisiana,” says Klowden [THR].
Georgia has become a place for filmmakers to call home. It has only been 4 years and the number of productions filming in Georgia have nearly doubled.
What do you think of the increase in filming in Georgia? Leave us a comment below and discuss!
