Georgia Film Studios Shut Down: “Lock The Doors And Walk Away”

The Coronavirus has caused film studios across Georgia to shut down.

Thousands of people across Georgia depend on the film and TV industry to provide an income for themselves and their families. The lack of work due to the Hollywood shutdown could threaten people’s livelihoods.

The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees spoke with BisNow to discuss the impact of the Coronavirus on the film industry. The organization, which includes approximately 5,000 people who work in the film industry, says “The entire entertainment industry is shut down”.

Michael Akins, the IATSE business agent added, “There are no public events. You’re talking tens of thousands of people who make their living in this are sitting at home. They have no way to work. They don’t work for a company,” he said. “They’re essentially unemployed.”

Georgia’s once-bustling film industry is now a “ghost town” as production companies shut down to quarantine themselves during the coronavirus. Lee Thomas, Georgia Department of Economic Development’s deputy commissioner for film, music, and television told Bisnow no productions have canceled. But there is no word as to how long the hiatus will last.

“Our primary concern is for the health and safety of everyone working in Georgia’s film and television production industry,” Georgia Studio & Infrastructure Alliance President Beth Talbert said in a statement. “We’re doing our part to help contain the coronavirus. Containment is what will dictate when the industry gets back to work, not just here in Georgia, but around the world. We’re seeing all industries make near-daily adaptations to our new reality. Our expectation is that, when the time is right, the film and TV production industry will find safe ways to produce entertainment and put Georgians back to work.”

“Until then, they’re just going to lock the doors and walk away.”

“Everybody is shut down for the foreseeable future until they get positive news,” Raulet Property Partners partner John Raulet told Bisnow. “As soon as they get the green light to come back, I think it will pick up where it left off. Until then, they’re just going to lock the doors and walk away.”

In relevant entertainment news, Influencers are saying Coronavirus is hurting their business.

Millions of people are currently unemployed because of the coronavirus pandemic, including influencers. According to TMZ, social media influencers are now feeling economic damages due to coronavirus lockdown.

Abigail Ratchford, who has 9 million Instagram followers, told TMZ that her Instagram sales are slowing down due to the outbreak, which is scary, since she makes $500,000 a year from sponsored posts, endorsing products, and merchandise.

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