With the reopening of theaters across the country, fans can finally return to the big screen. In the past year, the number of users on the streaming platform has almost doubled. Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. film and television entertainment industry has entered an unprecedented stage of rapid development. And Georgia has gradually become one of the centers of the industry's development!
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="3" > unprecedented economic benefits</h1>
In the just-concluded fiscal year 2021, the film and television entertainment production industry brought a record $4 billion in direct economic benefits to Georgia. Not long ago, Georgia was named the "No. 1 State of Film and Television Production" in Business Facilities Magazine's 16th Annual Ranking Report. The magazine commented: "Our new category' 'Film and Television Production Leader' mainly evaluates film and television production locations. This year, Georgia took the crown and ranked first. “
"Georgia is the first state in the United States to reopen after COVID-19. We work with film and television production companies across the state to ensure they can resume operations with safety assurances, which is the main reason why the film and television production industry in the "Peach State" is leading the nation. Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp shared, "Georgia is the only region in the United States that has been voted 'Best Doing Business' for eight consecutive years. We have been focused on increasing employment, economic development, and investment in the film and television entertainment industry and other support industries. The film and television industry's tremendous success in Georgia also demonstrates the amazing momentum of Georgia's economic recovery after emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic. ”
Today, in addition to a variety of natural and physical environments, from vast mountains, dotted with lakes and rivers, magnificent Atlantic coastlines, quaint towns, and bustling metropolises, Georgia offers film and television companies more than 2.1 million square feet of dedicated stages/soundstages and 3.2 million square feet of converted stages and warehouses. In fiscal 2021, Georgia produced 366 productions, including 21 feature films, 45 independent films, 222 tv series productions, 57 commercials, and 21 music videos.
Regarding the impact of the film and television industry, Lee Thomas, deputy director of the Georgia Economic Development Agency-Digital Production Administration for Film and Television Music, commented: "In the first quarter of 2021, film and television productions filmed/produced in Georgia generated $101 million in salary revenue for members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. That's 35 percent higher than the $74.8 million reported in the first quarter of 2020. This is also a new record set by Georgia. The film and television industry has made a comeback! “
In the recently released list of Emmy nominations, tv series produced in Georgia received 62 nominations. The list of nominees includes the recently hit Disney and Marvel-produced "WandaVision" (23 nominations), HBO's "Lovecraft Country" (18 nominations), and "The Underground Railroad" (7 nominations).
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="82" > shooting locations throughout Georgia</h1>
Atlanta, Georgia, appears frequently in film and television blockbusters. Recently, Westview Cemetery in Atlanta, the Georgia Renaissance Festival gala in Fairburn, and the atrium of the Marriott Hotel in downtown Atlanta have all appeared in the popular TV series "Loki". Currently, the show is a hit on the Disney+ network channel.
The atrium of Marriott Marquis of Atlanta
However, Atlanta is not the only filming location for film and television. In various parts of Georgia, such as Tifton, Moultrie, Augusta, Sandersville, Toccoa, etc., it is often seen in different film and television works! Now, there are many films being filmed all over the state!
Film and television locations in the city of Augusta (Credit: www.visitaugusta.com)
In addition to hosting the crew, these locations also employ a large number of local talents. Some of them come from the Georgia Film School, georgia universities and technical colleges, Savannah College of Art and Design, and some even from the K-12 Basic Education Department of the Georgia Department of Education. Every such learning opportunity prepares Georgians for their careers in the film and television industry.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="83" > huge influence on all walks of life</h1>
In May 2021, leaders of the Georgia Film Academy, the Georgia Game Developers Association, Trilith Studios (formerly Pinewood Atlanta Studio), and the Georgia Small Business Association were invited to a meeting of the Georgia Economic Development Agency. The main theme of the conference was to explore the huge impact of the film and television industry on Georgia's overall economic environment, such as the tourism industry, the catering industry, and dry cleaning services.
In fact, the film and television industry's recovery has also helped large entertainment venues such as the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, The Strand Theater in Marietta, and the George World Congress Center in Georgia. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, these venues are not yet able to host large concerts or performances, so they have a new source of income by hosting film and television production projects.
Interior view of fox theater in Atlanta
The city of Thomasville was the main filming location for the films Supercell and Bandit. Both new works are coming soon, with famous actors such as Alec Baldwin, Josh Duhamel, Mel Gibson and others. Thomasville Pictures, a local film and television service company in Thomasville, is led by Thomasville-born Allen Cheney and his partner Ryan Smith. They brought multiple film projects to the city of Thomasville.
Bonnie Hayes, Tourism and Film and Television Manager at Thomasville, believes that film and television shooting has had a wide-ranging and positive economic impact on the local area. She explains: "Film and television are the driving force behind tourism. What's more, film and television have had many different economic impacts on our community. Our hotels were fully booked; local restaurants, retail stores, homeware stores, petrol stations, pharmacies, etc. all saw revenue growth. When a film crew came to Thomasville, each of us benefited! Now, we are gradually coming out of the shadow of the epidemic, and this is a great shot in the arm for our economy. “
According to the Moultrie Observer, Supercell was the first film to be shot within the city limits of Moultrie. Local residents and visitors can watch filming and related fireworks displays in pre-designated areas.
In March, "Gasoline Alley," starring Bruce Willis and Owen Wilson, was filmed in downtown Tifton. During filming, the team rented the hotel for 3 to 4 weeks, and the hotel revenue alone exceeded $120,000.
The cities of Lyons and Vidalia, Georgia, will be the main filming locations for the film "Blue Lighting." Producer and director Aaron Williams said in an interview with WTOC-TV that he was grateful to the local people and community leaders for their strong support for the crew.
On the eve of Independence Day, "The Tomorrow War," filmed in Georgia, premiered on Amazon Prime. R.L. Stein's "Fear Street" series began showing the first of his three films on Netflix.
In addition, the development of the film and television industry has also promoted the rapid development of the film and television education field. In April, Variety named the Savannah School of Art and Design (SCAD) one of the world's top film schools. Shortly thereafter, the Savannah School of Art and Design announced that it would expand its film and digital media studios.
Savannah College of Art and Design (Image: SCAD)
The upcoming expansion of Savannah Film Studios will cover 10.9 acres and include a Hollywood-style film backstage, an XR stage, a new sound stage and more. The first phase of the expansion is expected to be completed in the fall of 2021 and the other two phases will be completed in 2023.
Savannah College of Art and Design's underwater photography resources (Credit: SCAD)
When it comes to the film and television industry, every community in Georgia can produce a special edition with its own unique style!
"The growth of Georgia's film industry is truly exciting, and it affects every corner of our state, from communities to small businesses to every Georgian resident." Pat Wilson, director of the Georgia Economic Development Agency, is very proud of the film and television industry's achievements, "The beautiful scenery of Georgia that appears on the screen and the iconic Georgia peach logo, which have a great boost to the tourism and investment industries, will ultimately have a positive impact on our economy." The Georgia Film, Television and Entertainment Office has been working with our Camera Ready community, education partners, and film and television production companies to ensure that we can respond quickly to the market to meet the needs of businesses and communities. ”
If you would like to learn more about investment opportunities in Georgia's film and television industry and related areas, please leave a message on our WeChat or log on to www.georgiabusiness.cn to contact one of our China representatives.
About the Georgia Economic Development Agency (GDEcD)
The Georgia Economic Development Agency (GDEcD) is the state's department responsible for economic advocacy and promotion. As a leading agency for Georgia's economic development, it is mainly responsible for attracting foreign investment, promoting the development of existing enterprises, providing vocational education and training, expanding new markets for state products, attracting domestic and foreign tourists, promoting the development of cultural industries such as art, film, music, animation and Internet entertainment, and planning and providing resources for the state's economic development. www.GeorgiaBusiness.cn