Atlanta: The Up and Coming Hot Spot for Filmmakers and Entertainers Alike

Hollywood is marching towards the South and with it brings opportunity and recognition.

By JESSICA QUINTON

ATLANTA – The place to been seen and filmed as Hollywood is making its way to the South.

The film and entertainment industry is on the rise in Georgia, leading the nation and ranking in the top five places in which to film. Metro- Atlanta has become a hot spot for movie makers and actors in the past few years. In 2010 alone there war e over 300 film and television productions in the state, and over 700 since 2009.

The Big Draw

One of the biggest draws bringing the Hollywood elite to the peach state is the tax incentive that was put in place in 2008. Production companies that film here receive a tax break of about 20 percent, and by tacking on the Georgia Peach logo at the end of the credits another 10 percent will be added on. Even low budget films costing about $10 million to produce can save $3 million that can be put back into production.

Extra Added Bonus

The Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office recently issued a press release claiming that 16 counties are now film ready, which is another big draw for Hollywood. Here movie directors can find almost any terrain they are searching for ranging from city hot-spots, to coastal towns, small towns, and mountain ranges. The recently released Water for Elephants has been one of the films to utilize the small town life and recreated life in the Depression Era of the 1930s. The Blind Side is also another major production that was filmed here in placing Georgia even more in the spotlight.

Not So Fast

While the new developments are still in progress with this burgeoning industry, it may not be for everyone – and do not expect over night fame. While producing a television show or a film takes many people to get the job done, including extras, people without the experience are not likely to make it to the big screen with a major part. Nichole Carver, who has dabbled in extra work, has this to say about her experiences “I started this thinking it was going to be fast paced and always moving, but in actuality there is a lot of hurry up and wait. And, while it is exciting to see what goes in to a production it can get boring sometimes.”

The Look Ahead

Even though the tax incentives have brought this industry into the state, law makers and the General Assembly tried to have a bill passed taking away these incentives, and without the enticement the tax breaks offer production companies would start looking elsewhere for more alluring places to film. The bill was not passed but renewed so the economy of Georgia can continue to be uplifted through the entertainment industry’s contribution; and what a contribution it has made having an impact on the state’s economy in the form of $1.15 billion in revenue. It can only be hoped that the incentives offered will not be taken away in the next go around.