Record Number Of Movies, TV Shows Filmed In Georgia

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During the fiscal year that ended in June, 455 television and movie projects called the Peach State home, Gov. Nathan Deal said.

ATLANTA, GA — Georgia may have slipped to No. 2 on a recently released list of shoot locations for top blockbuster movies. But it's still been a record year for the entertainment business in the Peach State.

Gov. Nathan Deal announced Thursday that 455 film and television projects called Georgia home during the fiscal year that ended in June — a new record for the state that's become known in some circles as Hollywood South.

Those projects had a $9.5 billion economic impact in Georgia and represented $2.7 billion in direct spending in the state, Deal said.

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"With a record 455 productions shot in Georgia, the film industry continues to support jobs for Georgians, boost small businesses and expand offerings for tourists," Deal said in a news release. "Today, Georgia is one of the world’s top destinations for film production and communities across the state are seeing the benefits of welcoming the industry. I am proud to see our success continue, as the $9.5 billion in total economic impact reflects the sustainability of the film industry and the benefits of our competitive incentives program."

According to the Motion Picture Association of America, the film industry creates more than 92,100 jobs and nearly $4.6 billion in total wages in Georgia, including jobs that indirectly benefit from the industry.

Since 2010, more than 300 new businesses have relocated or expanded in Georgia to support the industry, according to Deal.

"We are very fortunate to have state leadership that understands the vital role that the entertainment industry plays in Georgia’s economic prosperity," said Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson. "The film industry creates jobs across almost every profession. In addition to camera, lighting and audio, film companies hire Georgians with skills in a myriad of support services including construction, catering, transportation, accounting and payroll and post-production."

The governor noted that direct spending on movies and TV in Georgia was $93 million in 2007, the year before the Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment Act was signed into law — comparing that to the past year's $2.7 billion.

Under the bill, which went into effect in 2008, Georgia offered one of the nation's most aggressive tax-incentive programs to production companies working in the state

As a result, TV and film studios were able to shave off significant sums from their overhead doing business in Georgia, as opposed to other states. Productions of $500,000 or more that take full advantage by including promotion for the state — usually in the form of the Georgia, USA peach logo – can save 30 percent on their taxes.

Last week, nonprofit industry group Film L.A. Inc. announced that Georgia had fallen to the No. 2 location in the world for top-grossing blockbusters, behind the entire nation of Canada. But the 15 of the top 100 films of 2017 that called Georgia home still easily outstripped California (10), New York (6) and Louisiana (5).

Georgia is now home to more than 1.1 million square feet of dedicated soundstage space and over 1.2 million square feet of retrofitted soundstage space, up from 40,000 square feet of purpose-built soundstages available before 2010.

Georgia-filmed movies that are scheduled to open in theaters in the coming months include:

  • "Mile 22" starring Mark Wahlberg, Lauren Cohan and Ronda Rousey, Aug. 17

  • "The Little Mermaid" starring Poppy Drayton, Jared Sandler and Gina Gershon, Aug. 17

  • "The House with a Clock in its Walls," Cate Blanchett, Jack Black, Kyle MacLachlan, Sept. 21

  • "Venom," starring Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Jenny Slate, Oct. 5

Upcoming Georgia-based TV productions that will air in the next few months include:

  • "Ozark" Season 2 on Netflix, starring Jason Bateman and Laura Linney, Aug. 31

  • "The Gifted" Season 2 on Fox, starring Stephen Moyer, Amy Acker, Sean Teale, Sept. 25

  • "The Walking Dead" Season 9 on AMC, Andrew Lincoln, Danai Gurira, Norman Reedus, Oct. 7

Photo courtesy DeKalb Entertainment Commission