Assembling a Growing Stage Footprint for TV, Film in Georgia
The State of Georgia, a leader in global film production, has been using its signature partnership approach working with the public and private sector to produce film opportunities. Results can be seen year-round in every corner of the state.
During the last two fiscal years alone, Georgia has celebrated at least $8.5 billion in direct production spending across the state, and a recent study found that for every $1 spent in Georgia, $6 was returned on its investment. Growth in the state’s film business spurred an estimated $1.03 billion in statewide capital investment in studio and soundstage space across 14 studio campuses since 2023.
In addition to growing infrastructure,
Georgia offers tens of thousands of trained film and television technicians ready to work, as well as diverse locations, and the convenience of having the world’s busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport.
Georgia should be on the top of everyone’s mind when it comes to locating film and television projects.
A quick sample of the unique opportunities brought to the state, supporting more Georgia jobs during fall 2023:
Producers, Georgians – “Assemble!”
In metro Atlanta, DeKalb County and the City of Doraville joined a glamorous and economy-stimulating ribbon-cutting at Assembly Atlanta. The full-service film studio celebrated its phase one grand opening in late October 2024 featuring legendary Georgia musical artist Gladys Knight, along with Georgia hit maker CeeLo Green, in addition to other musical legends at the star-studded kickoff.
Assembly Atlanta’s 19 sound stages across 135 acres add to Georgia’s growing stage space inventory and will create thousands of jobs. NBCUniversal will lease and operate the new state-of-the-art studio facilities located on the site of the former General Motors Assembly plant, making this a redevelopment story for the ages!
• Since January 2023, more than 800,000 additional square feet of state-of-the-art stage space has come online, meaning Georgia can host more projects than ever before.
• By 2025, Georgia is on track to offer 7 million square feet of stages – the most in the U.S.!
One degree of Kevin Bacon
In other immediate happenings in Georgia, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) has joined the ranks of being within “one degree of Kevin Bacon” after hosting him at the famous SCAD Savannah Film Festival in October.
Bacon was presented with the Outstanding Achievement in Entertainment Award much to the delight of participants and attendees at the event, and of course his role in “Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special” is one of his recent Georgia-lensed flicks, filmed at Trilith Studios in Fayetteville. The largest university-run film festival in the world welcomes more than 60,000 guests annually for an eight-day celebration of cinematic excellence and creativity.
Georgia author Flannery O’Connor’s story on-screen with ‘Wildcat’ in Georgia’s Rome
“Wildcat,” a biopic about Georgia novelist Flannery O’Connor will be screened at the 20th anniversary of the Rome International Film Festival (RIFF) November 2-5, 2023, in Rome, Georgia.
The film, directed by Ethan Hawke and starring his daughter Maya (also an actress in Georgia-lensed “Stranger Things, which featured Rome prominently in Season 4!) will be screening at the historic DeSoto Theatre with Ethan Hawke in attendance. Both RIFF and the DeSoto are also Georgia Council for the Arts grant award recipients. Georgia Council for the Arts supports arts organizations and programs which are tourism-drivers in the state. This year the festival will expand its coverage from an annual event to hosting year-round opportunities, partnering with local Berry College to present six documentaries throughout the year that highlight issues facing the region, coupled with conversations.
“Our 20th Anniversary provided an opportunity to contemplate RIFF’s future, and we are committing even more strongly to being an uplifting presence in the community for discussing important issues and furthering the cause of education, both through the lens of film, which can be a lever for open conversation and potentially a more stable economic future due to higher-paying jobs,” says Rome International Film Festival Executive Director Leanne Cook.
Why Georgia
Each of these opportunities highlight not only Georgia’s industry growth over the last 50 years since the Georgia Film Office was established, but demonstrate the state’s holistic approach to helping business and industry of all sizes succeed.
Georgia Film Office Director Lee Thomas recently spoke to Georgia CEO with more about the industry’s starring role in Georgia’s economy and gives even more updates – watch here.
Want to keep track of the of the work the state is doing to support film? View the Georgia Film Office’s active list of “What’s filming in Georgia” and follow us on Facebook, X and YouTube.
-Posted November 2, 2023