Georgia Film Stories
Georgia is one of the top film-production centers in the world, thanks to the Georgians, small businesses and engaged communities that work together to create the best climate for storytellers to succeed.
In fact, the best stories in the business are the personal stories of the Georgians who work behind the scenes — whether it’s the production that has spurred new investment in a local community, the small business that has expanded to serve the industry, or the Georgian who has obtained professional training to become a crewmember on a set. Collaborating with industry partners and Georgia’s “camera ready” contacts, the Georgia Film Office is cataloging stories in Georgia’s film industry from across the state to tell the story of how “Georgia Film Works!” Submit your own Georgia Film success story.
Small Business Stories
Small business stories spotlight the local small businesses that serve Georgia’s film industry.
Production Stories
Production stories spotlight the impact specific movie productions have had in local Georgia communities.
Georgian Stories
Georgian stories spotlight individuals working in Georgia’s film industry.
Georgia Film Academy
The Georgia Film Academy is a collaborative effort between the University System of Georgia and the Technical College System of Georgia to support the workforce in Georgia’s film industry. It is affiliated with more than 25 campuses across the state and connects Georgia students with production employment.
A bike shop in a funky Atlanta neighborhood has blossomed with the growth of Georgia’s film & TV industry, with its Hapeville warehouse supplying cast, crew and productions with equipment and service.
Daniel Minchew opened Studio Space Atlanta in 2008 and Atlanta Filmworks Studio in 2013, and he has been growing his infrastructure ever since. Recently, Studio Space Atlanta opened a warehouse space in Smyrna, featuring...
Gwinnett special education teacher Reeva Forrester learned about teaching opportunities on set from a friend. “I love teaching, and I love kids. I did some research, and the first job I applied for, they called.” Since...
Seth F. Johnson grew up in a world surrounded by creative minds. You could say it’s in his blood.
Local talent agencies supply actors to productions large and small, but first you’ve got to get your foot in the door.
When 9-year-old Lila Jane Meadows of Roswell heard an agency, the one that gave Chandler Riggs of...
Joy Merle of Sandy Springs started her catering company, Finding Flavor, out of her mother’s kitchen. When she lost her biggest customer in 2015, she turned to film productions to find more clients. “I sent out about 200...
Occasionally we check-in with some of the people featured in our stories to learn how their careers are progressing in Georgia's production industry. Here's an update on Theresa Daniel.
When Covid-19 derailed...
Working in the film industry is a family affair for Justin Bernhard. The Marietta resident watched his grandmother run a talent agency and his father perform as a child actor and stuntman. Today, Justin is a rigging grip...
Rusty Brown of Fayetteville initially founded JUNKitGEORGIA as a residential home junk removal and recycling service. But all of that changed in 2008 when he got a call from a production company. He now works on 30...
Eric White started as a server in various restaurants around Forsyth, but wanted the chance to explore his creative side in his home state. After graduating from film school, he started working in crew positions on...
A sound mixer and boom operator with 18 credits to his name, Moses Conrad Norman got into the movie industry as a direct result of going through the Georgia Film Academy’s program. He took various classes which he says...
Recent movie production has drawn excitement from Macon residents. HBO has been filming off Cherry Street in downtown Macon, and city officials have been happy with the economic investment it has brought. Productions can...
Veteran Jason Benton started Great Dane Production Services in 2016 to help “solve problems” encountered by production companies filming in the state. His company, which employs 12 employees, provides air quality testing...
Film “opened up a new market” for Hall Atlanta Wholesale Florist, a family-owned small business that has been around since 1921. The company has supplied arrangements to productions in order to meet every visual medium...
As the setting of the HBO series “Sharp Objects,” Barnesville went through a dramatic transformation that brought jobs and economic opportunity. Production crews shopped in stores, hired locals for various set projects...
Raniero Daza has always wanted to be part of the film and theater world. Born in Chile and raised in Florida, he worked in set construction in television and theater. However, his career really started to take off when...
Georgia.org Content: Darrius Tucker of McDonough graduated from the Georgia Film Academy and immediately found himself on the set of the world’s most popular productions, including The Walking Dead and Black Panther...
After losing her job in special education, Jessica Lowry capitalized on the popularity of productions filming right in her backyard of Covington. She created Hollywood of the South Tours to take “Vampire Diary” fans...
Macon native Catina was drawn back to her home state after a stint studying film production at UCLA. As the industry acknowledged the incredible growth of the film industry in Georgia, she thought it would be a perfect...
“Council of Dads” producer Tony Phelan talks about how Savannah is in the DNA of the show.
Macon native, Alan Rawkins, started Gentleman Grips to supply trucking and grip equipment for productions in Georgia. Founded in 1988, the company has grown from one truck to six 40-foot trucks and five truckloads of...
“I've really seen the market boom in the past few years thanks to Georgia’s film industry.” Chad Casey founded Casey Corporate Transportation in 2003, and he now employs five drivers that fulfill the transportation needs...
Athens resident Danielle Rusk is a key assistant location manager who sees the film industry’s impact on small businesses every day. In her role she must coordinate business relationships with tent companies, equipment...
Local companies are opening all over the state to support the growing film industry, but the University of Georgia recognized there was a gap in the coverage.
"We realized what we were missing was the training of...
