James March-April 2025 web - Flipbook - Page 43
eorgia continues to
garner accolades
for its robust economy, consistently
ranking among
the top in the nation and globally.
Did you know the state secured the
number one position in Site Selection
magazine’s annual Prosperity Cup
rankings, which evaluates successful
investment recruitment based on
criteria such as new and expanded
facilities, attractive business climates
and workforce readiness?
This favorable business environment has been instrumental in
Georgia’s flourishing film and television production industry. The state’s
strategic investments and policies
have attracted numerous productions,
contributing significantly to economic
growth and solidifying Georgia’s reputation as a premier destination for the
entertainment sector.
Georgia’s film tax incentive significantly bolstered the state’s economy,
attracting substantial direct spending
from film and television productions.
This initiative has created thousands
of high-paying jobs for Georgians and
fostered the growth of new business-
es within the state. The resulting
ecosystem has spurred remarkable
expansion across various sectors,
including creative industries, sports,
and entertainment. This keeps Georgia prominently on the global stage.
BIG OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD
The entertainment industry at
large has experienced significant fluctuations in recent years, which were
felt in Georgia. The pandemic in 2020
led to a notable decline in film production, followed by a rapid resurgence.
Yet in spite of these challenges, Georgia Film Office Director Lee Thomas is
positive about the future of the industry in the Peach State.
“The same assets that supported a
surge of post-pandemic production to
Georgia continue to offer a variety of
opportunities for productions, from a
stable incentive to world-class production facilities to diverse locations,
hundreds of support service companies and a deep crew base that’s ready
to serve. Georgia continues to host beloved episodic productions like ‘Sweet
Magnolias’ and ‘Will Trent’ while new
film and television projects ramp up,
including ‘Scream 7,’” she says.
In 2024, the industry faced
additional challenges, such as foreign
exchange rates, labor and union
negotiations, and structural changes
within major studio companies. These
developments have contributed to a
dynamic and evolving landscape in
the entertainment sector.
Misty Holcomb and Matt Campbell of the B.I.G. Entertainment Network have represented Georgia-based
companies focused on film since 2014.
Holcomb says, “Our members are
seeing activity come back gradually
this year. We’re optimistic that activity
will continue to pick up, and whoever
is able to weather this storm will come
out great on the back end.”
Campbell agrees, “In Coastal
Georgia and other parts of the state,
communities have robust film offices
who are seeing smaller productions
thrive during this time.”
“Georgia officials’ commitment to
film, television and streaming production has resulted in reliable economic
gains— creating new jobs, pumping
money into local economies and
attracting key investments statewide,”
M A RC H //A PRIL 2025
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