This year alone, movies starring Tom Cruise, Michael Keaton, Vin Diesel, Kristen Stewart and Steve Martin all spent time shooting scenes in Cherokee County. These films are a portion of the thriving television and film industry in Georgia, which generated a $6 billion economic impact for the state in Fiscal Year 2015, according to the Georgia Department of Economic Development.
Originally passed as part of the 2005 Georgia General Assembly and later expanded in 2008, Georgia’s aggressive TV/film tax credit has encouraged what has become a major contributor to our state’s economy. It is a simple fact that government cannot create private sector jobs, but basic economic theory says that government can make the environment favorable for growth and success. Georgia is now the third leading state for entertainment production, and the economic development shows no signs of slowing down in Georgia. Not only does the massive growth in the industry create tax revenue for the state, but it also creates revenue for the local businesses that feed production crews, supply lumber and other materials for sets and the hotels that host both crew members and tourists attracted by the production.
The opportunities for jobs are so plentiful that the state has recently created the Georgia Film Academy to train the skilled workers necessary to build sets, operate cameras, manage budgets, maintain schedules and ultimately, produce high-quality entertainment like “Captain America: Civil War,” which is shooting primarily out of the newly constructed Pinewood Studios in Clayton County. More close to home, films called “Mena,” “The Founder,” “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk” and “The Have’s and the Have Not’s” have all wrapped filming in Cherokee County in the past few months.
Camera Ready initiatives, a free location scouting database and the TV/Film tax credit have positioned Georgia to become a top destination for both location and studio filming. We have become just that. As the “Hollywood of the South,” Georgia’s entertainment production industry added up to $1.6 billion in wages for nearly 32,000 jobs during 2012-13 and currently ranks third in the nation in production, behind only California and New York. Misti Martin, President of the Cherokee Office of Economic Development, told ScoopOTP.com that it’s Camera Ready Committee, led by Katie Bishop, has done great work to attract these productions and the subsequent tourism that comes after them. Across the state, productions can earn up to a 30% tax credit. The first 20% can be earned if the production budget exceeds $500,000. Budgets commonly include food, lodging, transportation and set construction, among other costs for both cast and crew. This credit can increase to 30% if the production features a Georgia peach logo in the credits. Next time you watch a major motion picture, stay to the end. These logos are popping up more and more, and they will only continue to do so.
If you have additional questions about Georgia’s TV and film production industry, I’d encourage you to look at the Department of Economic Development’s website (Georgia.org).
to your business!