Thefilm industry in Georgia is the largest among thestates of the United States for production of feature films by number of films produced, as of 2016.Atlanta is the center of the film industry in Georgia withTurner,Tyler Perry, andEUE/Screen Gems studios located there.
The industry in Georgia was boosted substantially by tax incentives introduced in 2002 and strengthened in 2008. Just in the fiscal year 2017 film and TV production had an economic impact in Georgia of $9.5 billion, while industry sources claim that the tax subsidy costs the state $141 million (2010). Films shot in Georgia includeTyler Perry'sMeet the Browns (2008),Life as We Know It (2010),Contagion (2011) and a number ofMarvel Studios productions, includingAvengers: Infinity War andAvengers: Endgame, as well asAnt-Man and the Wasp andBlack Panther.[1] Atlanta has since been called the "Hollywood of the South".[2][3]
Georgia overtook California in 2016 as the state location with the most feature films produced overall, 17 of the top 100 grossing movies were filmed in Georgia. Films in the state helped reach an economic impact of $9.5 billion in fiscal 2017 and $2.7 billion in direct spending.[2]
The state's first tax incentive, a point of purchase sales and use tax exemption, was introduced in 2002. The state's second and mostprogressive tax incentive, the Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment Act, was signed into law in May 2005 and updated in May 2008. The act granted qualified productions a transferable income tax credit of 20% of all in-state costs for film and television investments of $500,000 or more. An additional 10% tax credit was awarded to approved projects that embed a Georgia Entertainment Promotional logo within the titles or credits of each production. Thisvanity card, usually seen inclosing credits, is rendered as an image of theGeorgia Department of Economic Development'speach logo, a link to the GDEC's filming-specific tourism website, and a male voice saying or a woman singing "Made in Georgia".[4]
In 2005 Georgia spent $10.3 million on its film incentive. That amount increased to $140.6 million by 2010.[5] By the fiscal year 2015, the amount spent by Georgia in issued tax credits for the year was just over $504 million.[6]
The Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office states that more than 700 feature films, TV movies, TV series, single episodes, and pilots have been produced in Georgia since 1972.[4] In the fiscal year 2017 film and TV production had an economic impact in Georgia of $9.5 billion.[2]
According to the Georgia Department of Economic Development:[4]
Atlanta has become a center for film and television production and counts the presence of Pinewood Studios; since 2008 theTyler Perry Studios in Southwest Atlanta; and since 2010 theEUE/Screen Gems soundstages inLakewood Heights, south Atlanta, and to a limited extent, the facilities ofGeorgia Public Broadcasting, where the first season ofSwift Justice with Nancy Grace was taped using state tax credits. Both films and many popular TV shows such asThe Real Housewives of Atlanta,Tyler Perry's series, andFamily Feud (from 2011 to 2017) are produced in Atlanta, whileFloyd County Productions'sFXX animated seriesArcher and severalAdult Swim animated series are also produced under GEDC tax credits. In 2014,Trilith Studios (then called Pinewood Atlanta Studios) opened a large studio inFayette County, Georgia. Films such asAnt Man andCaptain America: Civil War have been shot at the studio.[7]
There were 348 productions shot in the state in 2009. These industry establishments are probably supported wholly or in part by the production of feature films; television movies, series, pilots and miniseries; commercials, music videos, documentaries and still shoots.[4]
In the fall of 2019, Tyler Perry opened Tyler Perry Studios on the site of pre-Civil War muster grounds, temporary Confederate Army barracks,[8] and from 1866-2011 US Army Ft. McPherson.[9] Since then, the facility has been used to shoot several big-budget films.[10]
Films shot in Atlanta includeLittle Darlings (1980),Sharky's Machine (1981),Driving Miss Daisy (1989),Outbreak (1995),Remember the Titans (2000),Tyler Perry'sMeet the Browns (2008),Life as We Know It (2010),Contagion (2011),Identity Thief (2013),Captain America: Civil War (2016),Baby Driver (2017), andSpider-Man: Homecoming (2017).
Covington inMetro Atlanta has been home to dozens of feature and television projects that include the hit TV seriesThe Vampire Diaries andIn the Heat of the Night.[4] Although many types of films are shot in Atlanta, theNew York Times in 2011 recognized the particular concentration of horror and zombie-themed productions in the city.[11] A film about the historical1956 Sugar Bowl event in Atlanta was announced in 2022.[12]
BesidesMetro Atlanta, cities and towns frequently used to shoot in include:[4]
In 2019 Hollywood production companies, including Disney and Netflix, threatened to leave the statein response to Georgia's controversialheartbeat bill.[25] In May 2019, a number of Hollywood studios and broadcasters including WarnerMedia, Viacom, CBS, NBC and Sony issued statements saying they would be reviewing their investments in the state if the newheartbeat bill were implemented.[26]