Southside movie business is booming

In an article published online today from The Atlanta Business Chronicle, staff writer Ellie Hensley shines light on how the film industry has blossomed south of the city.

In the report she states:

This summer, United Kingdom-based Pinewood Studios opened a 228-acre studio in Fayetteville, and Tyler Perry is in is in talks with the city to buy 363 acres of Fort McPherson for his own movie studio. Other developers have also expressed interest in building a studio on the southside, which offers more open space and privacy than anywhere north of Interstate 20. It also puts them closer to the airport.

“There are multiple areas around the southside that have the look and feel [production studios] are looking for,” said Grant Wainscott, director of Clayton County Economic Development. “It certainly means more location shots and activity.”

Those who move to the area need a place to live and do business, which benefits the surrounding counties. Film production is responsible for 22,843 direct jobs and $1.3 billion in wages in the state; quantifying the value of indirect jobs is much more difficult, but definitely substantial as large production studios often have hundreds of vendors.

Ms. Hensley discussed many other ways that the industry has positively impacted this area – read her entire article here.