Georgia film industry hits high gear

Atlanta, March 28, 2006 — In its first year, the Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment Act has helped the state attract several high-profile film projects that are bringing jobs and economic benefits to communities around Georgia. The total budgets of the two feature films and three television pilots have already exceed all of last year's total feature and television project budgets. 'Competition for entertainment projects has become increasingly competitive and the state legislature provided Georgia the tools necessary to attract these high-paying, creative, non-resource draining economic development projects,' said Greg Torre, director of the Georgia Film, Video and Music Office. 'Our incentive package enhances an already strong slate of assets and we are seeing great results.' The Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment Act, enacted during the 2005 General Assembly, joins diverse locations, a skilled workforce and a competitive business environment to make the state a smart choice for production companies. The act grants a base tax credit to qualified productions, as well as additional credits for employing Georgia talent and shooting in underdeveloped counties. It is available not only to traditional motion picture projects such as feature films, television series, commercials and music videos, but also innovative new industries such as game development and animation. Based on their spending behavior, companies can save up to 17 percent on the total cost of doing business in Georgia with this tax credit. Additionally, the Georgia Sales & Use Tax exemption provides qualified companies an immediate point-of-purchase sales tax exemption that will save up to 8 percent on most below-the-line materials and service purchases, leases or rentals. The recently released 'Madea's Family Reunion,' produced by Lions Gate Films/The Tyler Perry Company, was filmed in metro Atlanta and Covington and represents Perry's second Georgia-lensed film in two years. The film was the top box office draw around the nation for two consecutive weeks and has grossed more than $60 million. Perry, an Atlanta-based filmmaker, recently wrapped production on a television sitcom called 'House of Payne' and will soon begin pre-production on his third feature film. Additionally, the Warner Brothers film 'ATL,' produced by Dallas Austin, was shot in Atlanta and will be released in theaters on March 31. Austin and 20th Century Fox collaborated on the Georgia-lensed 'Drumline' in 2002. Current Georgia productions include: Warner Brothers Pictures is in preproduction on the feature film 'We Are Marshall,' about the 1970 plane crash involving the Marshall University football team, and is scheduled to begin filming in Atlanta on April 3 Rainforest Films for Sony Pictures is in production on the feature 'Step Show,' about college fraternities. Last year, Rainforest Films partnered with Sony Pictures on 'The Gospel' Bochco Media is in production on the television pilot 'Hollis and Rae' for Touchstone Television and is being filmed in Savannah Touchstone Television is also in production on a pilot called 'October Road.' The company began shooting in the Atlanta area, Madison, Newnan and Decatur in mid-March 20th Century Fox will shoot three days of a pilot called 'Vanished' in late March and early April in Atlanta and Newnan The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is the state's sales and marketing arm, the lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, locating new markets for Georgia products, attracting tourists to Georgia, and promoting the state as a location for film, video and music projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development. For more information, visit www.georgia.org.