Georgia-Filmed Movies and Television Series Set To Take Over Silver and Small Screens

ATLANTA, June 3, 2011— Georgia will be seen by millions today as movie-goers head to theatres for the premiere of 'X-Men: First Class.' The film was shot on Jekyll Island and other spots along Georgia's Coast in late 2010. This is the first of many Georgia-filmed movies slated to hit theatres in the next few months, including 'The Change-Up' starring Ryan Reynolds and Jason Bateman on August 5; 'Wanderlust' starring Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd on October 7; and a remake of 'Footloose' will hit theatres on October 14. Georgia can also be seen on television sets across the world with multiple television series now calling Georgia home. On May 30, VH1's first hour-long scripted series 'Single Ladies' premiered; 'Teen Wolf' will make its debut on MTV on June 5; and the third season of 'Drop Dead Diva' will air on Lifetime on June 19. AMC's record-breaking 'The Walking Dead,' CW's 'Vampire Diaries,' The Discovery Channel's popular 'Auction Kings' and BET's 'The Game' have also set up shop here. The 2008 Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment Act helped the state's entertainment industry achieve record numbers. Georgia is now among the top five states in the nation for film and TV production with more than 274 productions shot in Georgia from July 2010 through April 2011, bringing in more than $589.2 million in investment to Georgia. These projects have generated an economic impact of $2.1 billion. The Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment Act provides an income tax credit of 20 percent to qualified productions, and an additional 10 percent tax credit to productions that embed a Georgia promotional logo in the titles or credits, or as product placement within the content of the production. The tax credits may be awarded not only to traditional feature films, television series, commercials and music videos, but also to innovative new industries such as video game development and animation. Additional Georgia-filmed movies that have had box office success in recent months include 'Fast Five,' 'Water for Elephants,' Robert Redford's 'The Conspirator,' Tyler Perry's 'Madea's Big Happy Family,' 'Get Low,' and 'Due Date.' About GDEcD 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, music and digital entertainment projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development.