Georgia is No Longer Number 1 in Film Productions

MOSCOW – OCT 23: Director, staff and actors on the set of the video singer Rene during scene with a man on a chair
in White studio on October 23, 2010 in Moscow, Russia. (Pavel L Photo and Video / Shutterstock.com)

Georgia has fallen to the number 2 place to shoot a movie. 
According to a new study by Film L.A, a nonprofit group for the Los Angeles-area film industry. The study analyzed the top 100 feature films at the domestic box office released in 2017. The state took first place in last year’s study, but it was beaten by Canada in the latest report. In fact, Canada saw 20 of the top 100 movies shot there, and Georgia saw 15, which it ties with the U.K.

So why did Georgia’s film industry take a hit?
The report points out the country’s favorable exchange rate with the United States, making film producers eager to trade their U.S. dollars for Canadian loonies. Also, Canada has film tax credits giving filmmakers more money to film their feature films and TV shows. Canada offers a tax credit equal to 16% of the Canadian labor costs, and individual Canadian provinces offer incentives on top of that.  

In Vancouver, over 65 movies and 55 TV shows are shot each year, according to the Vancouver Economic Commission making it the third largest production center in North America. Meanwhile, Georgia’s film industry generated $9.5 billion for Georgia’s economy in 2017, according to Gov. Nathan Deal.  “Georgia’s film industry supports thousands of jobs, boosts small business growth and expands offerings for tourists,” Deal said in a statement. “As one of the top places in the world for film, Georgia hosted a remarkable 320 film and television productions during the last fiscal year. These productions mean new economic opportunities and real investments in local communities. We are committed to further establishing Georgia as a top film destination.”

Gov. Deal also pointed towards the growth of film infrastructure in the state including, new movie studios, filmmaking programs, and student educational programs, which he argues will attract more filmmakers to the state.  That said, Georgia’s film credits are what brings Hollywood filmmakers to film in the state. Georgia offers a 20 percent transferable tax credit for in-state spending plus an additional 10 percent in credits if the production includes a Georgia promotional logo in the film credits.

The Film L.A. report found Georgia’s film tax incentive is $800 million, making it the most expensive in North America. Meanwhile, the U.K.’s $820 million, is the most expensive in the world.  “The ability and willingness to keep these programs in place will be a critical factor affecting a given location’s future ranking in Film L.A. reports,” the study’s authors found.

Source: http://www.projectcasting.com/casting-calls-acting-auditions/georgia-is-no-longer-no-1-in-feature-film-productions