Taxes are a price, or a penalty levied on production. In that case it's no coincidence that so many movies are nowadays shot in Georgia. Hollywood's best and brightest seek the lowest tax price (or better yet, the best tax incentive) to maximize profits in an industry defined by shrinking margins.
Georgia's “production-friendly” tax incentives have set it apart from its state-level competition and boosted its economy. In the state's 2020 fiscal year, film production added $2.2 billion to the state's economy. In addition to attracting filmmakers to the state, several film studios settled in Georgia.
Why has Georgia become a popular location for filming?
With its temperate climate, great variety of locations, the world's busiest airport (Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport), large crew base, and pro-business focus, Georgia is now a leading destination in the world for filming.
This is applicable for either a single production or for multiple projects. This tax credit extends to companies producing feature films, television series, music videos, and commercials. It also applies to interactive games and has proven to be a great incentive to choose Georgia.
Far and away the most popular location in the world for filming movies and television shows, Los Angeles has been the cultural center for the film industry since the Golden Age of Hollywood in the 1930s and 1940s.
Why Georgia Is Becoming America’s New Movie-Making Capital
Why is Georgia called the Hollywood of the South?
Georgia Became the “Hollywood of the South” Through Massive Corporate Tax Breaks. The state of Georgia is subsidizing Hollywood CEOs to the tune of $1 billion a year. That money could go to schools, roads, health care, and good public jobs. But sure, a little peach logo in the credit sequence is cool too.
Georgia's film industry ranks number one globally in the production of the top grossing feature films, followed by the United Kingdom, Canada, California, Louisiana, and New York. Prior to the pandemic, Georgia was on pace to have a record setting year in film production.
Why are so many films shot in Georgia instead of California?
That small logo tacked on the end credits can save productions hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars. Georgia has a "production-friendly" tax incentive program and as a result, many projects get filmed in the Peach State.
If you've been to Atlanta recently, chances are you've seen some production crews filming around town. The city has plenty of great filming locations and studios for productions to use, and Georgia offers tax incentives for filmmakers who use their state as a backdrop for their movies.
Production companies have been increasingly coming to the Greater Atlanta area and the whole state of Georgia to shoot Hollywood films and television series. This may not come as a shock to GA residents who are well aware that our cityscape is just as cool and versatile as New York or LA, if not more.
One of the primary reasons that production companies flock to Atlanta is the state's generous tax incentive program. Georgia offers a 20% base transferable tax credit for qualified productions, which can be increased by an additional 10% by including an embedded Georgia promotional logo.
According to the Georgia film industry website, “Anyone who pays Georgia income tax can lower the amount of state taxes they owe by buying film tax credits to use dollar for dollar against their tax liability.”
Television shows and movies are filmed on location in Atlanta because of the convenience of the region. Atlanta is a global city with access to nearby coasts, mountains terrain, large cities, and rural areas, which is a production manager's dream.
Although most of the film is set in Alabama, filming took place mainly in and around Beaufort, South Carolina, as well as parts of coastal Virginia and North Carolina, including a running shot on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Downtown portions of the fictional town of Greenbow were filmed in Varnville, South Carolina.
The film industry in Georgia is the largest among the states 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 with Turner, Tyler Perry, and EUE/Screen Gems studios located there.
Georgia is known for its low tax rates, which appeals to high-earning celebrities looking to keep their hard-earned cash in their pockets. Compared to states like California and New York, which have high state income tax rates, Georgia offers a more appealing option to those looking to maximize their earning potential.
Marvel Studios has found a second home in Atlanta, Georgia, and has made it their primary filming location for many of their projects. The city's rapidly growing film industry, coupled with generous tax incentives from the state, has made Atlanta an attractive choice for Marvel.
Los Angeles (or, more specifically, Hollywood), due to the city's radio, television, music, and filmmaking, as well as the abundance of tourist and amusement attractions in the region. New York City (or, more specifically, Broadway), due to the city's theater productions.
Even Marvel has turned its sights toward the peach state, with parts of Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War and Ant-Man and the Wasp all shot around the city. And while Hollywood remains the heart of the film industry, Georgia has slowly become its darling.
For example, the healthcare sector will add the most jobs in the state, according to the Georgia Department of Labor. Other growing industries include social assistance, business careers, and education.
Major centers of film production across the country include Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Kochi, Bangalore, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack and Guwahati. For a number of years the Indian film industry has ranked first in the world in terms of annual film output.
Why has Georgia become a leader in the film industry?
One of the side benefits like hospitality, hotel and revenue by the film and television industry.” Georgia spent $4 billion with 400+ projects in 2022. “Georgia offers the tax credits along with amenities like the mountains, oceans and areas but in New York, you can only shoot in certain locations,” said Dicker.
