Georgia Ranked in Top Five States in U.S. for Film and Television Productions

[Newsboy]

Georgia has definitely passed North Carolina by, if not yet in dollars then at least as the preferred place to do business. Why is Screen Gems building that huge facility at Lakewood? And besides, other than Wilmington, what what other large-scale production facilities does the Tarheel State have?

In Georgia, the location work seems really spread out and the facilities that are already here -- or are being planned -- span the state. In the spring, Dolly Parton and Reba McIntyre are doing a movie in Fayette and Coweta counties, where Riverwood Studios has been established for years and TV sound stages are up and running.

And then there's Savannah, which on sheer beauty alone has always been a popular movie location. But thanks to SCAD, it's also a literal oasis of creative talent. People come here for a year or two to go to school, or to work a short-term job, or even for a long weekend. Then they end up identifying a need or niche and decide to stay, setting up another layer of creative services. That's how Savannah came to be home to Meddin Studios, the only all-digital TV/Video production studio in the country. MEDDIN STUDIOS

One of Wilmington's biggest problems has always been its location -- you really can't get there from anywhere, at least quickly. For years, actors have complained about how incredibly boring it is living there, even if only working for 3-4 months out of the year. Not to mention how really difficult it is to fly home to California for a weekend, quickly or easily, out of Wilmington.

Off the studio lot, Wilmington leaves a lot to be desired for location shooting. Unless your project is set on the coast, it is hard to pass off as some place else, and especially a big city. Again, why is Screen Gems coming to Atlanta? Funny looking back that Andy Griffith moved the last few seasons of "Matlock" to Wilmington, trying to pass it off as Atlanta. And it was a joke: All the sudden, Atlanta had a beach ... and palm trees! But then, Hollywood has been just as lazy and misleading for years. In fact, I think it's sweet justice that now, after years of accepting California as a convenient backdrop for practically 90 percent of the movies and TV shows produced, we're seeing so many other places featured -- like Atlanta -- now being passed off as California.

[johnatl]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

In fact, I think it's sweet justice that now, after years of accepting California as a convenient backdrop for practically 90 percent of the movies and TV shows produced, we're seeing so many other places featured -- like Atlanta -- now being passed off as California.

So true! I find it hilarious that Drop Dead Diva passes off Atlanta as L.A.

A couple of stock shots of L.A. thrown in help them, but still.......