How Atlanta Is Taking Over the Entertainment Industry (Savannah, Perry: credit, tax credit)

[Newsboy]

This is one of the best articles about Georgia's film and TV industry that I've ever read. Very thorough and accurate IMO. Balanced. Well sourced. Good read.

https://www.theringer.com/pop-cultur...dit-south-week

[ATLTJL]

I think it's extremely important for people to understand that Atlanta's media business is entirely dependent on that tax credit. I know a lot of people believe we have achieved some sort of critical mass with all the infrastructure were productions would continue here even without the credit. I believe that without it, Pinewood would become abandoned in a New York minute.

SOURCE: I've seen it happen before. Both Universal Studios Florida and Disney Studios were designed, built, and functioned as working studios (remember when Nickelodeon shot everything in Orlando?) Neither one is used for any production anymore.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

This is one of the best articles about Georgia's film and TV industry that I've ever read. Very thorough and accurate IMO. Balanced. Well sourced. Good read.

https://www.theringer.com/pop-cultur...dit-south-week

Thank you, Newsboy; it was a good read, and informative...especially for those on here that continue to insist that Georgia has nothing to offer the film industry except the tax credit.

[Beretta]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

This is one of the best articles about Georgia's film and TV industry that I've ever read. Very thorough and accurate IMO. Balanced. Well sourced. Good read.

https://www.theringer.com/pop-cultur...dit-south-week

Loved the article, learned a lot. Thanks for sharing!

[DreamerD]

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

I think it's extremely important for people to understand that Atlanta's media business is entirely dependent on that tax credit. I know a lot of people believe we have achieved some sort of critical mass with all the infrastructure were productions would continue here even without the credit. I believe that without it, Pinewood would become abandoned in a New York minute.

SOURCE: I've seen it happen before. Both Universal Studios Florida and Disney Studios were designed, built, and functioned as working studios (remember when Nickelodeon shot everything in Orlando?) Neither one is used for any production anymore.

I'm not sure if Atlanta would be abandoned completely but I do agree that the industry does benefit substantially from that tax credit. I would like to see what would happen if some of that credit was taken away. Reason for this is I want to see how dependent the industry is on the credit. Would there be any motivation for them to stay if it gets taken away completely.

[chiatldal]

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

I think it's extremely important for people to understand that Atlanta's media business is entirely dependent on that tax credit. I know a lot of people believe we have achieved some sort of critical mass with all the infrastructure were productions would continue here even without the credit. I believe that without it, Pinewood would become abandoned in a New York minute.

SOURCE: I've seen it happen before. Both Universal Studios Florida and Disney Studios were designed, built, and functioned as working studios (remember when Nickelodeon shot everything in Orlando?) Neither one is used for any production anymore.

Atlanta was a media hub before the tax credit. Atlanta had the turner networks, Tyler perry studios, and BET shooting in Atlanta before the tax credits.

The tax credit balloon a already media hub to the forefront. It booth not a either or.


Also Orlando was never a huge media hub, that happen in the 90s related to kids shows and the theme parks.

[ATLTJL]

Would there be any motivation for them to stay if it gets taken away completely.

No.

Atlanta was a media hub before the tax credit.

It was? Tell that to all the post-production facilities that shuttered when Turner built Turner Studios. Turner pretty much ran the entire production in the city for years. Maybe Tyler Perry helped diversify a bit (though, I don't think he uses any resources outside his own compound).

Orlando had the power of Disney and Universal behind it. If they couldn't make that work, I really doubt we could without the massive gift from the state.

But I'd love to be proven wrong....take away the tax credit and see what happens. If you dare.

[2Easy]

I think that you can look at relocation patterns to see how permanent the film industry is. Are actors, writers, directors, producers moving to Atlanta? Or do they fly in for a few months and fly back out? If they're moving there, then they're there to stay. If not then it's very transient.

The people that I know in the industry don't want to move to Atlanta. Even the ones that spend a lot of time there for filming. But that could be because the ones that do want to move already left.

[samiwas1]

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

I think it's extremely important for people to understand that Atlanta's media business is entirely dependent on that tax credit. I know a lot of people believe we have achieved some sort of critical mass with all the infrastructure were productions would continue here even without the credit. I believe that without it, Pinewood would become abandoned in a New York minute.

While I think the tax credit is the prime motivator for being here, I'm not sure the abandonment would be that quick. If the tax credit is the only reason, then riddle me this: the OP's article stated that Savannah offers an additional 10% tax credit. Why are productions not flocking to Savannah?

[ATLTJL]

Why are productions not flocking to Savannah?

I can't pretend to be able to answer that question definitively.

But if I was guessing, I would assume that because Savannah lacks the infrastructure to support large projects in terms of electricians, lighting, etc.

I would also imagine it's a much larger pain to get to Savannah from LA with no nonstop flights.

Maybe its landscapes are also too specific to adequately pass for many generic settings.

I imagine an extra 10% savings isn't enough to justify a move the way Georgia's massive tax credit is.