Atlanta Film Industry-Corporate (Perry: houses, job market, living)

[alliebol]

So my friends and I are thinking of moving back to Atlanta because it's way cheaper than our current living situation in Los Angeles. We all work in film, them more so on crew side, and me more on the corporate side.

My friends are getting the better deal because they need more productions to work on, but I seem to be getting the crappy end because I work in the corporate buildings for the networks and studios that produce these films.

My question is, I only know of Turner and Tyler Perry Studios as the main production companies/tv and film related companies in Atlanta. (Not looking to work for CNN, as I'm into creative tv and film and not news)

Coming from the corporate side (I've been Receptionist at The CW, and temp for ABC and Disney for their programming and production management departments), does anyone know how the job market is for someone looking to work in the offices and not on the sets?

Thanks!

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by alliebol

So my friends and I are thinking of moving back to Atlanta because it's way cheaper than our current living situation in Los Angeles. We all work in film, them more so on crew side, and me more on the corporate side.

My friends are getting the better deal because they need more productions to work on, but I seem to be getting the crappy end because I work in the corporate buildings for the networks and studios that produce these films.

My question is, I only know of Turner and Tyler Perry Studios as the main production companies/tv and film related companies in Atlanta. (Not looking to work for CNN, as I'm into creative tv and film and not news)

Coming from the corporate side (I've been Receptionist at The CW, and temp for ABC and Disney for their programming and production management departments), does anyone know how the job market is for someone looking to work in the offices and not on the sets?

Thanks!

Pinewood Studios ... THE Pinewood Studios (of Great Britain) re: James Bond and Harry Potter, are building their FIRST United States production studios in METRO ATLANTA! If you have a good resume, I don't see how you could NOT tap into the booming ATL film / TV industry. At the very least, you wouldn't have to wait tables any longer than you would in LA ... and you know exactly what I'm talking about!

[midtown mile girl]

EUE Screen Gems has a studio here, you might try them.

[gerrythesnake]

What about the other studios that are opening?

[ponce2]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

Pinewood Studios ... THE Pinewood Studios (of Great Britain) re: James Bond and Harry Potter, are building their FIRST United States production studios in METRO ATLANTA! If you have a good resume, I don't see how you could NOT tap into the booming ATL film / TV industry. At the very least, you wouldn't have to wait tables any longer than you would in LA ... and you know exactly what I'm talking about!

You realize there are almost no (decent) production companies in GA, let alone any studios? The soundstages being built in Atlanta will serve out of state productions as temporary shooting locations, but that's it for now. Pinewood doesn't produce films. There's a big different between soundstage and studio

Unfortunately Atlanta doesn't have many producers or above the line talent. All the big productions that come here are from out of state. And the indie scene is pretty pitiful. As soon as anyone here reaches any level of talent, they head to LA or NYC

OP, as of now, not a ton of corporate film work in Atl, since there are very few corporate offices and no studios. Mostly it's just below the line production jobs.

I'm actually moving to LA very soon to work in the corporate/above the line side, as atlanta just doesn't have very much, and probably won't for a few years

EDIT: But that is a great question OP. Been working in the atl film scene for a few years and this has been quite a dilemma for me as well. Everybody clamours over all the new stages, but they don't realize that we're simply outsourcing production jobs. All the big wigs and actual producers live in LA, and it doesn't look like that's set to change. All films begin and are developed and hired in LA (above the line/key positions) and when it is time to shoot, they come here, hire a few local crew to move lights, shoot the film. When the film is done, they take it back to LA and go through post production there. Then the film is released, and all profits stay in LA. Atl is just a cheap middleman

[alliebol]

Originally Posted by ponce2

You realize there are almost no (decent) production companies in GA, let alone any studios? The soundstages being built in Atlanta will serve out of state productions as temporary shooting locations, but that's it for now. Pinewood doesn't produce films. There's a big different between soundstage and studio

Unfortunately Atlanta doesn't have many producers or above the line talent. All the big productions that come here are from out of state. And the indie scene is pretty pitiful. As soon as anyone here reaches any level of talent, they head to LA or NYC

OP, as of now, not a ton of corporate film work in Atl, since there are very few corporate offices and no studios. Mostly it's just below the line production jobs.

I'm actually moving to LA very soon to work in the corporate/above the line side, as atlanta just doesn't have very much, and probably won't for a few years

EDIT: But that is a great question OP. Been working in the atl film scene for a few years and this has been quite a dilemma for me as well. Everybody clamours over all the new stages, but they don't realize that we're simply outsourcing production jobs. All the big wigs and actual producers live in LA, and it doesn't look like that's set to change. All films begin and are developed and hired in LA (above the line/key positions) and when it is time to shoot, they come here, hire a few local crew to move lights, shoot the film. When the film is done, they take it back to LA and go through post production there. Then the film is released, and all profits stay in LA. Atl is just a cheap middleman

Thanks Ponce2! I had heard that there were a ton of studios opening up, but am singularly interested in above the line work. I know Turner is as close as I can get to my work out here. Do you know anything about Turner? Because they oversee TBS and TNT, I was thinking maybe those offices were in Atlanta. That'd be about my only option (other than Tyler Perry's production offices).

Thanks again for all the great info!

[ponce2]

Originally Posted by alliebol

Thanks Ponce2! I had heard that there were a ton of studios opening up, but am singularly interested in above the line work. I know Turner is as close as I can get to my work out here. Do you know anything about Turner? Because they oversee TBS and TNT, I was thinking maybe those offices were in Atlanta. That'd be about my only option (other than Tyler Perry's production offices).

Thanks again for all the great info!

Yeah, there's a ton of soundstages opening, an insane amount. By next year we'll have the same amount of space as LA. However, no studios or post houses have their offices here

What's your ultimate career goal? That's probably an important determining factor

I have a few friends at Turner. They do have offices here and they produce some content, but they also have offices in LA that produce a lot of content. Adult Swim is also here (but also in LA).

If working in Hollywood or feature films is your end goal, I don't think Atlanta is quite there. There's some network positions available via CNN, Turner, Adult Swim, Weather Channel, but there's not a ton of upward mobility in them.

[LynnHarris]

Time Warner Careers (includes Turner Broadcasting & Warner Bros. Entertainment Group) Careers - Working With Us - Time Warner

Creative Circle - they offer creative based freelance and contract job opportunities Creative Circle > Home


Hope these are helpful.

[alliebol]

I'm looking for a position at a network preferably in development and production in original programming. How do your friends like working at Turner?

Thanks again!

[alliebol]

Originally Posted by LynnHarris

Time Warner Careers (includes Turner Broadcasting & Warner Bros. Entertainment Group) Careers - Working With Us - Time Warner

Creative Circle - they offer creative based freelance and contract job opportunities Creative Circle > Home


Hope these are helpful.

Thanks LynnHarris!