Columbus Game Master and Business Owner Chris Poirier talks with Georgia Entertainment to discuss his newest venture – a “barcade” for locals.
The Bo Bartlett Center will once again host the annual South Arts traveling exhibition showcasing works by this year’s cohort of nine Southern artists.
FUNWOODY officially launched today as a resource for film, music, esports/gaming and other professionals working in the entertainment industry. A service of Discover Dunwoody, the initiative is aimed at promoting the city to producers, directors, and location scouts while servicing local businesses engaged in the region’s growing entertainment industry.
Discover Dunwoody Director of Marketing Mark Galvin sat down with Georgia Entertainment to share his thoughts on how tourism connects to the film industry.
The Columbus Film Commission will host their next quarterly meeting at the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts on February 7th. These events connect entertainment professionals, artists and local businesses from Georgia and beyond and provide an opportunity to share information about activity in the region.
The Rotary Club of Dunwoody is excited to announce that Justin Campbell, Vice President of Operations for Gray Television at Assembly Atlanta, will be the featured speaker at their upcoming meeting on Friday, January 12, 2024, at 7:15 AM.
Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav and the Motion Picture Group’s co-chairs and CEOs Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy have hammered out a new strategic partnership deal with Tom Cruise that takes effect this year.
Capturing the spirit of community and the essence of the Peach State’s industry scene. ln partnership with Film Quality Services, the first ever Georgia Entertainment Live show was broadcast from the JW Buckhead. Capping off the signature Georgia Entertainment 100 and showcasing the many talents of our network, this was an incredible convergence of the Creative Economy: film, music, esports, digital production, and more!
The actor’s union (SAG-AFTRA) strike took a 118-day bite out of Georgia’s busy 2023 filming schedule, slowing production to a handful of indie projects and the work from smaller studios not affected by the strike. But that didn’t slow the pace of infrastructure development across the state, where private investment in studios, backlots and other production assets continued steadily.
The Georgia Unscripted Roadshow event’s next stop is Valdosta on January 26th. The event will be held at the Rainwater Conference Center and will include filmmakers, economic development officials, elected leaders and business owners from South Georgia and beyond.
“People can come here to realize their dreams and their potential. Great things can happen in Georgia and we have the quality to back it up.”
This past year, production was slow due to the actors’ and writers’ strikes but now in the new year, we can see the fruits of the filming in Savannah.
While the supply of movies was able to keep the two-week holiday box office up over 2022’s by 13%, the lack of a mega tentpole carrying over into the New Year — ala Avatar: The Way of Water — is being felt.
“All these big blockbusters – ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’, ‘Star Wars’ – they have memorable soundtracks…,” said Joseph Caudill, a Thomson resident, who has recently written the instrumental soundtrack for a Christian film called “The First Step” that will be premiered in Augusta Jan. 20.
In addition to the three annual series — Power of Story, Cinema Café presented by Audible, and The Big Conversation — this year’s lineup also includes a New Frontier conversation about artificial intelligence and special 40th Edition Celebration events.
The name Sundance has a ceremonial ring to it. Aptly so. The iconic independent film festival’s atmosphere is singular, swirling with the unexpected ingenuity of obscure unknowns and blazingly bright up-and-comers.
As the new year begins, we embrace our blessings in the film and television space. The strikes are over and the opportunity for new and improved relationships in this space start to develop. Many of us look forward to continuing forward — chasing this dream called filmmaking. If you are an indie filmmaker, such as myself, your pursuit never stalled during the strike.
Story Mill’s future projects are slated to increase commerce in the city, in addition to employing locals.
“As the No. 1 state in the nation to do business, we have to prepare Georgians for the unprecedented opportunities coming our way by equipping students with the skills needed to succeed.”
This week’s episode focuses on all things “Games Week Georgia.” To end the year, Georgia celebrated the gaming and esports industries.
Andrew Capezzuto, Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel at Georgia Department of Economic Development will be leaving to join Rivian as Director of Corporate Affairs.
The producers of Neon Highway, a feature film starring Beau Bridges and Rob Mayes, wrapped in 2021. Neon Highway was shot exclusively in Columbus, Pine Mountain and Hamilton, GA.
Havird Usry of Fat Man’s Hospitality Group sat down with Georgia Entertainment before the Unscripted Roadshow in Augusta to talk about how his family business is impacted by the entertainment industry.
An economic impact study commissioned by the New Mexico Film Office found the film industry directly spent $2.6 billion in the state over the past four years.
It was a diversified crop of family and adult films over the holidays that got us there, including Warner Bros‘ trifecta of Wonka (which is leading the four-day New Year’s box office with $30M), Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (4-day $23.5M), and The Color Purple ($15M 4-day), as well as adult movies like The Boys in the Boat ($11.2M 4-day) and even YA romantic comedy Anyone But You ($11M 4-day).
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, and he’s delivering the motion picture industry a $9 billion-plus year at the domestic box office, a feat many thought was unimaginable with the lack of a mega-tentpole over the holiday, coupled by a Q4 impacted by the double strikes.
We started the year with a glowing audit by the state of the video game development tax credit program. The Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts praised the program not only for its economic impact – almost $400 million of economic output in the audited period.
The film industry in Georgia has been booming in recent years. This growth is in part due to the Georgia Film Tax Incentives the state offers for filming in Georgia, but also because of the Georgia Film Academy, which was created to build a robust group of working crew members in Georgia.
State Representative Al Williams of House District 168, accepted his nomination to join the Coastal Entertainment Alliance in an Advisory role. Launched in the summer of 2023, the Coastal Entertainment Alliance represents businesses, educational institutions, and local governments along the coast that support Georgia’s growing creative economy.
CEO of Story Mill Entertainment John Mock met with Georgia Entertainment in Columbus to discuss what makes the city a perfect hub for the arts. Mock praises the creative community for its positive impact on the local economy and states how Columbus is the perfect place for the arts to grow.
The movie filmed all over the state, including Atlanta, Grantville, and Macon to name a few,” said Katie Schuck, SRFC assistant director.
Television host and owner of Mom’s Attic Productions Tess Hammock sat down with Georgia Entertainment before the Unscripted Roadshow in her hometown of Middle Georgia. Hammock shared how her experience working in politics gave her an appreciation for elected officials.
Gray Television, Inc. today announced that it has reached an agreement in principle with the NBC Network that extends and renews all of Gray’s NBC network affiliations, which otherwise would have expired at year-end 2023.
Early estimates for the Christmas box office have been lowered for many movies after traffic was lighter than expected on Saturday as consumers instead focused on holiday preparations and other activities.
DreamHack is one of Georgia’s biggest scenes for video game competitions. As the Call of Duty Mobile Worlds Championship 2023 was held right here in Atlanta, it shows that Georgia is the place to be for tournaments and video games.
The Annual Meeting & Awards Celebration is CAP & ADID’s flagship event that honors the people, places, and businesses shaping Downtown’s exciting growth. There’s no better opportunity to influence and inspire clients, meet new contacts, and stay informed on what’s happening in the heart of the city.
Today, Greenwood, the leading banking platform for Black and Latino consumers and businesses, announced a $1.2 million loan for the new Bankhead Seafood Restaurant, a Westside Atlanta culinary gem co-founded by renowned artists T.I. and Killer Mike, with backing from Georgia Banking Company (GBC).
Georgia Entertainment has announced plans to hold a special event at Sundance to highlight the state as a production powerhouse to filmmakers. Presented by RiseImpact and Film Savannah, the event will be held on January 19, 2024.
Actor Jeff Harding stopped by the Georgia Entertainment Unscripted Roadshow in Savannah to talk about the post-strike entertainment industry. He echoes the rest of the film and television community – they are ready to get back to work.
Production of The Color Purple – a reimagined, bold new take on the classic novel and award-winning Broadway musical – was an economic engine for Georgia, according to new data released by Warner Bros. Pictures. The data was released at a screening of the upcoming film in Atlanta on Monday night co-hosted by the studio and the Motion Picture Association (MPA).
DreamHack, an ESL FACEIT Group brand, offered the ultimate weekend experience as the culmination of Games Week Georgia featuring everything gaming under one roof.
Hands-on training provides workforce development in the digital entertainment and creative industries
Georgia Entertainment held their Signature Georgia Entertainment 100 on December 14th at Skillshot Media. The immaculate Atrium lobby in Uptown Buckhead was filled with influencers and VIPs in the entertainment industry. The special invite only affair landed in the middle of ‘Games Week Georgia.’
Todd Harris, CEO of Skillshot Media, officially announced the unique case study and partnership with Entertainment Tourism Alliance of Georgia (ETAG), and the University of Georgia.
“Wonka,” a fantasy musical starring Timothée Chalamet as the eccentric chocolatier, charmed in its box office debut, collecting $39 million over the weekend.
Recognizing the success of the Film & Digital Media Tax Credit, Murphy signed a bill in July to expand the program through 2039 and increase the annual allocation to $430 million. The law increased the base tax credit available to Studio Partners to 40%.
Columbus game master and business owner Chris Poirier kicks off Georgia’s “Games Week” by sharing his perspective on esports in the state. Poirier, who sits on the board of the Georgia Scholastic Esports Foundation, focuses his attention on expanding opportunities for gamers in Georgia.
On the heels of an industry-wide pause for the WGA and actors strike, a groundbreaking new film highlighting the popularity of college football and the recruiting efforts teams utilize to sign star recruits, started filming in and around Covington, Georgia on December 4th.
Pat Wilson, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), has been named Georgia Creative Champion of 2023. The distinction honors the work of a leader driving momentum for Georgia’s creative economy. Wilson accepted the award last night at the Signature Georgia Entertainment 100 event held at Skillshot Media in Atlanta.
An audit prepared by the Georgia State University Fiscal Research Center says the Georgia FTC (Film Tax Credit) induces substantial economic activity in Georgia. The report also suggests that alternative uses for the more than $1 billion in annual credits could be better utilized but does not cite any evidence or consider empirical data to the contrary.
Creators rejoice: Netflix is finally revealing viewership statistics on nearly all of its shows and movies.
The NBCUniversal streamer has ordered a limited series titled Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist that will tell the story of an armed robbery orchestrated around Muhammad Ali’s 1970 comeback fight in Atlanta. Hart will star in the series and serve as an executive producer.
Visit Macon COO and Film Commission Liaison Aaron Buzza is an advocate for production in his community. In this interview, he details why the local community is excited by film and welcomes productions shooting in Macon.
Governor Brian P. Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp today announced the recipients of the 12th annual Governor’s Awards for the Arts and Humanities to honor individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to Georgia in these fields.
In a performance that’s causing a buzz, the Savannah College of Art & Design’s (SCAD) Bee Sharps elite student vocal ensemble recently shared the stage with world-class alumni stars. A packed house took in the winter wonderland experience and joined in for carols.
Arreasha Z. Lawrence, Chief Music and Entertainment Officer of the Music and Entertainment Council, sat down with Georgia Entertainment to discuss her work in Columbus.
The conglomerate and the indie studio announced a multiyear pay-1 U.S. output deal that will bring the studio and distributor’s theatrical film slate exclusively to Warner Bros. Discovery’s HBO and Cinemax, as well as streaming service Max.
GKIDs’ and Studio Ghibli’s The Boy and the Heron posted a $12.8M opening after a near $4M Saturday, giving both studios, and esteemed animated filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, their biggest openings ever in the U.S./Canada marketplace.
Production on the fifth and final season of the juggernaut Netflix series is currently set to begin in early January, according to multiple sources, though the start date is still subject to change. Filming was postponed for over seven months due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.
In a resounding leap forward for the film and entertainment industry, Assembly Atlanta has recently opened its doors in the city of Doraville, Georgia. This new studio complex, born from the expansion of the renowned 3rd Rail Studios, introduces an impressive addition of 19 sound stages to the existing three, creating a staggering total of 22 sound stages. But what sets Assembly Atlanta apart from other studios?
The program, which highlighted how the Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment Act impacts the state’s Creative Economy, featured Frank Patterson, President and CEO of Trilith Studios. Patterson gave an in depth look into the work that goes on at Trilith Studios and throughout the Georgia film community.
Two-time Grammy Award winner Melissa Etheridge, the critically acclaimed folk rock band Dawes, and five-time Grammy Award winners Blind Boys of Alabama will appear at the 2024 Amplify Decatur Music Festival on Saturday, April 13 in the downtown square.
The Atlanta Film Festival celebrates the holidays at the annual winter mixer event held at the Tara theatre. The Atlanta Film Festival holds this event every winter to celebrate Georgia directors, producers, and creative individuals.
In the middle of Games Week Georgia, the Signature Georgia Entertainment 100 event takes place at Skillshot inside the Atrium at Uptown Buckhead. The invite only networking event is at capacity and includes over 500 top entertainment executives, elected legislators, government officials and influencers from Georgia and beyond.
Moviegoers and lovers of complex drama will adore Todd Haynes’ new flick May December, but Savannahans will fall head-over-heels upon seeing many of their favorite locales as the host of its most pertinent scenes. Actors, Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore star in the film, shot entirely on location in Georgia’s most historic city.
Georgia Entertainment was excited to host the Savannah Regional Film Commission’s newest commissioner at our Unscripted Roadshow in November. He stopped by early to discuss the “layer of talent” in “people-driven” Savannah and the growth happening for film in the region.
Georgia has been one of the top Hollywood production spots in America for years, and now the Black List are putting some of the Peach State’s finest front and center.
U.S. Soccer announced today that the site of the new National Training Center will be located in Fayette County, Georgia, as part of another step in the Federation’s ambitious strategic plan to grow soccer across the country.
CONMEBOL, the South American Football Confederation, announced on Monday that the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home to Major League Soccer’s Atlanta United, will be the venue for the opening match of the Copa América 2024, to be held in the United States.
In a somber moment for the Georgia film and television community, GPP bids farewell to one of its dedicated leaders, Clark Cofer. As a stalwart advocate for the industry, Cofer’s impact on the Georgia film landscape extended beyond his role as a two-term Co-President of GPP.
Sundance Institute announced the 82 films, eight episodic titles, and a New Frontier interactive experience selected for the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. The Festival will take place January 18–28, 2024, in person in Park City and Salt Lake City, with a selection of titles available online nationwide from January 25–28, 2024.
The submission deadline for the 8th Annual South Georgia Film Festival is December 18. Professional and amateur filmmakers are encouraged to submit their work through FilmFreeway to participate in the Regional film festival, which includes screenings, networking and educational opportunities, and local entertainment.
DreamHack, an ESL FACEIT Group brand, and T-Pain’s Nappy Boy Gaming (NBG) will team up at DreamHack Atlanta to bring another element of activities as the Festival prepares to return to Atlanta for the fifth edition of its immersive, gaming lifestyle experience.
Floyd County Schools’ Rick Williams joined Georgia Entertainment at the Rome International Film Festival to talk about his work in education. In his interview, Williams discusses the Film Arts Media and Entertainment (FAME) pathway.
Commentary by Randy Davidson, President of Georgia Entertainment It takes private and public cooperation to build a successful foundation for…
Producer Stratton Leopold has been in the film business for more than 40 years, but he’s been in the ice cream business even longer. And now he’s joining those two industries in Columbus as he prepares to release a movie, The Neon Highway, that was partially filmed in the city and brings Leopold’s Ice Cream to the historic Goetchius House.
Georgia Entertainment has announced an annual award to be presented at the company’s final event of the year. The Georgia Creative Champion of 2023 will be honored at the Georgia Entertainment 100 event in Uptown Buckhead. The award will be given to a professional that characterizes the passion, heart and progress of the state’s creative industries.
SCAD is excited to announce that Tony Award winner Adrienne Warren will make a dazzling special guest appearance in SCAD’s Holiday Spectacular concert Friday, Dec. 8 at the new SCADshow theater in Atlanta.
State Representative Matthew Gambill joined Georgia Entertainment before the Unscripted Roadshow in Warner Robins to share his thoughts on the entertainment industry.
Paramount Global shares closed up nearly 10% Friday, leading entertainment stocks higher after the Wall Street Journal reported that Paramount Global and Apple are discussing bundling their respective streaming platforms at a discount.
AMC’s second concert movie, Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé, though clearly frontloaded in its previews/Friday with a Saturday tumble of -48% ($6M), remains solid enough to hit a $22M opening, per industry sources.
Georgia’s creative industries are bustling this month. There is so much happening as productions sprint to a brief holiday pause before full steam ahead in 2024. Mixed in with all this activity are several great events. Almost daily there are ways one can fill up their social calendar and we will do our best to keep covering these as they happen in our newsletter and social outlets.
T Dawg Productions is pleased to announce the eagerly anticipated return of the Holiday Hootenanny, a festive event that brings together top-tier Atlanta talent for a night of music, charity, and community. The Hootenanny will take place on December 17th, 2023, at the renowned Variety Playhouse.
The Southeastern Conference Football Championship Game will be held in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium through at least 2031, it was announced Thursday by the SEC, AMB Sports and Entertainment (AMBSE) and the Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCCA).
Not only has Griffin helped launch the careers of regional talent like Walton Goggins and Kyle Chandler, she helped found the Georgia Production Partnership and was one part of the committee that helped create the entertainment tax incentive program that’s brought so much film and television production to Georgia.
Neal has worked on the water for more than 25 years, with a business that specialized in boat and kayak tours. But when the film business began to expand in Georgia early in the last decade, productions started renting boats and other equipment from him. He saw an opportunity and seized it.
The airport has partnered with Ryan Cameron, a renowned radio host in Atlanta. Cameron’s voice will be used as the airport’s automated message system, which will help guide passengers through overhead announcements.
With a focus on linking film makers in one community to film makers in another community, the Athens Film Vertical…
Columbus Game Master and Business-Owner Chris Poirier chatted with Georgia Entertainment before the Unscripted Roadshow in Columbus to share his insights into the local gaming scene.
Lisa Anders, CDME, Executive Director of Explore Gwinnett (Tourism & Film Office), takes listeners on a captivating journey through Gwinnett County, a place that has become a magnet for filmmakers and tourists.
Set in rural Georgia, FORTUNE is a Southern Gothic tale of greed, where a blue collar timber yard worker miraculously wins a massive lottery jackpot, but then loses the ticket before he can cash it in.
Owner of Plum Good Productions Keith Plumber sits down with Georgia Entertainment to talk about the thriving Indie film scene in Athens.
The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) urged Congress to develop a comprehensive policy framework that ensures entertainment workers are protected as generative artificial intelligence technologies, if left unchecked, represent the next frontier of large-scale online piracy.
The recently ended concurrent strikes in Hollywood seemed to threaten the overall film and TV production ecosystem, but they actually wound up strengthening an emergent source of finance for the industry: private credit.
The streamers with logos on Swift’s website where you can stream the film are currently Apple TV, Prime Video, Vudu, Google Play, YouTube, and Xfinity.
Following the VSU mass media student groups’ trip to Trilith Studios in Atlanta, VSU has finally gotten the opportunity to have a collaboration with the Georgia Film Academy.
Twenty-two-year-old Bryce Raburn wears many hats. He’s a freelance musician, producer, engineer and musical arranger. The Georgia Military College Preparatory School alum also earned his bachelor’s degree in music production from Full Sail University in 2022.
Columbus Film Commissioner Joel Slocumb and Film Augusta’s Jennifer Bowen helped attendees understand what it takes to truly drive ‘heads in beds’ while also rallying and educating local businesses on how to best engage entertainment firms.
The DC Studios movie “Superman: Legacy” will begin production in March 2024 at Trilith Studios in Fayetteville.
Variety caught up with her in Nashville, where she’s relocated since signing a co-deal with Sony Music Nashville and the company’s mainstream Columbia division, although she makes no bones about her true colors being located back in Georgia.