If you had told Haley Fusia she would be capturing breathtaking helicopter scenes for a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) project, she might not have believed you. Yet at 27 years old, what used to be a dream is now a reality.
There’s not much going on at the weekend box office. Yes, point fingers at the dual strikes’ impact on the theatrical schedule. But it’s also January, which typically counts a couple of the year’s lowest-grossing weekends.
Augusta rolled out the red carpet on Jan. 20 for an independent film with a score written by a Thomson teen. Created by Texas filmmakers Julie and Jerry Loncon of Studio 220 Films, “The First Step” focuses on a man dealing with a tragedy that rocks his faith to its core.
Although she’s listed among the producers of an upcoming A&E documentary on her late father, Deanna Brown-Thomas will get her first look at the finished product when it premieres at New York’s Apollo Theatre next month.
DuVernay’s film wants to be a starting point for rethinking race in the 21st century, before we all collectively tumble over a cliff headfirst. (It hits theaters on Jan. 19, after a brief awards-qualifying run last year.)
The 40th Sundance Film Festival kicks off Thursday in snow-covered Park City, Utah. In the wake of twin strikes and an indie biz still recovering from the Covid pandemic, it’s difficult to read how hungry buyers are for films that are mostly light on starpower and an overtly commercial premise.
This program aims to honor the exceptional efforts and contributions of individuals within the entertainment industry, specifically in the areas of production, travel, and procurement.
Event to Focus on the Art and Science of Portraying Aspects of Color — Diverse Hues and Human Features — in Film, TV, Animation, and Gaming
Georgia Production Partnership Announces New Board Members to Lead the Organization into the Future.
Daniel Hanifan, the famous artist who’s ‘redefined art and cinema,” is creating an immersive experience for guests of the Georgia Entertainment Roadshow that highlights all that the creative economy in South Georgia is aspiring to be.
The highly anticipated Trilith Guesthouse (350 Trilith Parkway) officially opened its doors today in the Town at Trilith, inviting guests to “awaken the storyteller within.” The 193-room boutique hotel is the first of its kind in the award-winning, picturesque community, immersing guests in a scene and story of their own making through spaces, amenities, and experiences designed to inspire creativity and collaboration.
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 event is scheduled from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
Esports has grown rapidly over the last few years – allowing more opportunities that students like Stephens can benefit from. As he states in his interview, it encompasses many demographics and is now ingrained in a variety of schools (public, private, religious, HBCU, and more).
Inspired by the success of SCAD TVfest — Georgia’s only festival dedicated to all things TV — SCADFILM presents SCAD TVfest: Reality, a deeper look at the expansive world of unscripted television.
WABE, Atlanta’s choice for NPR and PBS, is proud to announce the second season of the WABE Studios original music series SOUNDS LIKE ATL returns Saturdays at 10 p.m. on WABE TV (PBS-30) beginning January 27. The program will also stream nationwide on wabe.org, PBS Passport, and WABE’s YouTube channel.
State Representative Steven Sainz of House District 180, accepted his nomination to join the Coastal Entertainment Alliance’s Advisory Board.
Valdosta is now playing host to the first Unscripted Roadshow of 2024 on January 26 at the city’s Rainwater Conference Center from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
RiseImpact Entertainment’s services to the film industry and to its independent players primarily include navigation of state-based tax credits and rebates all over the country, Georgia does have additional aces in its hand.
Recently I was given the opportunity to read a wonderful script that had me laughing out loud. When I asked the writer/producer if she had had others review the script she said, “Not yet, but I got lots of great input from Largo AI.”
Innovation and creativity is the key to success of any organization. For Georgia Entertainment our best experiences and offerings are a result of ideas from our partners and friends.
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.