Streaming episodic and limited-series productions continue to choose Georgia for hit programming. Evidence came this year in the form of 46 Emmy nominations, including those for Season Four of Netflix’s “Stranger Things,” which reached an all-time Neilson streaming record for its more than 7 billion minutes of viewing time during the first half of the season.
Andy Rusk, stuntman and stunt coordinator from Athens, grew up watching “Ted Turner’s Movies for Guys Who Like Movies” with his dad, bingeing on James Bond and Errol Flynn. He developed a love for action and the desire to learn how to put it together in front of the camera.
Riot Games has announced a change to their Worlds 2022 schedule as the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia becomes the new landing spot for the semifinals in place of Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena.
The winning film will go up against films from around the world at Filmapalooza 2023 (in Los Angeles!) for a chance at the grand prize and an opportunity to screen at the Cannes Film Festival 2023 Short Film Corner!
Those looking to launch their careers in the digital entertainment, film and television production industry can set the stage for success through Georgia Film Academy courses at Clayton State University this fall.
The difference this time around, industry insiders say, is lingering questions of whether ceasing filming in nearly half of the country is even possible, especially in states that collectively hand out billions a year in tax breaks to productions.
Frequent players of video games show superior sensorimotor decision-making skills and enhanced activity in key regions of the brain as compared to non-players, according to a recent study by Georgia State University researchers.
Three newcomers – Where the Crawdads Sing, Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank, and Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris – could not wrestle Thor: Love and Thunder from its top spot at the box office.
Film Augusta is excited to announce the release of The Royal, which filmed in Augusta in 2019, in theaters and on streaming platforms July 15, 2022.
What’s happening: Pennsylvania’s General Assembly gave the state’s film industry a $30 million boost as part of a delayed $42.8 billion budget approved late last week.
For some reason, it always feels special when a movie is set in your state. Maybe it’s because you feel a little closer to the action, like you have the inside scoop. I, for one, always point at the screen and yell, “That’s where I’m from!” every time a movie so much as mentions my home state.
From shopping for last-minute costumes.. to hotel stays and dining, the more than 100-person production crew and actors are bringing local businesses a boost in sales in the two week span of filming.
Alex Tyra was 4 years old when she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 1997. During one of her hospitalizations to treat the cancer in her blood and bone marrow, she had a vision while watching TV.
Thor: Love and Thunder thundered globally with $302 million. And also, worldwide, Top Gun: Maverick, Jurassic: World Dominion, and Minions: The Rise of Gru are nearing $1.2 billion, $900 million, and $400 million, respectively.
Is Columbus a viable place to film? Is the economic, workforce and political structure in the region strong enough to support a gaming or esports venture? Are there suppliers in Columbus that can handle the needs and complexities of music, film and gaming companies?
Greenlight Acting Studios Presents Tracy Letts’ August: Osage County. With its foray into the Atlanta theatre world, Greenlight will present a compelling new production of Tracy Letts’ prizewinning play, August: Osage County running August 17 through 28, 2022 at the Stage Door Theatre in Dunwoody, GA. Acclaimed director Forrest Attaway sits at the helm.
disguise, the market leader in extended reality (xR) technology, has acquired Atlanta-based immersive entertainment specialists Meptik, to empower the global deployment of trailblazing immersive productions, studios and installations delivered by Meptik and powered by disguise.
The art department is full of people who are a very important part of making any project look its best. The work they do helps shape the characters, gives the audience context for the story, grounds the actors, and transports us to magical places by taking the words on the page and translating them into real-life physical items and spaces.
RoadShow Africa is pleased to announce the first annual event for African filmmakers – The Africa Film Showcase. RoadShow Africa is the first platform to offer investors the opportunity to participate in a diverse portfolio of risk-mitigated media projects involving filmmakers from Africa engaging with Georgia.
Filmmaker, actor and studio owner Tyler Perry has found success in his career, and says he’s motivated to keep going by the people who work for him and the ancestors who came before him.
Iceland’s film commission on Thursday announced it’s increasing tax breaks to movies and television projects that shoot in the country from 25 percent to 35 percent, launching it into the upper tier of international filming locations when it comes to incentives.
The prize is awarded for an original poem written by a Georgia high school student. This annual program is designed to encourage students in grades nine through 12 to write original poems and engage in the art form of poetry.
The Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office said its special response team was cast as SWAT team members in a film starring John Travolta. Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office Major Joe McCrea also shared the screen with stars John Travolta and Kristin Davis during filming in Columbus.
But economics are not on the side of those who would like to see studios quit the Peach State. Georgia’s attempts to restrict abortion in 2019 didn’t deter Marvel, Tyler Perry, and other major studios from doing business there, for example.
Elvis Presley is King again. After Elvis and Top Gun: Maverick duked it out for number one, locked in a dead heat, the King prevailed over Capt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell.
At the forefront of exceptional growth and expansion for Bennett Thrasher, Jeff will lead the firm through evolution in new markets and services to help the firms’ clients continue to succeed and grow.
Taylor Montalto grew up obsessed with movies and was inspired to study film by her idol, Nora Ephron. Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, Taylor’s passion for all things film and photography-related has driven her to work on various projects in both documentary and narrative mediums.
Kids Video Connection, Inc. will present the 15th annual Atlanta Children’s Film Festival (ACFF) from July 7 – 24, 2022. The ACFF features two weeks of eye-opening and exciting activities, including film screenings and workshops for children, teens, and industry professionals.
The event will be held at Areu Brothers Studio located at 3133 Continental Colony Pkwy, Atlanta GA 30331 on Sunday, June 26th from 5 – 9 p.m. Early Bird tickets will be available through June 13th: $50 for GPP members and $75 for non-members.
The Georgia Film Academy and Atlanta Technical College Continuing Education are offering Introduction to Digital Entertainment, Esports & Game Development (GFA 1500) this summer and fall! Registration is now open through their portal – open to anyone!
Our July meeting will be held in collaboration with Georgia Tech’s CreateX accelerator and feature David Schulman, one of the leading game industry lawyers in the South.
“When we started working on the intersection of creativity and enterprise, there was no other place we could go,” Best said. “If you think about where there are so many enterprise businesses and a creator community, Atlanta is the only place in the country that has what it has.”
The investment includes a capital commitment of $500 million that will support Shadowbox’s growth strategy, including existing soundstage development projects in the Atlanta, London, and Los Angeles metro areas with over $1.5 billion of expected capital investment.
The Columbus Entertainment 100 event, presented by Georgia Entertainment News and the Columbus Film Commission is set for July 20th at the beautiful Chattahoochee River Club. The evening affair will host the who’s who of entertainment including directors, producers and studio executives.
An expansion underway at EUE/Screen Gems Studios’ Atlanta campus will add 60,000 square feet of first-class production soundstage space including an additional 15,000 square feet of production office space and 15,000 square feet of mill/support space.
The Motion Picture Association (MPA) and the Entertainment Industry College Outreach Program (EICOP) today announced the inaugural class of the MPA-EICOP Entertainment Law & Policy Fellowship program.
The School of Film, Media & Theatre capped off the year with its annual showcase, the Georgia State University Student Film Festival (GSUSFF). The festival celebrates student films written, produced and directed by current film and media majors and M.A. production students of the 2021-2022 academic year.
In a Savannah movie theatre 22 years ago, a four-year-old girl sat, entranced, watching the blockbuster Titanic with her mother. It was an event that would make a lasting impression on her life and career.
Now music supervisors are looking to unionize with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, or IATSE. According to IATSE, 75% of film and television music supervisors have signed authorization cards to join the union.
Top business leaders and trade officials from Belgium, led by Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid, visited Georgia State on Monday for a firsthand look at the university’s cutting-edge game design and production facilities.
As it is, Tom Cruise’s Top Gun sequel easily cruised to $500 million – $548.6 million, to be exact – without those two countries. Maverick still has to open in Korea (it bows there on June 23) but it has already grossed $257 million in over 60 territories after two weekends.
A Columbus soccer player is hitting the big screen as Shevah Rezaee, a player on the Columbus Rapids soccer team, along with several other Georgia soccer players and referees are featured in the film “High Expectations.”
“Becoming ANNIKA” will also be shown on the NBC broadcast network on Sunday, June 5, ahead of final round coverage of the 77th U.S. Women’s Open Presented by ProMedica from Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club in Southern Pines, N.C.
The five-day event will be presented by Chromatic Black in partnership with Steal The Sun Studios. The festival will also be accessible virtually from September 20 to September 30, 2022. Badges are now on sale at a 50 percent discount.
RoadShow Equity Partners is pleased to announce the launch of RoadShow Africa, the first platform to offer investors the opportunity to participate in a diverse portfolio of risk-mitigated media projects involving filmmakers from Africa engaging with Georgia.
Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCCA) announced Peachtree TV as the exclusive broadcast home of the all-new patriotic celebration “Look Up Atlanta” on Sunday, July 3.
Savannah Jazz, in partnership with the City of Savannah and WSAV announces that the 41st Savannah Jazz Festival will take place September 20 – 24. Free, live, and in Person!
During the height of pandemic lockdowns in 2020, Kelly Kline and her wife Symantha Reenders restored and re-imagined a 1970 Scotty Serro camper and turned it into a cozy, farm-style mobile bar, now known and available for bookings as Treehouse Tap.
On Friday, May 20, SAG-AFTRA reached a tentative agreement with major broadcast networks and other producers on the National Code of Fair Practice for Network Television Broadcasting (Network Television Code).
California’s economy took off with Paramount Pictures’ Top Gun: Maverick as its wingman, according to new data from the studio. The high-flying film added over $150 million to the economy when it filmed throughout the state. The production also created 2,820 high-quality jobs for Californians.
The Media Financial Management Association, which was founded in 1961 to provide nationwide professional development for finance executives in the media industry, will present the award to Trilith Studios at the association’s annual conference on May 25th.
Pamela Perrine has been making short films since she moved to Watkinsville about six years ago, and now her latest effort is available for public viewing on YouTube.
A Georgia teen got to see his film dreams come true thanks to the help of Georgia’s Make-A-Wish organization. At just 17-years-old Zach Breder is a filmmaker whose life hasn’t always been the easiest.
Back to Doctor Strange 2, Benedict Cumberbatch’s return as the surgeon-turned-superhero easily topped the domestic charts since a certain maverick pilot will not fly in till next week. The MCU epic picked up $31.6 million which added to the movie’s $342 million North American grosses so far.
The Georgia Chamber of Commerce announced its slate of legislative endorsements for the 2022 Primary Election. As the premiere statewide business advocacy organization, the Chamber not only engages in public policy matters, but it also engages politically to ensure candidates for office remain focused on building a better state for business.
Time for a little trivia. What is the world’s fastest-growing sport? It’s not soccer. And it’s not pickleball (unless we’re…
Film Biz Savannah takes items from film sets that wrap up in the area and brings them to its warehouse for others to rent out. The environmental nonprofit was established in New York City back in 2008 handed over to now-President Samita Wolfe in 2016. Wolfe opened the doors in Savannah on Earth Day in 2017.
Breeze Airways, the new low-fare airline founded by aviation entrepreneur David Neeleman, announced that it is launching 5 new routes this summer from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport.
“The team at Trilith continues to set the standard for studio operations not just here in Georgia but globally,” said Kelsey Moore, Executive Director of the Georgia Screen Entertainment Coalition. “We’re proud to announce this significant award and appreciate their leadership within the coalition.”
This year’s prizes totaled more than $160,000 in cash and partner donations, representing the single largest amount offered in the festival’s competitive categories. Additionally, ATLFF is pleased to share event facts and figures resulting from its hybrid blend of in-person and virtual presentations.
When she was young, sleepovers became film sets as Megan Lombardo made movies with her friends playing the starring roles. “I was always making videos as a little girl,” she says. “I don’t remember ever wanting to do anything else.”
Since its inception, SAG-AFTRA has endeavored to bring protections to its singer and recording artist members. Some may be familiar with…
Start your career or improve upon your current skills in the industry with advanced knowledge. The PA Academy shows you what it takes to succeed while preparing you for your first day on set or your transition from a dayplayer to a core crew member.
In a Collaborative project The CSU Theater and Film programs are partnering with the Carson McCullers Center for Writers and Musicians to create a film about her life, career and internationally acclaimed work.
“Esports is one of the fastest growing industries that we have in the country right now,” said Jeffrey Stepakoff, Director of the Georgia Film Academy that offers classes on careers in esports. “In many ways we’re trying to shape this business to help bring it to Georgia.”
Jeremy Pack is the general manager of a company based just outside Atlanta that loans out high-end digital cameras and lenses. Pack moved to Atlanta from Los Angeles in 2018, a decade into the existence of Georgia’s uniquely generous tax-credit program for movie and television production, which has transformed the state into arguably the most popular shooting location in the country.
The major entertainment studios spoke out against Georgia’s “heartbeat” abortion bill in 2019, saying they would “rethink” their production plans in the state if the law ever went into effect.
The Georgia Film Academy and Atlanta Technical College Continuing Education are offering Introduction to Digital Entertainment, Esports & Game Development (GFA 1500) this summer and fall! Registration is now open through their portal – open to anyone!
Theatre Macon is pleased to announce their stage production of The Color Purple will run May 13 – May 22 at 438 Cherry St. This musical adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel spotlights Celie, a downtrodden young woman whose personal awakening over the course of 40 years forms the arc of this epic story.
A local Atlanta movie studio owner who used to work for Tyler Perry has sued a financier who took over his studio, claiming the new owner blocked him out and diverted funds away from the studio itself.
Tammy Williams, set to become the first Black woman to own a major production studio in Georgia, started with a vision.
Georgia may be known for being one of the biggest international airline hubs in the nation, but another industry is becoming a profitable industry for the Peach State.
Always subject to change and often set before filming begins, here is the latest info on release dates for projects that filmed in Georgia.
With Doctor Strange madness not starting until next weekend, it was quiet both domestically and internationally. But the overseas box office universe saw more action.
Thanks to Skillshot Media for hosting us earlier this month. They have offered GGDA members free passes to the Collegiate Esports Commissioners Cup May 7-8! We will be making this our May GGDA meeting and hope to see you there.
Our featured composer/pianist this month is Tanya Ostrovsky. She was born in Russia and began her piano studies at an early age. Tanya was a student at the Leningrad Conservatory until the 5th grade. When her family moved to Moscow, her music soared to a different level. Film and TV credits soon came.
The announcement is the result of an exclusive agreement between AMC and Cinionic, the Barco cinema joint venture and global leader in laser-powered cinema solutions, to significantly upgrade the on-screen presentation at 3,500 auditoriums throughout the United States, with cutting-edge laser projectors.
Global sports piracy costs media companies $28 billion a year in lost revenue, according to a recent study from Synamedia/Ampere . The study found that 74% of fans using illegal streams might be willing to pay to switch to a legitimate streaming provider.
Pennsylvania operates a $70 million tax credit program to expand the state’s film industry. The tax credit can be used to offset a project’s tax liability if Pennsylvania production expenses make up at least 60% of a film’s total production expenses, according to the Department of Community and Economic Development.
Under the signed memorandum of understanding (MOU), RIAA and the IPR Center will coordinate public and private sector efforts to disrupt and combat all forms of digital piracy.
Mack, who is graduating from Georgia State this spring with a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies in Game Design and Development, said getting introduced to gaming at an early age wasn’t just about enjoying a hobby. It was a life-changing experience.
The massive talent of Nicolas Cage and the brute force of the Vikings were no match to criminal animals at the box office.
Co-Directed by Zandashé Brown and Jessica Anthony, IN THE BONES is a cinematic journey through Mississippi providing a poetic and sometimes painful portrait of American culture through the ordinary lives of women and children.
Erica Orofino’s film ‘She Keeps Me’ is being featured at this year’s Atlanta Film Festival. The film depicts the relationship between two sisters that reaches a dangerous climax in this exploration of family ties, mental illness, and self sacrifice.
The Atlanta Film Society kicked off the 46th annual Atlanta Film Festival + Creative Conference (ATLFF) with an Opening Night presentation of the narrative feature “892” and the announcement of its news Board of Director appointments.
The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) announces the return of SCADFILM’s signature SCAD GamingFest, streaming live to global audiences April 28–29, 2022.
The 46th annual Atlanta Film Festival + Creative Conference (ATLFF) revealed key programming highlights, including Opening and Closing Night presentations and the full lineup of selected works from a record-breaking nearly 10,000 submissions.
It’s Back! The Mountainfilm on Tour Savannah’s Film Festival is back April 29 – 30th at the Trustees Theater on Broughton Street! Please visit their website for tickets and the schedule lineup.
Northwest Georgia has become a hot spot for television and movie productions in recent years, including blockbusters such as “The Mule” starring Clint Eastwood and Bradley Cooper and Netflix’s “Stranger Things.” Several production companies have flocked to the area to utilize the scenic backdrops and diverse settings that are offered.
The projects starting up aren’t quite as grandiose, with the most notable a movie version of the former MTV TV series “Teen Wolf,” which actually shot its first couple of seasons in Atlanta a decade ago before moving its final four seasons to California. Fox is also shooting a pilot of a comedy starring D.L. Hughley.
Are more families finally feeling safer about going back to the cineplexes? The record box office figures of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, pegged at $71 million, the highest weekend debut ever of a video game adaptation movie in the United States and Canada, maybe a promising sign.
Governor Brian P. Kemp, in conjunction with the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), announced that through the third quarter of fiscal year 2022 (July 1, 2021 – March 31, 2022), job creation and investments resulting from economic development projects have already surpassed fiscal year 2021 year-end totals.
Business owners and entertainment professionals from Columbus and beyond attended the Film Columbus GA virtual event on Wednesday, April 13th. The event, usually held live, connects entertainment professionals, artists and local businesses.
You are invited to the VIP screening of the documentary “The Power of the Pen,” on April 19, 2022, at 6:30 p.m. in the Howard Jordan Auditorium in Jordan College of Business Administration building at Savannah State University.
Four new Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) degrees will prepare students for careers in the entertainment industry, such as film and TV production. Beginning fall semester 2022, GGC will offer nexus degrees in professional editing in film/television, motion picture set lighting, production for film and television, and production design.
The Columbus Film Commission is inviting those interested to attend the next Film Columbus GA event. This virtual event will take place on April 13th at 3:00 PM and will be hosted via ZOOM.
A filmmaker debuted a documentary Sunday that’s centered around Augusta. People got to see “Finding Home — a Journey Through Augusta’s 20th Century Past” at the Imperial Theatre. Work on the film began in 1999 and continued until last year.
The times, they are a-changing. This weekend marked the third playing of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. It marked the arrival of Netflix cameras on property for Masters Week. And it marked the drop of a YouTube video unlike any other: Dude Perfect’s “All Sports Golf Battle at the Masters.”
“We want to tell this story right and support the Williams family and their community in the most positive ways,” says producer Richard A. Cohen. “Shooting in Columbus, Georgia will allow us to accomplish all of that and more.”
Columbus had a bit of Hollywood sparkle on Friday, as the Chattahoochee Valley made an appearance on the big screen. The cast and crew of faith-based film, “The Greatest Inheritance” returned to the Fountain City for their film premiere at the National Infantry Museum.