Professional Motion Picture Production and Distribution NEWS
16 Georgia Counties Named Camera Ready Communities
By Staff
posted Oct 7, 2010, 05:01
"More than 50 Georgia counties hosted a film and/or TV production this year, making this a banner year for the industry in our state," said GDEcD commissioner Heidi Green. "Hollywood A-listers including Robert Duvall, Katherine Heigl, Sandra Bullock and Jennifer Aniston have all experienced our unique locations, talented crew base and world-class southern hospitality, helping make Georgia the top filming location in the south."
(Atlanta) The Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office, a division
of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), launched the state's
Camera Ready Community Program as a part of the state's ongoing efforts to bolster
Georgia's growing film and television industry. The first 16 Georgia counties
were designated Camera Ready at a special ceremony at one of Georgia's newest
production facilities, EUE/Screen Gems Studio in Atlanta. Camera Ready is a
designation put in place by the state to offer film and television production
companies easier, faster and better access to local resources and information.
A Camera Ready Community must designate a liaison who can assist film and television
production companies on a local level.
"More than 50 Georgia counties hosted a film and/or TV production this
year, making this a banner year for the industry in our state," said GDEcD
commissioner Heidi Green. "Hollywood A-listers including Robert Duvall,
Katherine Heigl, Sandra Bullock and Jennifer Aniston have all experienced our
unique locations, talented crew base and world-class southern hospitality, helping
make Georgia the top filming location in the south."
Bibb, Carroll, Chatham, Coweta, DeKalb, Dougherty, Emanuel, Floyd, Fulton,
Hall, Houston, Lowndes, Morgan, Newton, Walker and Wilkes counties were recognized
by the Georgia Department of Economic Development as the first 16 Camera Ready
communities at the kickoff event.
Attendees had the opportunity to hear from Kris Bagwell, executive vice president,
EUE/Screen Gems Studio; Heidi Green, GDEcD commissioner; Clara Deemer, Director
of Tourism Covington/Newton County Chamber of Commerce; Craig Dominey, locations
specialist, Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office; Lee Thomas,
director (film), Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office; and
Joe Genier, Film Producer.
Georgia's film and television industry is thriving with more than 348 productions
shot in Georgia in FY10, with combined production budgets increasing from $647.6
million in FY09 to $744.3 million in FY10. Altogether, the industry's economic
impact in the state in FY10 came in at $1.33 billion, up from $1.1 billion the
previous year. Georgia is now ranked number one in the Southeast, and among
the top five states in the nation for film and TV productions.
Georgia's communities offer TV and film productions a variety of unique and
authentic landscapes including beautiful mountains, rural farmlands, coastal
beaches and islands, swamps and marshes, scenic rivers and lakes, small towns,
major metropolitan cities and more. In 2009, productions were shot in 50 counties
in Georgia impacting local communities throughout the state.
Resources:
www.georgia.org/cameraready
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