We are extremely disappointed to hear of the conflicting date, March 14th, announced today for this year’s Grammy Awards telecast. We announced the same date for the SAG Awards last July with the intent to give the greatest possible scheduling consideration for other awards shows. We expect the same consideration from sister organizations throughout the industry.
Everyone loved Richard. Generous, supportive, charming and witty, he was widely respected and admired here in Washington and beyond, and he was a fierce advocate for the creative industries and the Walt Disney Company — which for him was much more than a job.
Film sets are full of jobs for people. No matter the size of the project, there is always a buzz when you get on set. Everyone there is working together to bring a vision to life. There are lots of famous above-the-line jobs, but we’re trying to give you the information about the jobs that usually get forgotten.
Want to know what your real voice sounds like as a creative? How do you communicate that to an audience? A client? Producers? Your voice is EVERYTHING.
We just LOVE this video of Council of Dads star J August Richards talking about all his favorite Savannah locations!! Watch as J. showcases The Alida Hotel, Leopold’s Ice Cream, Bluff Drive and The Original Crab Shack!
22 music community organizations released the following statement on Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property Chairman Thom Tillis’s proposal to restore balance to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), so that it can best achieve its objective to address online infringement
Always subject to change and often set before filming begins, here is the latest info on release dates for projects that filmed in Georgia.
Just prior to adjourning for the year, the 116th U.S. Congress passed an omnibus government funding bill with a $900 billion COVID-19 emergency economic relief package attached that will provide some measure of support for IATSE members in the coming months.
The SAG-AFTRA National Board, meeting in a special session conducted via Zoom videoconference, passed resolutions aimed at correcting misrepresentations about SAG-AFTRA Health Plan changes and instituting a rule requiring members to adhere to the COVID-19 safety protocols.
While the stars are not indicative of the politics of the film industry as a whole, the prospect of the “heartbeat” bill had some threatening to boycott our state. We were on the verge of collapse. Some in the Georgia Legislature began to question the film tax incentives.
Dear Decaturish, It’s not news that the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been felt by everyone in Georgia,…
A new study from the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) shows the video game industry in Georgia generates $801.4 million in annual economic output, either through direct industry output ($370 million) or via other participants in the video game ecosystem, such as suppliers and other supported output ($431 million).
Georgia’s popular Film Tax Credit will undergo significant changes as of January 1, 2021. House Bill 1037 (H.B. 1037) was drafted in response to a report released earlier this year by the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts (DOAA). The report revealed the use of inadequate procedures by the Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR) to verify expenditures that qualify for the credit, resulting in the improper granting of credits. H.B. 1037 was signed into law on August 4, 2020 and was designed to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future.
As part of its annual “DreamHack Day” DreamHack has revealed a refreshed brand with an identity focused on the gaming community. The new look, created in partnership with WPP brand agency Superunion, also reflects the company’s evolution into a global destination for immersive, gaming lifestyle experiences where the community comes to life.
Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau president and CEO, Peter Bowden, remains optimistic as he said unions are working together with other industry professionals to get ack to business safely. Bowden said he thinks the industry will gear up as we move through winter and into spring.
FROM GPP: Mark your calendar as busy on January 15-16: They’re the official dates for the Georgia Production Summit 2021. We’re hosting our first ever virtual summit on the 15th & 16th and you’re invited! Early bird registration for GPS2021 is now open, so claim your spot now.
Business owners and entertainment professionals from Columbus and beyond attended the Focus Film Columbus GA virtual event on Wednesday, December 9th. The event, usually held live, connects entertainment professionals, artists and local businesses.
“The pandemic has only underscored how great storytelling helps to connect people – even when they are forced to be apart. I look forward to continuing to work with our Members and partners to advocate for creators, protect their content and economic livelihoods, and sustain the unparalleled pioneering spirit that has characterized our industry for more than a century.”
Now after Joe Biden collected the state’s 16 electoral votes, besting Donald Trump by 12,670 votes and becoming the first Democratic presidential nominee to win Georgia since 1992, the question is, how has the surging entertainment business played a role in the state going blue?
While production is expected to drop off for the Christmas/New Year period, the number of active TV and films in Georgia remains robust in early December.
Two dozen music organizations sent a joint letter to President-elect Joe Biden to congratulate him and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on a historic election victory, and to urge the appointment of individuals to his team who understand the creative community and intellectual property issues.
Spurred on by film production’s growing ties to the state, the entertainment crowd has come out to support Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff in the runoff election, with an emphasis on supporting grassroots groups led by Black women.
Governor Brian P. Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp announced the recipients of the ninth annual Governor’s Awards for the Arts and Humanities. The awards were presented in partnership with the Georgia Council for the Arts and Georgia Humanities.
Iconic horror brand Fangoria, under new ownership as of this summer, is relaunching its podcast network with new pod Colors Of The Dark, to be hosted by horror historians Elric Kane and Dr. Rebekah McKendry.
The release of THE LIBERATOR marks the very first show to complete creative post for Netflix in Georgia—let alone with Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, and the latest cutting edge industry-standard for online post, IMF Mastering. It is also the first show to be presented in Trioscope: “a proprietary animated drama engine that fuses live-action with animation for a groundbreaking moving graphic novel experience.”
Blackhall Studios, a 150-acre complex about 10 minutes south of downtown, would add 538,000 square feet of sound stages, 200,000 square feet of offices, 420,000 square feet for warehousing and 22,000 square feet of catering space, according to a filing made through the state’s Development of Regional Impact (DRI) program.
The meeting will be facilitated by VisitColumbusGA’s Film Commission. The purpose of the meeting is to gather those interested in the entertainment industry to hear about Columbus’ film and entertainment business and learn from industry experts.
Many are returning shows such as the CW’s “Stargirl” and “Dynasty,” FXX’s “Archer,” the syndicated “Divorce Court” and OWN’s “Iyanla: Fix My Life.” Tyler Perry is also readying three of his shows to shoot consecutively.
On November 9, the U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator released a forward-looking plan to continue America’s bipartisan tradition of strong intellectual property policy and enforcement.
As the world’s greatest golfers teed off today at the Masters Tournament in Augusta to compete for the prized Green Jacket, Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that the State of Georgia has shattered its own record by being named No. 1 for business climate for the eighth consecutive year by Site Selection magazine.
“It has come roaring back,” said Lee Thomas, deputy commissioner of the Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment office. “We have a lot of shows in the pipeline and we have shows that are in production.”
The DeKalb Entertainment Commission (DEC) hosted their November 2020 Entertainment Expo virtually yesterday via Zoom and Facebook Live. Since their launch in 2017, the commission has committed to advancing and strengthening the creative industry.
As a result of the success of Georgia’s film industry and specifically the progress in Columbus, GA, the Columbus Film Commission will host its next quarterly meeting, called Focus Film Columbus Ga, that connects entertainment professionals, artists and local businesses. The
From GPP: Join us on Facebook TUESDAY, December 1st at 12pm EST for a discussion on production finance. A big part of filmmaking is securing financing and balancing your budget. Tune in for information on how to secure loans and the important steps to making sure your finances are in order!
It should come as no surprise that our region’s most photographed location, the Forsyth fountain, is the crowning jewel of the most popular filming destination in Savannah. With its famous fountain, majestic live oaks, and central location, Forsyth Park has been featured in at least 15 major film and television productions as well as numerous commercials, advertisements, and media campaigns.
Peter Bowden discusses the formation of the Columbus Film Commission, the Columbus Film Fund, and the impact of film and entertainment on the Columbus region. He also explains how he and his team work to promote Columbus to filmmakers in Georgia.
We all know the names of the greatest directors. You’ve got your Spielberg, Scorsese, Spike Lee, Nora Ephron, Agnes Varda, Fellini, Truffaut, Welles, Capra, Hitchcock, Kurosawa, Bigelow, and Fincher. We could make a list of hundreds of them, and we could argue the order back and forth.
For the film industry, the possibility of a newly constituted Statehouse raises the question: What changes could be in store for Georgia’s entertainment tax credit program, which handed out $870 million in subsidies in 2019?
Thomas Gentle, founder and CEO of video game streaming startup Shotcall, grew up with a stutter. But when he picked up a gaming controller, he said that no longer mattered.
A video game development company founder recently spoke with students from the Savannah College of Art and Design about the state of the gaming industry amid the pandemic.
SIEGE will include parallel tracks of workshops and presentations Nov. 13-15. The GGDA has begun announcing the session, and they include Will Wright’s keynote, the returns of past keynotes Erin Hoffman-John and Nick Laing, sessions on Unity, Unreal, Twine, Fusion and much more.
The film studio, founded by Ozzie Areu, former president of Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, filed for reorganization on Oct. 29 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Atlanta. In Chapter 11, a business continues to operate while it attempts to reorganize its debts. Areu Studios reported assets of $50,000 or less and liabilities of $1 million to $10 million dollars.
The number of projects shooting in Georgia has remained flat for the past two months, running about 25 percent behind the amount of business a year ago before the pandemic.
Actor Gloria Bishop of Decatur is back on the job after seven months off work. She walked off set March 13, the day before Gov. Brian Kemp declared a public health state of emergency, and didn’t return to work until Sept. 30.
That it occurred during the pendency of a presidential election with over 50 million votes having been cast so far in early voting with a week remaining in the voting period is without parallel. With the confirmation of Justice Barrett, there are no vacancies on federal appellate courts. All vacancies on the Supreme Court and in all eleven federal circuit courts of appeals are filled.
Heins will oversee all post production activities for Cloud to Ground, including staffing, scheduling, budgeting and workflow optimizations. She will manage a team that includes post supervisors, coordinators, production assistants, and editors, and work on projects ranging from features, scripted and unscripted series, branded content, documentaries, and commercials.
DeKalb County announces its Arts and Culture Relief Grant, funded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, to support professional artists who have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The eight-bedroom, seven and a half bath home encompasses 15,738 square feet and is surrounded by a private 2-acre lot with a gated entrance. The home was built by former three-time Super Bowl champion tackle Steve Wallace of the San Francisco 49ers and has been a favorite location for filming TV shows, movies, music videos and commercials.
The virtual film festival will occur Thursday, 10/29/20 through Sunday, 11/1/20 on their website www.pviffatl.com. During this time, you will be able to see amazing films that are being considered for an award and cash prizes, unforgettable panel discussions and interviews with some of your favorite celebrities.
Veteran Film Producer, Writer and Location Manager Alicia (A. O.) Godmasch (upcoming Quake, Married At First Sight) will launch her debut novel, RETROGRADE: THE DARKNESS, on Tuesday, December 8, 2020.
“For the past five years, we have been actively training a robust workforce of Georgians in below-the-line fields, and this program will create opportunities for storytellers, who would otherwise have to leave the state for jobs in New York and Los Angeles.”
Fayette County’s Pinewood Studios, the home of such blockbusters as “Black Panther,” “Avengers: Endgame,” and “Ant Man,” has been renamed Trilith Studios.
As a young kid growing up in Powder Springs, Met Clark would sit in his parent’s house and watch movies that were made far away in Hollywood. He watched everything from gut-busting comedies to thrillers with daring rescues and stunts. But he never dreamt of flying out West to join the action.
I want Hollywood to champion new voices and expand the kinds of faces we see in front of and behind the camera but it seems like the only thing they care about is money.
The SCAD Savannah Film Festival returns in its 23rd year as an all-virtual presentation Oct. 24-31, 2020. Connect with cinephiles worldwide as you watch live film premieres and unique, interactive programming from the comfort and safety of your home!
“Cause she had left him, she had been completely gone from the residence for six days. Nobody saw this coming, in a million years. You just don’t think somebody would actually kill someone because they don’t want to be with them anymore, because they want to leave,” Chavala Robinson said.
Georgia State University’s varsity esports team will host the fall PantherLAN Esports Tournament virtually via Twitch from Oct. 31-Nov. 1.
At Georgia Tech’s Savannah campus, the GFA said it has opened a new collaborative production training hub, where they are teaching students from Georgia Southern University.
Several TV and films have returned to Georgia over the past week, and residents are starting to notice productions taking place in their neighborhoods.
With the 2020 presidential election only a few months away, Stacey Abrams has made it her mission to ensure every vote counts in the first trailer for All In: The Fight for Democracy.
Learn “How to Get the Most Out of Your Discord Community,” with Discord expert Paul Hesling. Every game dev, streamer and esports team knows it needs a Discord server. Unfortunately, not enough know what to do with it once it is create!
Paul Jenkins provided a perfect cap to CIMFest back in June, and we wanted to share the video of his presentation now in order to remind you of the quality of the people willing to share their insights with GGDA members. Enjoy!
Scheduled for Oct. 2-3, the annual festival transitioned to a virtual event because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The University of North Georgia’s (UNG) Department of Communication, Media and Journalism will host the event, which previously was held in-person on the Gainesville Campus.
Governor Brian P. Kemp, in conjunction with the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), announced that more than 10,000 jobs were created across all regions of the state by economic development projects in Georgia during the first quarter of fiscal year 2021, generating more than $3.71 billion in new investments.
Game designer Erin Hoffman-John is the latest speaker to join the roster of game industry luminaries speaking at the 14th annual Southern Interactive Entertainment and Game Expo (SIEGE) Nov. 13-15, 2020.
Although we never envisioned slinging hand sanitizer, masking, and homeschooling as a part of our feature-color-finishing or TV-series-mixing process, we welcomed this new level of collaboration and fully immersed ourselves in the one thing we did see coming in 2020: remote post-production workflow.
ESL, the world’s largest esports company, and DreamHack, the premier gaming lifestyle festival, announced they have merged organizations to further accelerate their mission to shape the future of esports and gaming.
The SIEGE Investment Conference is the oldest investment conference in the Southeast that focuses on video games and related industries. It gives entrepreneurs in these industries an opportunity to pitch their business concepts to potential investors.
Honorees this year include House Speaker David Ralston, House Representatives Teri Anulewicz, James Beverly, John Carson, Matt Dollar, Chuck Efstration, Brett Harrell, Beth Moore, Terry Rogers, Richard Smith, Calvin Smyre and Ron Stephens. State Senators include Emanuel Jones, Harold Jones, Jeff Mullis, and Nan Orrock.
“Most notably, Justice Ginsburg proved the power of the dissenting voice. It has and will continue to inspire countless storytellers. And, while her life has been celebrated on screen in films like RBG and On the Basis of Sex, her true legacy is inspiring all creators to tell their own stories.
The protocols pave the way for creative workers, who have been hard hit by the pandemic, to resume their crafts and livelihoods in workplaces redesigned around their health.
August data shows job creation from new Georgia projects has already reached one-third of the total jobs reported for fiscal year 2020, and investments are up 11% over July. Despite COVID-19, job creation is 1.5 times higher than the same two months last year.
Growing up in Turkey, Georgia Southern University Associate Professor of Instructional Technology Mete Akcaoglu, Ph.D., was intrigued by video games but was only able to toy with the simple software of a friend’s 8-bit home computer.
This year, the 2020 Emmy Awards were a virtual affair, but the Georgia-lensed productions taking home the gold trophy are just a small part of very real success stories for Georgia small businesses and our economy over the last decade plus.
The Director of Post oversees all post production activities at Cloud to Ground: particularly staffing, scheduling, budgeting, and workflow optimizations.
Long time industry vet, Crystal Trawick, most recently COO for Fun Academy Studios, will serve as CEO/President and the company will provide partnership opportunities for production, distribution and in-theatre marketing.
I have some great news to share! I am thrilled to report that I’ve been back behind the drum kit and am releasing new music. The project is called, Sonic Rebel.
Governor Brian P. Kemp, in conjunction with the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), announced an increase in economic development projects in Georgia and a total of more than $7.4 billion in new investments made in the state during fiscal year 2020.
Governor Brian P. Kemp, the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) and its Tourism division, Explore Georgia, as well as more than 700 tourism industry professionals from across the state gathered virtually for the Georgia Tourism Summit.
Without federal aid to survive the continued shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, the possibility of beloved live music havens shuttering in Georgia and around the country is becoming more of a reality.
The brand and an archive of material stretching back to the magazine’s 1979 debut have been purchased by Wanderwall Entertainment CEO Tara Ansley (Beast Beast, Tragedy Girls) and entrepreneur Abhi Goel in a deal that will maintain the current quarterly release schedule of Fangoria’s print magazine, as well as editor-in-chief Phil Nobile Jr. and managing editor Meredith Borders.
Three Ring Studios in Newton County has partnered with Cinelease, one of the leading lighting and equipment rental companies in the film industry. The more than $100 million studio is expected to open this fall.
We have two independent productions currently filming, as well as several other companies exploring options for fall and winter. Currently the key to a successful film shoot is the implementation of safety plans and Covid protocols.
After postponing the scheduled May event, the second annual Etowah Film Festival will be going completely virtual.
With a mission to put more Georgians to work in all aspects of the state’s multi-billion-dollar entertainment industry, the Georgia Film Academy (GFA), in partnership with Skillshot Media, today kicks off its first-ever Esports program at Georgia State University (GSU).
Business owners and entertainment professionals from Columbus and beyond attended the Focus Film Columbus GA virtual event on Thursday, August 26th. These events, usually held live, connect entertainment professionals, artists and local businesses.
Picture one of your favorite scenes from a movie or TV show. Maybe it’s a heart-pounding car chase through the Atlanta streets or the Queen of Soul belting out a song from the choir loft of an old church.
“The MPA applauds the work of our global law enforcement partners for putting an end to the piracy operations conducted by SPARKS. As the MPA continues to protect the entertainment industry and the creative works it produces, it is gratifying to see such a strong coordinated effort to dismantle one of the world’s largest piracy enterprises.”
When it comes to high-end cinema cameras, there’s a somewhat different mantra among filmmakers. That it’s better to rent than to buy (in some cases, like with the ARRI Alexa 65, it’s only a rentable camera). Now, obviously there are exceptions.
Indeed, the new legislation provides for stricter rules and audit requirements, while increasing the time it takes for productions to monetize the tax credit benefits. These measures, and a few more discussed below, are intended to address critics and inconsistencies with the current tax credit quantification process in a manner that results in a win-win for all involved.
During September 10-13, the festival will screen a mix of local, national, and international short and feature films streamed via RoleCallWatch. Along with films, the festival will include social media filmmaker interviews, panels and behind-the-scenes content.
Atlanta Movie Tours opened in 2012 with the dream of bringing #GeorgiaFilm to life for fans and for 8 years, we have done our best to bring you all of the best in Georgia entertainment. We couldn’t have done it without our amazing staff and partners and our sincerest appreciation goes out to each and every one of you.
SAG-AFTRA, in partnership with 11 other arts and entertainment organizations and unions, today sent a letter to President Donald Trump to request his administration’s help in bringing about much needed reform to the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program in regards to mixed earner workers.
Gamers Outreach, an organization that provides recreation to kids in hospitals through video games, is partnering with the Atlanta-based charity fundraising platform Softgiving on a campaign to provide entertainment to families receiving care.
The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), announced that Ludovic Ortuno, co-founder and chief operating officer for CIDEP, has been selected to direct a team of four other specialists who will continue the state’s international trade representation and support in Canada after a nationwide search.
2020 has been a crazy year for everyone, including the GGDA. From our COVID guidelines to our Unreal Engine grant to our new insurance opportunity to members, we have been adding more ways to help everyone in the Association.
Aggressor Adventures, leading adventure travel brand, and Wild Harvest Productions are diving into the wild countryside of Belize to discover the beauty and bounty of local, sustainable harvesting during a few special episodes of Les Stroud’s Wild Harvest.
The entertainment professional becomes an employee of the corporation and the corporation “loans out” the services of the employee/shareholder. Loan Out Corporations enable entertainment professionals to maximize the deductibility of all of their business-related expenses.
Only 12% of projects were audited in 2016, but even those audits did not uncover about $4 million in ineligible expenditures in eight projects, according to the DOAA. Under the new law, the Department of Revenue will be required to adopt new audit standards and to maintain a list of independent auditors eligible to complete the work.
2020 marks the 39th year of Savannah’s most diverse and beloved community event and this year is branded as The Savannah-Safe Jazz Festival 2020 in keeping with the Savannah-Safe Pledge and safety standards for events.