Georgia Film, TV Productions Generated $3.1 Billion Last Year

By Patch Staff

The Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), announced Monday that Georgia productions generated an economic impact of $3.1 billion in the state during the 2012 fiscal year, a 29 percent increase from the previous year.

“The 2012 fiscal year saw record investment in the state by the entertainment industry, with more than $879.8 million in direct spending,” GDEcD Commissioner Chris Cummiskey said in a statement. “The film industry’s impact will have a lasting effect on Georgia’s economy for years to come.”

Decatur and Avondale Estates are starting to get used to the sight of lighting crews and the opportunity to get a glimpse of a star. Here are some of the local shoots.

• Justin Bieber filmed an anti-texing public service announcement in Avondale Estates about a year ago.

• Scenes for a remake of "Steel Magnolias" with a black cast were shot in Avondale Estates.

• The newly released, “Trouble with the Curve” starring Clint Eastwood, Justin Timberlake and Amy Adams includes scenes shot at a bungalow in Oakhurst. Eastwood also dropped into Twain's to hear local jazzman Joe Gransden on a Tuesday night.

• "What to Expect When Your'e Expecting" shot some scenes in Decatur.

• "The Odd Life of Timothy Green" used the old Forrest Hills Elementary, now used by the Museum School of Avondale Estates. Jennifer Garner was a star.

• "A.C.O.D" took over the No. 246 restaurant for a week.

• "Jayne Mansfield's Car" was shot in Oakhurst, with Billy Bob Thornton, Robert Duvall and Kevin Bacon.

Georgia was home to 333 feature films, television movies and series, commercials, and music videos that were shot across the state during fiscal year 2012. Georgia-filmed movies slated to hit theatres in the next few months include “Flight” starring Denzel Washington on November 2, and “Parental Guidance” starring Billy Crystal and Bette Midler on December 25.

A pair of Midtown-filmed releases will come in Spring of 2013. On April 13. Legendary Entertainment will release the Harrison Ford project “42” (with Midtown scenes) and Universal will release, “Identity Thief” starring Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy on May 10.

Other Georgia projects expected to be released next year include two Midtown-filmed projects, “The Internship” starring Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson; and the “Devil’s Knot” starring Colin Firth and Reese Witherspoon. Also , “The Killing Season” starring John Travolta and Robert De Niro and the Savannah-filmed “CBGB,” are Georgia-filmed releases expected next year

In addition, a record number of television shows were shot in Georgia during FY12, including AMC’s “The Walking Dead,” CW’s “The Vampire Diaries,” BET’s “Reed Between the Lines,” “The Game,” and “Let’s Stay Together”; “Family Feud”; VH1’s “Single Ladies”; USA’s “Necessary Roughness” and “Royal Pains”; Lifetime’s “Drop Dead Diva”; and many more.

Feature films in preproduction or currently in production in Georgia include the second feature in the billion dollar ‘Hunger Games’ franchise “Catching Fire”; “Scary Movie 5”; “Getaway”; “Last Vegas” starring Michael Douglas, Kevin Kline, Morgan Freeman and Robert De Niro; and “Ten” starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

“Our competitive incentives, talented crew, diverse locations and accessibility give us an edge when productions are picking a location,” said Lee Thomas, the Director of the Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office. “All of these assets build upon an infrastructure that is increasingly positioning Georgia among the go-to locations for entertainment productions.”

Additional Georgia-filmed movies that have been released in recent months include Tyler Perry’s “Madea’s Witness Protection”; “Lawless” starring Shia LaBeouf and Tom Hardy; “The Watch” starring Vince Vaughn and Ben Stiller; and “The Odd Life of Timothy Green” starring Jennifer Garner.

- GDEcD contributed to this story