Celebrated for distinctive live performances spanning American and international roots music, jazz, classical, jam, rock and blues genres in beautiful, historic Savannah, Georgia, the Savannah Music Festival (SMF) is gearing up for a stellar 2023 season, which runs from March 23 through April 8, 2023.
China, the world’s second-biggest film market (North America has reclaimed the crown), has been lukewarm to Hollywood titles that have the coveted opportunity to release in that country.
Entertainment lawyer Steve Weizenecker is a partner at Barnes & Thornburg LLP. He shares his history with the film tax credit dating back to 2007/2008 and how complicated the credit was at that time.
Eclipse Gaming, a provider of top-performing casino games for tribal gaming markets and select commercial markets, today announced that it will be exhibiting at the Indian Gaming Association (“IGA”) Trade Show at the San Diego Convention Center March 29-30.
Votaw got his start in Hollywood working on sets for commercials, film and episodic television, before working for production companies including Saban, Fox, Lucasfilm Ltd. and other independent content creation companies.
“There are many voices in the Atlanta Arts community and we are looking forward to working with them as we shape the future of Arts and Culture and secure Atlanta’s presence on the international stage,” said Camille Russell Love, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs.
The program offered $5,000 to $20,000 for local creative entrepreneurs to ensure Atlanta’s creative industries thrive here for years and decades to come.
From 1,921 total submissions, there now remain only 18 feature film screenplays, 11 pilots, and 8 shorts. To call these 37 wonderful screenplays the lucky few still in competition would be a disservice to the amazing talent on the page, but we do hope you join us in wishing their authors nothing but luck and fortune with the rest of the competition and with their screenwriting careers!
The State of Esports Update: This week’s episode covers pro Esports and collegiate collaborations, LAN Event at UGA, Georgia Game Developers Association (GGDA) Best of GA Game Jam nominees, Skillshot hosts international invitational, and behind the scenes of a World Championship.
All Georgia’s game jam locations nominated their top game to take part in the GGDA’s annual Best in Georgia competition. We got our first look at all these games March 2, as the teams showed off what they have created and let you in on the great things they have planned.
This event takes place on Sunday, March 19, 2023 from 12 pm to 7pm, at the Wild Heaven Brewery and Gardens, 1010 White Street, Atlanta, GA, 30310. We will have Short Film Screenings, Industry Panels, Table Reads, Filmmaker Q&As, Networking, and the Awards Ceremony.
Over the past 60 days, the company has engaged numerous producers and directors with projects slated to film in 2023. “Georgia is already on the mind of any serious filmmaker. Our job has been to expose the amenities and features of Flat Rock Studio, the extremely talented local workforce and the beauty of Columbus to those considering where to film their next project.” John Mock, CEO
“All three of these attorneys will add significant depth to our IP practice, and Beth’s knowledge of entertainment law will further complement our Entertainment & Sports team’s capabilities and be a significant asset to our clients, particularly in the film and television sectors,” added Matthew V. Wilson, Entertainment & Sports team co-chair.
Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. will be the anchor tenant for a new film and television production complex rising in Douglas County, according to sources familiar with the deal.
The additions — the result of a successful multiyear fundraising effort that began in 2017 — enable the downtown venue to continue presenting its popular year-round live events series and Georgia State’s student music and stage performances while also offering a new big-screen experience for Atlanta film screenings.
As digital communication technologies evolve with new innovations in producing, mixing and mastering sound, so has the demand for audio engineers. Columbus State University’s Audio Technology Minor Program is preparing students for the growing workforce demands in this diverse and ever-changing field.
Sean “Diddy” Combs is entering the race to buy BET, joining fellow media moguls Tyler Perry and Byron Allen as they vie to purchase a majority stake of BET Media Group amid reports that owner Paramount Global is exploring a sale of the asset, Variety has confirmed.
Throughout the last year, Kentucky has played host to big name actors, from Orlando Bloom to Ethan Hawke. They’ve visited our restaurants, bars and graced excited fans social media feeds. The stars aren’t here without cause.
Eligible productions would get a 30 percent base transferable tax credit that could reach as high as 42.5 percent, depending on the type of project and if it shoots in economically distressed areas.
It was a night of fabulous fashion and hard-working winners at the 2023 Oscars. I told you about several nominees that were representing Georgia last week, and now the winners are in!
Adam Driver has been spending some time in Georgia lately filming Francis Ford Coppola’s next flick, Megalopolis. And the star, who is currently appearing in 65, isn’t shy about how much he’s enjoyed working on the project.
Husband and wife Ray McKinnon and Lisa Blount, and friend Walton Coggins won the Academy Award several years ago for best live-action short film for writing, directing, acting and producing “The Accountant,” a movie about two brothers who hire an eccentric accountant to help them save the family farm.
LaRonda Sutton is the Co-President of Georgia Production Partnership. She talks about the history of the organization as the original advocacy group working to create policy to attract film projects to Georgia.
But while COVID-19 dealt the final blow to some theaters like the Mitchells’, streaming was already forcing a shift. Now, huge changes are underway in the film industry, as a writers strike looms and the business reckons with the impact of streaming services, as well as lingering effects of the pandemic.
“North Carolina continues to attract great film, television, and streaming projects that bring good jobs to our state,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “Last year, these projects helped create 16,000 job opportunities, including 3,000 crew and talent positions for our state’s highly skilled production workforce.”
On March 8th, International Women’s Day, filmmakers, producers, entertainment executives and government officials gathered in Savannah, Georgia to celebrate International Women’s Day.
Texas is missing out on projects to other states like Louisiana, New Mexico and Georgia, Parker said. “Because the reality is, there are plenty of awesome opportunities and projects, and even longstanding film studio opportunities for the state of Texas that we just aren’t funding right now because we don’t have a robust enough fund,”
Netflix and Warner Bros. Pictures, which have led the way in the previous four allotment of credits over the last two years, have no to titles on the list of films getting tax breaks for filming in California.
In this bonus episode of Political Rewind, host Bill Nigut sits down with The New York Times’ Manhola Dargis. Dargis has been the co-chief film critic of the Times since 2004. She gives us insights into Georgia’s booming film industry, the state of women in film, and her predictions for the Oscars this year.
On any given summer day in the late ’80s, the square of a small Georgia town would routinely be filled with curious bystanders and the flashing lights of police cars. With roads blocked off and officers roaming through the streets, one might have thought it was a crime scene or traffic accident rather than the filming of a popular television series.
The last few weeks have been exciting in Georgia with a major LAN from HBCU Esports League and Cxmmunity held at the Skillshot Media Arena at Uptown. Also – this year is starting off strong with news from our very own Georgia based Blue Mammoth Games, a Ubisoft Studio announcing the schedule for 2023 Brawlhalla.
Grammy Award-winning record producer and songwriter Dallas Austin imagines a music and entertainment destination in Downtown Atlanta, an idea he is pitching to top city leaders.
Matt Davis is the Founder and President of Reel Supplies based in Georgia. The company provides building products and supplies exclusively to the film and entertainment industry. Today he talks about the economic impact and jobs created as a result of film activity in Georgia and the rippling impact for the state’s economy as Reel Supplies acquires their products from other Georgia-based companies.
Tonight, filmmakers, producers, entertainment executives and government officials will gather in Savannah, Georgia to celebrate International Women’s Day. The Savannah Regional Film Commission, Savannah Film Alliance, Georgia Production Partnership and Georgia Entertainment News have combined to honor women in entertainment on this special occasion
This year’s gala, themed “A Kaleidoscope of Connections,” focused on the meaningful connections between our community’s non-profits, and the many fruitful partnerships that exist between them – some that were formed solely because of the annual gala fundraiser.
Peacock has released the official trailer for its latest original movie, Praise This, which stars Chloe Bailey, Tristan “Mack” Wilds, Loren Lott, Birgundi Baker, gospel artists Jekalyn Carr and Koryn Hawthorne, and Augusta’s own, Kiara Iman.
Michael B. Jordan’s feature directing debut, Creed III, delivered a knockout punch at the box office, instantly becoming the sports-themed movie…
In 2022, California voted to pass SB 485, which revised the state’s film tax credits legislation to introduce a new credit which could only be receive if a given project provided “a diversity workplan that includes goals that are broadly reflective of California’s population.”
A new year is bringing more film projects to the Coastal Empire. And it all comes on the heels of a record year for film in Georgia.
“Market conditions continue to shift favorably for us, and we had a tailor-made opportunity to tap equity financing that will accelerate growth and scale our team in several key areas,” said FilmHedge Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Jon Gosier.
The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) is proud to announce the contributions of over 150 alumni who have contributed their talents to films nominated for the 95th Academy Awards. This year, SCAD alumni contributed to a total of 18 films that received nominations from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
It is with great sadness that the Savannah Economic Development Authority announces the passing of Savannah Regional Film Commission (SRFC) Executive Director Erin Fraser. She passed away unexpectedly on Friday, March 3.
Two of Atlanta’s performing arts organizations, The Atlanta Opera and Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre, are the only U.S. arts organizations being added, aside from The Washington Ballet.
Karalis joined numerous Georgia and Florida filmmakers attending the festival. His film CHIPPED was a horror film about a man with a hammer climbing through a window to break teeth.
“As I welcome Michael to NATO, I also want to thank my good friend John Fithian for his counsel, wisdom and decades of leadership at NATO. NATO’s growth over the past 23 years is due largely to John’s energy, creativity and dedication, and we are all grateful for his commitment to this iconic American industry.”
Georgia is one of the most popular filming locations in the United States and not all productions have an emphasis on sustainability. The Sustainable Production Alliance, found that between 2016 and 2019 major motion pictures produced an average carbon footprint of 33 metric tons per shooting day.
Robert Greene’s “Aberration” is one of 95 films that will be screened during the seventh annual South Georgia Film Festival March 3-5 at Valdosta State University.
Popular faith-based filmmakers, based in Albany Georgia, have a new film out on DVD, a movie they shot in the Chattahoochee Valley, that tackles a controversial topic and their first project based on a true story.
Today, Speaker of the House Jon Burns and Lt. Governor Burt Jones join with Governor Brian Kemp to announce that the Georgia General Assembly will undertake a thorough review of all Georgia tax credits, including Georgia’s film tax credit, later this year. This review is meant to support Georgia businesses while ensuring a significant return on investment for Georgia’s taxpayers.
Judith More, President of SWIFT, talks about International Women’s Day and the upcoming event on March 8th to honor women in Georgia. There’s still time to attend and support this important gathering.
It was the visionary Jimmy Carter—Georgia’s governor from 1971 to 1975—who first turned the state’s business hub into a production-friendly playground for entertainment companies. As early as 1973, he established a state film commission in Georgia, the first entity of its kind outside of California.
The Atlanta Film Society (ATLFS) is pleased to announce the first wave of films programmed for the upcoming 47th Annual Atlanta Film Festival & Creative Conference (ATLFF), slated for April 20 through April 30, 2023.
There are plenty of surprises behind GWTW, which portrayed life in Georgia, before, during and after the Civil War. The first surprise: nary a frame was shot in the state. All was filmed in California.
On March 8th, industry leaders from around Georgia and as far away as Los Angeles will be attending the Celebration of Women event at Collins Quarter at Forsyth Park. Randy Davidson with Georgia Entertainment News provides more information about the event and partnership with the Savannah Regional Film Office, Savannah Film Alliance and Georgia Production Partnership.
A new BMD camera is here. What is it, why does it have an “iPad” on the back, and why do you need it? When we think of broadcast, I think a majority of folks still imagine a news studio or someone standing on a street corner with a mic reporting on current events.
Marvel and Disney’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania may have stayed atop the domestic box office chart in its sophomore outing with an estimated $32.2 million, but the real superhero of the weekend was Universal’s high-concept genre pic Cocaine Bear.
Right before I graduated in Fall 2019, I was approached by two incredibly talented and gifted women — Cathy Parker and Honnie Korngold. They were fiercely passionate about bringing film to South Georgia, something I very much wanted to see happen myself, and they offered me the chance to work with them in doing just that. It’s amazing to see that dream become a reality!
Eckard’s Flooring is a family owned and operated local business specializing in Carpet, Hardwood Flooring, Tile, Laminate Flooring, Area Rugs, Showers, Shower Doors, Luxury Vinyl Plank, Engineered Hardwood, and so much more!
Atlanta Assembly will provide some diversification from our broadcasting segment with new exposure to the growing film and television production industry in Georgia. We currently anticipate that construction on the Assembly Studios portion of the development and much of the infrastructure for the entire project will be completed in the summer of 2023.
Raulet Property Partners has sold an Eastside Stageworks to Niantic Partners. CoStar reports the selling price at $14.5 million – more than four times its 2016 purchase price and a sign that growth in the Georgia film industry continues to attract investor interest. Warner Bros. Entertainment has been leasing the space since 2016 and will remain the sole tenant according to the story.
THIS SATURDAY, the largest prize pool in the history of collegiate Call of Duty! Four HBCU students will each earn a $50,000 contract to become a MTN DEW All Star.
The new year is shaping up to be the most exciting Rome International Film Festival since its founding 20 years ago. This year’s festival is planned for November 3-5 in downtown Rome and has already declared emphasis areas for 2023.
“Bringing these film professionals to our community provides an opportunity for students of all ages to learn how to participate in this growing industry,” said Jason Brown, Director of the South Georgia Film Festival. “Making the most of these educational opportunities is a goal for all of us.”
Escobar announced the return of Tara Theatre, as well as a new nonprofit fundraising campaign in support of the theatre’s long-term viability, during the closing event for the 2023 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival held Tuesday evening.
Building on the work of the Georgia Film Academy, Sen. Ossoff is urging DOL to create new opportunities for Georgians seeking employment in the industry, which generates billions of dollars of revenue in the state annually.
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Two short films produced decades ago by an acclaimed jazz musician, one about African American history on St. Simons Island, will make their Coastal Georgia premieres this week in Glynn County.
We were treated to performances by AJ the DJ, The Kali Dancers and the Fort Valley State University Jazz Band while engaging with legislators and industry leaders hosted by Harold Young, Tubman Museum Executive Director and Robert Boyd, Tyler Perry Studios Chief Operating Officer.
Martha Zoller is a well known political analyst in Georgia Politics. She has a Masters in American Politics and appears regularly on local and national media outlets – with her own show on WDUN AM550 FM102.9. She talks to the movers and shakers around the corner and around the world.
After the presentations we network and drink delicious craft beer! All attendees must be 21+. This event takes place at the Wild Heaven Brewery and Gardens at 1010 White Street Atlanta, GA.
Beginning tomorrow, Saturday, February 18, 2023, the Tubman Museum will open the Tyler Perry Exhibition featuring the work and life of American filmmaker, actor, playwright, author, songwriter, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Tyler Perry.
On Monday, February 27 from 5-7 p.m., join Georgia Music Partners, Augusta Music Partners and Sample Augusta as they bring together city/county leaders, stakeholders and music industry to learn how to leverage the CSRA’s assets and develop a Region-wide Music Initiate.
Little Richard exploded onto the music scene with his rock and roll, polarizing stage presence and of course his larger than life appearance.
Filmmaker, philanthropist and studio owner Tyler Perry reached out to Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens to make a donation to help prevent the displacement of senior citizens. Mr. Perry has donated $750,000 to provide assistance to low-income seniors in the city of Atlanta to be used toward the payment of their property taxes.
Rabbitt founded In Concert Productions (ICP) in the late 1970s. While the company was built on providing expert sound production and audio services, ICP quickly scaled into a full-service event production company.
More than a century after she first discovered the blues while touring, “mother of the blues” Ma Rainey’s impact and influence is still being reckoned with, as the 2020 Viola Davis film Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom attests.
The VOA has redrafted UK studios’ “rateable values,” an assessment of the amount a property would rent for if it were available on the open market. Rateable values are used to calculate business rates, a tax on non-domestic properties. The higher the rateable value, the higher the business rate.
The nine-member commission, Film Forsyth, was announced Jan. 13 and will assist with sourcing for leads and location scouting for projects in the county’s film industry.
Drury, who earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Mass Media from VSU in 2016, says he is excited “to come back to Valdosta for a few days and see former professors, old friends, and have a good time at the film festival.”
Columbus State University’s Bo Bartlett Center welcomes a pair of new exhibitions on Tuesday, Feb. 7 to its RiverPark Campus galleries. They feature the first solo exhibition by artist Kate Capshaw and a new series of work by the center’s namesake, Bo Bartlett.
Georgia Entertainment News in partnership with the Savannah Regional Film Commission, Savannah Film Alliance, and Georgia Production Partnership invite you to #EmbraceEquity. On March 8th, International Women’s Day, enjoy a time of networking and learning about the latest in film and entertainment in Georgia and the Savannah region while honoring women.
The film, locked in with a $15 million budget, will be filmed on one of the new SCAD LED XR stages, which uses extended reality (XR) to merge real and virtual worlds together.
South Georgia Studios is looking for your best movie pitches. Saturday March 4, during this year’s South Georgia Film Festival, participants will be able to spend 3 minutes pitching their film and television ideas to producers who can help turn their films into reality as part of the 2023 SGFF Pitchfest.
Business owners and entertainment professionals from Columbus and beyond attended the Columbus Film Commission’s quarterly meeting on Wednesday, February 1st These events connect entertainment professionals, artists and local businesses together to hear from local officials and experts regarding the state of entertainment.
On GPB’s Lawmakers, Representative Kasey Carpenter and Representative Inga Willis talked about what’s happening with music and potential for incentives to be passed in this session. Referenced in this interview is the bipartisan findings from the Joint Georgia Music Heritage Study Committee.
The two latest Marvel projects set to start up this spring in Georgia are a Don Cheadle-led film called “Armor Wars” and a new Disney+ series “Wonder Man.”
State lawmakers say they had a joint study committee with the house and senate around the state including Macon, Athens and Atlanta to hear from organizations and agencies about the music industry.
Harlee Pope is making strides toward becoming the next Kit Hoover of Access Hollywood. Operating as a true renaissance woman, she is producing, acting, singing, interviewing and creating content as she develops and refines a unique set of skills needed to achieve her dream.
As a child, Justin Holt had his sights sets on being an actor. Despite performing in numerous theatrical productions, he quickly realized making it in the film and television industry was extremely difficult…but he never gave up.
During this one-day event, participants will receive information on new and practical resources to support students and teachers in scholastic gaming and e-sports.
Chosen from 1,921 total submissions, the following 193 feature film screenplays, 110 pilots, and 82 shorts represent the top twenty percent of all entries. Their authors are competing for invaluable mentorship opportunities to help hone their craft and plan the next steps in their careers in addition to cash prizes.
New York is looking to increase the cap on tax credits the state gives to the film and TV industry from $420 million to $700 million and raise the incentive to 30 percent, according to the 2023 state budget proposed by Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday.
The South Georgia Film Festival announces the films selected for the 2023 event – with 95 total films, including three locally produced feature films, featuring The Holiday Dating Guide, which will be screened free to the public at the Valdosta Mall, March 3.
Showtime is being integrated into Paramount+ across both linear and streaming platforms, resulting in a rebranding of the pay TV channel to “Paramount+ With Showtime.”
Financial statements for Supreme Works Productions II show that over the nine months to May 8 2021 the company received a $35.9 million (£29 million) tax credit which followed a $5.8 million (£4.7 million) payment the previous year when pre-production began.
Chuck Leavell has played in two of the most legendary rock and roll bands in history — the Allman Brothers and the Rolling Stones — is now hoping to shine a spotlight on Georgia’s legendary music scene.
Resurging after a three-year hiatus, the preeminent awards ceremony for the moving image in the state of Georgia, the IMAGE Film Awards Gala has recognized people who made outstanding contributions to building the state’s film industry and community.
Among the recommendations are the creation of a more competitive tax incentive, the establishment of a Georgia Music Office within the Office of the Governor, and grant opportunities for local musicians and other industry professionals. Studies show that today, the industry is $5 billion strong and responsible for more than 70,000 jobs.
The Columbus Film Commission meeting scheduled for February 1st will include featured speaker LARonda Sutton, plans for Flat Rock Studio, presenting at Sundance and other film activity in the region. The event will be at the Springer Opera House in Columbus.
The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) today announced that the 2023 SCAD TVfest will return in person to Atlanta Feb. 9-11, 2023. Now in its 11th year, the university’s annual signature event celebrates all things television and streaming.