
The wood and brick structure going up in downtown Macon’s Dunlap Park isn’t made to last. Contractors are building a set for next month’s filming of the musical adaptation of ‘The Color Purple,’ which is set for release in December of 2023.

Despite being savaged by critics as one of the worst Marvel movies ever, Morbius still chalked up respectable earnings of $39.1 million to debut at number one.

“The state film tax credit has grown and nurtured the Georgia film and television industry into a thriving economic business for both native Georgians and those who have recently made the state home,” notes Jeremiah Bennett, co-president of GPP.

Been missing seeing your peers in real life? Ready to expand your connections? Want to learn about esports opportunities and game design challenges? Come on out to Skillshot April 12 for all these as well as tours, free food and more.

Rodgers spent 11 years in Los Angeles working alongside major studios including NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures, WarnerMedia, Lionsgate, Paramount Pictures and Walt Disney Studios on iconic brands like Game of Thrones, The Fast Saga, Spider-Man, X-Men, Harry Potter, Hunger Games, Sonic the Hedgehog and Frozen.

Georgia’s booming film and television industry brought in a whopping $4 billion to its economy last year. But state officials want more than to rake in record amounts of money. They want the Peach State to be a national star of the lucrative entertainment industry.

Williams is the owner of Cinema South Studios. She will soon be making history as the first Black woman to own a major production complex in the state of Georgia.

A bill pending in the Georgia legislature would put a cap of $900 million on the amount of tax incentives the state gives to filmmakers each year, which has turned Georgia into one of the nation’s top filming destinations.

It took the combined star appeal of Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum, their surprise screwball comedy chemistry, and the allure of a treasure hunt in exotic jungle locations to topple The Batman.

Georgia Music Partners, a leader in improving and growing the music industry, announced recently a partnership with Sound Diplomacy to address the current state of Atlanta’s music economy. The first Atlanta: A Music Cities Business Summit addressed the potential for music to be a catalyst in bolstering Atlanta as a global business leader.

SCAD is proud to announce the contributions of more than 150 alumni who have contributed their talents to films nominated for the 94th Academy Awards. This year, SCAD alumni and students contributed to a total of 21 films that received nominations from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The Georgia Film Foundation, or GFF, has arrived in the Hollywood of the South, further cementing Atlanta, GA– foundation headquarters – and the surrounding state, as the entertainment capital of the Southeast.

The Savannah Regional Film Commission reported that in 2021 the entertainment production industry had a direct economic impact of nearly $114 million. Eighty eight professional productions were shot in the Savannah region in 2021.

Film Augusta has long seen the value in GFA having a presence and investment in Augusta. Through strategic planning with Augusta Tech’s President Dr. Jermaine Whirl, this partnership has become a reality. In June, FILM Augusta led a planning meeting with GFA, Augusta Tech, and IndieGrip to imagine a future partnership.

We had two great finalists for Best in Georgia 2022, with Tread Lightly barely squeaking out a win over Spirit. The winners receive professional services from Vicarious PR, Business Law Partners, Stites & Harbison, and IndieGameBusiness.

As a result of the success of Georgia’s film industry and specifically the progress in Columbus, GA, the Columbus Film Commission will host it’s next quarterly meeting on April 13th. These events connect entertainment professionals, artists and local businesses.

When Meredith Riley Stewart had the opportunity to produce the independent film “The Inheritance”, she was convinced that Columbus would make the perfect setting. As a Phenix City native, she knew the picturesque city on the banks of the Chattahoochee very well.

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has published updated content security best practices for remote workers in the film and television industry in Version 4.10 of the MPA Common Guidelines. The latest update covers 37 new best practices and guidelines, which include management, physical, and digital controls for post-production remote workers.

VFX house Crafty Apes recently purchased Molecule VFX, an established visual effects company based in NYC and Los Angeles. The deal more than doubles the VFX house’s headcount and adds to its roster of talent, including creative VFX supervision and production management.

The Prysm Stage at Trilith Studios is being built from the ground up for virtual production, led by world-class talent including entertainment industry veteran and Global President of NEP Virtual Studios, Cliff Plumer, virtual production pioneers Lux Machina Consulting (LuxMC), Trilith Studios President and CEO Frank Patterson, and Trilith Studios Director of Creative Technologies, Barry Williams.

The South Georgia Film Festival is back for its sixth year at Valdosta State University. The annual event has become a hub for filming in Southwest Georgia and includes major films, religious movies, and documentaries.

Channing Tatum took a tour of Fort Benning on Friday, stopping by the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit to watch a shotgun demonstration and fire off a few rounds himself.

Nearly seven years after first setting foot on the Columbus State University campus, Dr. Chris Markwood has announced his plans to retire from public higher education and step down from his role as president in June 2022.

Robert Pattinson’s new career chapter as the Caped Crusader is off to a roaring start as The Batman opened domestically with $128.5 million, scoring as the pandemic period’s second-biggest bow.

OPTIK Studios is defining the future of visual experiences with a brand-new versatile, production-ready extended reality (xR) facility. Located in Norcross, Georgia, the LED virtual production studio is bringing infinite possibilities to businesses and production companies in and around Georgia.

This beautiful, walkable city is home to the largest historic district in the United States, with 22 historic squares, quaint brick streets, and well-preserved architectural treasures, which give this popular film shoot destination much of the charm that lures major productions year after year.

2021 was a strong year for film in Augusta and the surrounding area. Beginning with “Getaway Driver” for the Discovery Channel, followed by action thriller “Agent Game,” then “Applewood” and finishing with “The Hill” in December many local jobs were supported and film spending contributed to the local economy.

Ransomware continues to dominate as one of the fastest-growing threats on security lists, with frequency doubling in 2021. The landscape has changed quickly and drastically. Prior to 2018 if an organization did not manage personally identifiable information, there was really no need for them to have sophisticated security programs in place.

This year, the festival was presented as a virtual experience from SCAD Atlanta with screenings, Q&A’s, panels, and more. For 10 years, SCAD TVfest has honored and hosted the brightest stars and most groundbreaking shows in this golden era of television.

The Reel People Care Gala is taking place Friday, March 4, 2022, at Trilith Studios (Home of the MARVEL productions and more). The event will highlight 21 local charities cementing Trilith’s commitment to the community.

The Best in Georgia competition is returning for 2022! Each Global Game Jam location in the state nominated one team to receive professional mentoring and to compete for the BiG title. Each team got assigned game industry mentors to help them further develop their game and make plans to get it into distribution.

In Concert Productions (ICP), an Atlanta-based company, announced it is opening The ICP Production Centre, a 30,000 square-foot, one-stop-shop for all entertainment industry production needs. Featuring a group of global behind-the-scenes industry giants in set design, staging, dry-hire broadcast, and A/V rentals, ICP, All Access, ATOMIC and SoCal Rentals will come together under one roof and serve as a hub for the industry, giving way for large scale production and entertainment events in the region.

Studios and production companies often attempt to avoid significant liabilities (tax and otherwise) by classifying certain workers as independent contractors instead of employees. Indeed, much of the entertainment industry has been structured around using “gig” independent contractors rather than forming a traditional employer-employee relationship.

FilmHedge, a Georgia based fin-tech company offering financial products for Film and TV producers, says they have secured a commitment to provide up to $50 million in debt financing from Fallbrook Film Finance to be used to cash flow Georgia-lensed tax credits for film and television productions.

Bennett Thrasher, one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing certified public accounting and consulting firms, announces continued year-over-year growth and strategic investments in key practice groups and industry sectors, including wealth management and outsourced accounting.

ATL Comic Convention and Fandemic Tour, two of the country’s premier comic conventions, announced today a partnership that will combine resources and expertise to provide geek and pop culture fans with the ultimate fan experiences.

The amount of people making money playing esports like Fortnight, League of Legends, Rocket League, Smite, Halo, CS:GO or content creating via Twitch, YouTube, Azubu, etc. continues to grow at an extraordinary pace. According to a recent article on dotesports.com, the payout for the top 50 streamers from August 2019 to October 2021 was around $1 million a year to $10 million a year.

The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) proudly announces the lineup for the 2022 SCAD TVfest. Celebrating its milestone tenth year, the university’s annual signature event celebrating all things television and streaming will be a virtual experience taking place Feb. 17-19, 2022.

MEPTIK, a virtual production company based in Atlanta, Georgia opened their extended reality (xR) studio OPTIK Studios in Atlanta in partnership with Creative Technology.

Despite the studios’ counterprogramming with new films by Jennifer Lopez and Gal Gadot, the Super Bowl weekend – traditionally a slow period for filmgoing – stayed true to form.

Now, Native American tribes are working to expand their role in film and TV production to help revitalize and diversify their lands’ economies, as well as improve representation of Indigenous people onscreen.

The figure is 40% higher than the state’s previous record, $860 million, which was set in 2019, as the generous credit continues to fuel exponential growth of the industry. It also represents a significant rebound from 2020, when credits dropped to $649 million due to the pandemic.

The gamers got to compete in a cosplay contest, drone racing, robotics demos and tons of tournaments to enter for all of your favorite eSports games, including Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Guilty Gear Strive, Fortnite, Apex Legends, and more. With big cash pot bonuses to boot.

As it gears up for the biggest sporting event of the year, All Access is officially setting up shop in the Hollywood of the South. With its well-established Los Angeles client base that continues to relocate projects to Georgia, the global company is following suit by expanding its presence with an Atlanta location to better serve its television, film and entertainment clients.

Intellectual property (IP), on the other hand, can be harder to parse out. The World Intellectual Property Organization defines IP as “creations of the mind,” including inventions, artistic and literary works, and designs. IP may also include images, names and symbols used in media or commerce.

Women in Music Atlanta (WIM Atlanta) Chapter Chair Hadley Poole has stepped down and appointed musician, businesswoman and health professional Deu Almeida as her successor, effective January 2022. Poole, who founded and launched the Atlanta Chapter in 2017, has served as its Chair since that time.

Georgia is now competing with Canada and the United Kingdom in the film and television industry, something that would have…

The SXSW Gaming Awards will be produced by Georgia-based Peach Maria Productions, executive produced by Laurie Lockliear (upcoming esports reality series GameMaster), and offered digitally as part of SXSW Online on March 12, 2022 at 7 p.m. CT, during the overall March 11-20, 2022 festivities.

Representative Devan Seabaugh was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in a special election in July 2021. He represents House District 34, which includes areas within the cities of Marietta and Kennesaw, as well as areas in unincorporated west Cobb County. House District 34 is home to Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park and Cobb County International Airport.

State Representative Matt Dollar (R-Marietta) announced that he will be resigning his seat in the Georgia House of Representatives effective today.

Jackass Forever, which was made for $10 million, easily beat Roland Emmerich’s $140 million action/adventure/sci-fi, Moonfall, and the $200 million-budgeted Spider-Man: No Way Home to become the weekend’s domestic champ.

‘Shoot Film, Not Guns’ is asking for funding to offer the program in Columbus. The organization aims to combat youth violence and bullying.

After releasing a list of nominees, the Georgia Film Critics Association (GAFCA) is pleased to announce the winners for the 2021 GAFCA Awards.

“We are putting on a party for the community,” Jason Brown, Festival Director said. “Showcasing films from across the country and the world, we want to introduce Valdosta to great films, some great filmmakers to Valdosta, and let everyone have a good time.”

A new world is being uncovered by pioneers. Buoyed and rekt by waves of innovation, hype, imitation, disillusionment; they must navigate the rocks, whirlpools, and sirens luring them in. Many will be crushed or suffer irreparable damage from these well known dangers.

The one-week, real-world experience immerses kids, ages 11-17, to the techniques, language, and processes of filmmaking and acting, as well as providing an opportunity for teamwork and collaboration as they make a short film during the week with other campers. Registration is now open at CampFlix.com.

Now entering its 10th year, SCAD TVfest, Georgia’s only festival dedicated to television, is scheduled to return as an all-virtual experience February 17 through Saturday, February 19, 2022.

Atlanta-based podcaster, comedy writer, and Whitney Houston superfan George Koulouris has been bothered by inconsistencies and bizarre accounts since Houston’s death on February 11, 2012.

The expansion at Three Ring will include eight new stages, enhancing the campus to a total of 14 purpose-built sound stages and providing a total of 276,000 square feet of stage space, 100,000 square feet of office space, and an additional 72,800 square feet of flexible space, upon its completion in 2023.

If you’ve ever stuck around until the end credits of a major movie or TV show, then you’ve probably seen the “Made in Georgia” logo. That small logo tacked on the end credits can save productions hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars.

There are so many reasons to be proud of our state. But I’d like to share with you something that Georgia has quietly done which should be not only a point of pride for all of us, but should also give us a sense of optimism about our collective future and the role our state will play in the burgeoning entertainment, technology and creative industries.

There were triumphs on other fronts but not sufficient to pull the box office back to pre-pandemic levels. Although worldwide gross has sprung from $12.4 billion in 2020 to $21 billion in 2021, it’s still only 75% of the 2019 figure.

As this story is being written, Peter Parker’s latest saga has already become the 10th biggest domestic release in history. Globally, Tom Holland’s latest outing as the web-slinging hero has become the 12th highest earning movie of all time. With its $1.37 billion earnings, Spider-Man handed Sony Pictures its biggest-grossing title.

A group of students from Mill Creek High School’s Computer Science Club have developed a series of educational video games created exclusively for young people with autism.

After seeing such success, it was only natural for the company to expand. The question for miHoYo was: where to go? That question was answered in November when the Chinese developer announced they were setting their sights on the west and establishing an office in Montreal, Canada.

For the uninitiated, Medusa was one of three Gorgon sisters with venomous snakes for hair, whose gaze could turn those around her to stone. The creature met her end at the hands of the demigod Perseus, who used her head as a weapon before giving it to the goddess Athena for placement on her shield.

Six strangers are invited to a dinner party by a charming and enigmatic host, lured by the promise of substantial financial reward if they last the whole evening. However, all is not what it seems as the host reveals the dangerous and ultimately deadly secrets of his guests.

The BBBA eliminates a permitted exclusion in the Net Investment Income tax provisions by subjecting all trade or business income of individuals with earnings over $400,000 (individual) or $500,000 (married couples) to the 3.8% net investment income tax—except to the extent already subject to self-employment tax.

The The Georgia Film Critics Association (GAFCA) has announced their slate of nominees for the GAFCA Awards celebrating the 2021 year in film. Founded in 2011, this year marks the 11th anniversary of the awards program for the critics group. GAFCA is made up of 47 film critics from around the state, representing print, television, radio and online media.

Business owners and entertainment professionals from Columbus and beyond attended the Film Columbus GA virtual event on Wednesday, December 15th. The event, usually held live, connects entertainment professionals, artists and local businesses.

For more than 35 years, Henderson has provided comprehensive accounting and financial services to clients across South Georgia serving a wide range of industries, including affordable housing, manufacturing, professional services, real estate and construction.

Clarke is one of the seven attorneys named to the entertainment and sports law category. The lawyers recognized on this list exemplify a standard of excellence in their profession and, by so doing, have garnered the respect and esteem of their colleagues.

As more colleges offer scholarships for students interested in careers in the booming video game industry, more girls are jumping on board. Some of them are right here in Georgia.

Reynolds Capital hired Atlanta-based Raulet Property Partners (which operates multiple Stageworks studios around Atlanta) to handle the clients. Cinelease will provide lighting, cameras and other equipment. Athens-based Koons Environmental Design and E+E Architecture are consultants.

Atlanta is set to get another film studio after private investment firm Domain Capital Group and real estate development company Capstone South Properties purchased a 17-acre property in Stone Mountain, Georgia. (Dan Rosenfelt’s new project)

We all know that films are typically filmed or set in places like New York City or Paris. While films are not increasingly set in Georgia, within the last 15 years, they sure are filmed here.

“I had to do research. I reached out to the Georgia Film Office. I talked to industry professionals [and] economic development partners. I reached out to the city of Savannah, who had a film commission before us. I visited Film Los Angeles, then provided all of that research to the county commissioners and the CEO.”

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. Students submitted poems during the 2020-2021 school year, and the school year noted below reflects the students’ grade levels at that time.

Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story debuted to mild box office numbers despite its critical acclaim: $10.5 million. Still, the musical landed on top of the domestic box office.

DreamHack has announced the 2022 world tour schedule today as part of its annual “DreamHack Day”, a celebration of the festival’s past and early beginnings in 1994, as well as its present and future.

One of the most beloved concerts of the year returns on Christmas Day. The Annual Savannah Jazz Christmas Concert and Jam will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at the JW Marriott’s Plant Riverside District in the beautiful Salzburg Ballroom.

In October, a three-day film and production workshop was held for all students, but specifically for students in high-crime areas to get hands-on knowledge about careers in the film industry.

Loan proceeds will be used for the recapitalization of existing Phase I operations and subsequent construction of Phase II to expand site capacity and capabilities.

The companies are sharing information and pooling resources for a reward they hope will reach $25,000 soon, but it may be too late for some. There are reports of some businesses having to close their doors for good because of the thefts.

The biggest new production the past month is Disney’s big-budget “Guardians of the Galaxy 3″ starring Chris Pratt. ABC has started production of its new prime-time show “Judge Steve Harvey.” And Netflix has begun shooting a Marlon Wayans comedy with “Stranger Things” breakout star and Atlanta resident Priah Ferguson. And a raft of Twitch shows have begun shooting as well.

In a large house nestled in an affluent Snellville neighborhood, a young woman reclines on a fluffy white sofa wielding a card and a pen. She wears a formal scarlet gown, a matching hat, and a focused stare—like someone straight out of an Agatha Christie mystery—which isn’t too far off.

As COVID-19 began spreading through a South Georgia immigration jail, one detainee fashioned a face mask from a sock. Another used a headphone cord to secure a plastic cup over his face.

We’ve been putting on these holiday parties for more than a decade now, bringing together members of the GGDA, Atlanta Game Dev Meetup, IndieCluster, IGDA and more. Join us Dec. 14 at the Doraville Digital Studio (the same place we held SIEGE) for our annual game industry holiday party.

Currently, the global eSport industry is valued over $1.08 billion and is projected to grow to $1.62 billion by 2024. With an industry boom, Georgia and other states are taking a closer look at how they’re responding to the income and revenue generated by the eSports industry and professional players.

The strategic alliance sees best-in-class motion capture and visualization services from the two industry leaders now accessible to clients under one roof, in a unified production setting.

In the past few years sim racing has experienced a growth in popularity. In 2020 that growth was maximized when NASCAR races were cancelled because of covid and sim racing was broadcast live on national TV. Now sim racing is getting its first feature film. ‘The Sim Racer’ was produced by Brock Drury, a Georgia native.

The Columbus Film Commission is inviting those interested to attend the next Film Columbus GA event. This virtual event will take place on December 15th at 3:00 PM and will be hosted via ZOOM.

The virtual ME Film Festival kicked off last week, with a selection of 7 animated short films on Stream Moko. Each film had a designated start date and will be available to watch on the MOKO platform for a duration of one week.

Ghost Gaming announced it has acquired the esports content organization One Percent and appointed the One Percent Chief Executive Officer, Julian “Aeolus” Castro, as Managing Director of Content and Community for Ghost.

As a result of the success of Georgia’s film industry and specifically the progress in Columbus, GA, the Columbus Film Commission will host it’s next quarterly meeting on December 15th. These events connect entertainment professionals, artists and local businesses.

Disney, NBCUniversal, Netflix, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, and WarnerMedia – last month were awarded a collective 193 Green Seals from the Environmental Media Association (EMA), the leading nonprofit recognizing sustainability in the media industry.

A coming-of-age, rock and roll comedy film shot in Columbus had two advanced screenings in the city . “Electric Jesus,” from writer and director Chris White and wife Emily, follows the exploits of a young, Stryper-inspired Christian band in the summer of 1986.

Some see this time as a chance to lower the field’s carbon emissions, grow the green economy and even position Massachusetts as a leader in green film production. With a wide range of enthusiasm levels, however, the consensus among those interviewed suggests that getting there would take a lot of doing.

The School of Film, Media & Theatre in Georgia State’s College of the Arts will offer its first Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) degree in Digital Filmmaking* with a Filmmaking concentration beginning next fall.
The movie about an immortal race of superheroes who made an impact on the Earth’s history and civilizations, and starring Angelina Jolie, Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, and Salma Hayek, debuted on top in all major overseas markets with international and global hauls of $90.7 million and $161.7 million, respectively.