Film Industry in Atlanta

Clay Cottrell, Staff Writer|December 13, 2017


Most people know the names Robert Downey Jr., Kyrie Irving, and Jennifer Aniston, but what do they all have in common other than being celebrities? These stars and many others have been roaming in and around Atlanta for the past couple of months during the filming and production of blockbuster movies and TV shows. This includes the production of films like Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War with celebrities like Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johannson, Chris Evans, Benedict Cumberbatch, Chris Pratt, Paul Rudd, and Tom Holland; Pepsi’s production of the Uncle Drew series featuring the NBA star Kyrie Irving, along with Shaquille O’Neal, and Lil Rel Howery; also Brand new this month is Dumplin’, a comedy show starring Jennifer Aniston. So there’s a lot of film action happening near Atlanta, but what does it mean to the citizens of Atlanta and the rest of Georgia?
This great boom of television and film production in Atlanta has led to an equivalent increase in jobs, not limited to solely production. In an article in the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Kris Bagwell, Screen Gems Studios Executive Vice President, states, “There are jobs in the production business in almost every occupation, from cook to security guard to driver to construction. This job creates tens of thousands of well paying Georgia jobs. And it’s here to stay thanks to the pro-jobs agenda of Gov. Deal.” The opportunities for jobs and internships in Atlanta are constantly growing. With more production companies coming to Atlanta, there is no better time to look into getting a job in this field. “I’m seeing a big influx in jobs happening right now,” said Trish Taylor, co-president of the Georgia Production Partnership (GPP), a nonprofit group of individuals and companies involved in the industry. “GPP members are very excited to hear this news. We’re just thrilled to see how Georgia is flourishing.

The average Feature Film has a budget of approximately $42 million; This is taking into account one hundred and fifty to two hundred employees, hotels and studio cost, and other expenses (props, actors, equipment). Some of the larger productions, for example, Captain America: Civil War (also filmed in Atlanta) budgeted $250 million. This movie does have a long list of big-time actors and actresses, and about the best special effects you can get to this day; however, even the Spider-Man Homecoming movie had a production budget of nearly $200 million. These films create insane economic growth in Georgia and help pay for city infrastructure. When asked about the film industry in Atlanta, M.J. Locke (12), another audio video student at Wheeler, said, “I think it is really great Atlanta is getting recognized as a great production location. I find it very cool that big production companies like Marvel have come to Atlanta to film some of their movies.”
If someone in high school was interested in getting involved in this industry, there is no better time or place. As a student in high school, it is difficult to get many paid jobs or internships in any industry other than retail or fast food. However, living in Atlanta during this film production boom creates many opportunities for people of all ages and all backgrounds. Just a simple search online and a couple of phone calls to production firms could lead to a future internship or job. Even if the film industry does not sound like your cup of tea, the connections made through any professional setting are valuable in any industry. If you were interested in acting or working in front of the camera, there are plenty of local opportunities to audition as an extra or even an actor for television and movie productions. If you’re looking to begin an acting career, gaining any screen time at all is vital for getting a head start in front of other young actors. Trey Kerns(12) recently scheduled an audition to act as an extra for season two of the show Atlanta. When asked about this opportunity Trey said, “ I honestly did not think much would come of it. I’m excited to pursue this acting opportunity.”
The film industry in Atlanta has offered many significant benefits to the people in Atlanta. When asked about the film industry in Atlanta, Zachary Halfacre(12), an audio and video student said, “I like it, it creates lots of opportunities for young people like us to get into a very interesting field of study… I think of Atlanta as the Hollywood of the South.” Ultimately, Atlanta has become a production hotspot that is comparable to that of Hollywood. Judging from the way this industry is going now, we can expect only great things to come.