At the 2017 Film Day, where state officials pause to herald Georgia's booming filming industry, Gov. Nathan Deal was joined by actors dressed as Captain America, Thor and Katniss Everdeen. A highlight clip played ahead of time featured lots of people throughout the state engaged in movie (or television) making minus any costumes. Carpenters, electricians, lighting crews — folks who work behind the scenes.
This year’s event, planned for 9 a.m. Tuesday, will once again stress the economic impact of those off-camera roles but isn’t stopping at film sets. The program will feature a video presentation including clips of people who work behind the scenes.
If previous Film Day events are a guide, expect this one to be a celebratory gathering.
"I am excited by the success of this industry," House Speaker David Ralston said at last year's Film Day. "As long as I sit in that office, there will be no bigger fan of that tax credit and this industry than I am."
Outgoing Gov. Nathan Deal and Georgia's film-friendly tax policies were noted in a 2017 industry report naming Georgia as the top filming location for major domestic productions, besting California, the United Kingdom, Canada and former front-runner Louisiana.
“The rapid growth of the film and television industry in Georgia and the state’s steadfast commitment to its support is remarkable. With 17 projects in 2016, the first-ranked Peach State hosted nearly three times as many feature films as fifth-place New York and Louisiana,” the report from FilmLA said. “This is almost certainly due to the state’s record investment in film attraction.”
