Originally posted Thursday, March 28, 2019 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
In a new tact, more than 60 Georgia film and crew members have sent an open letter to production companies HBO, Sony, Disney, Universal Pictures, Marvel and Netflix to publicly oppose the “heartbeat” abortion bill.
The people who signed the letter include set designers, location managers, props managers and drivers.
They noted that film studios pressured Gov. Nathan Deal to veto a “religious liberty” bill in 2016. “We now need the studios to do the same again,” the letter said. “As employers to hundreds of women and people who are able to reproduce, it essential that your employees are able to manage their bodies and have the ability to make critical life decisions on their own.”
To date, none of the aforementioned production companies, who all do business in Georgia and take advantage of the state's generous tax credits, have chosen to publicly take a stand on the bill, which is currently in the House. Gov. Brian Kemp has said he would sign the bill, which greatly restricts abortions six weeks after conception.
“These studios must demand Georgia to listen to the state’s medical experts and stop House 481 from becoming law. As employers to thousands of Georgians, it is immoral and irresponsible to remain silent when reproductive rights are under attack,” the letter concluded.
>>RELATED: 40-plus celebrities oppose bill
Here is the list of crew members who signed the letter:
Jaime Rosengren, On Set Dresser
Rebecca Rathier, Film Industry
Freelance Anna Davis, Key Assistant Location Manager
Natalie Karp Allowitz
Kristin Killey, Unit Production Manager
Dawn Beagan
Jay Pelissier, Art Director
Cindy Carr, Set Director
Rachael Tartell, Location Manager
Savannah Andries, Set Dec Assistant
Brittany Wages, Photographer and Production Coordinator
Ebony Blanding
Kate Adelung, Video Production Manager
Haley Haircloth
Molly Coffee, Production Designer
Hannah Johnson, Wardrobe Stylist
Megan Dahl, Line Producer
Aparna Sharma, Consultant
Caitlin Elmes, Set Decoration Buyer
Parker Woods, Set Dresser
Laurie Bookhardt, Art Coordinator
Jonna Capehart, Set Decorator
AJ Austin, Set Dresser
Steven Spelman, Assistant Prop Master
Steven Greer, Assistant Prop Master
Heather Haynes, Props Assistance
Shelby Treichler, Props Person
Molly Ebner, Set Decoration Buyer
Robert Rosengren, Set Dresser/Gang Boss
Carmer Rice, Creative
Emily Pietro, Set Dresser
Kacie Craver, Set Dresser
Schenley Sargusingh, Best Boy Electric
Cameron Sherman, Craft Services
Susan Tanner, Set Dresser
April Thornton, Locations Assistant
Jay Odum, Dimmer Board Operator
Trent Walker, Camera Loader
Bobb Lovett, Gaffer
Jessica Pinkstone, Commercial Production Designer
Deidra Lynn Currie, Prop Assistant, On Set Dresser, Set Dresser
Eric West, Set Dressing Gang Boss
Steven Freeman, Set Dresser
Jonathan Hall, Set Dresser
Victoria Coffee, Art Department Coordinator
Gabrielle Levesque, VFX Data Wrangler
Adrianne Skrzypek, Assistant Prop Master
Josh Romeo, Performer
Allen Robinson, Key Grip, Best Boy Grip, Grip
Sofia Yankelevitch, Props Person
Matthew Beaty, Assistant Location Manager
Mike Germon, Props Department
Allyson Lally, Set Decoration Buyer
Ariel Kaplan, Assistant Prop Manager
Jascha Ogarra, Driver
Hannah Tarr, Standby Painter
Annie Rhodes, Producer’s Assistant
Jared Fleury, Property Master
Oren M., Second Assistant Camera
Jennifer Fleury, On Set Dresser
Josephine Figueroa, Creative Project Manager
Vanessa Smith IATSE 479 Set Decorator
Catherine Campbell, Set Dresser
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