Georgia House Rep. Long Tran is hosting an event called Georgia Film Day at Atlanta City Hall on March 18.
The event is hosted in collaboration with Georgia Production Partnership (GPP), a nonprofit that works to promote Georgia’s film industry. The event aims to bridge the gap between those working in film and the state’s legislative leaders.
This is the first time the event has taken place since 2020. According to Tran, COVID-19 was a large part of the reason why, as well as last year’s writers and actors strikes in Hollywood. The event on March 18 will include networking opportunities and discussions about the film industry in the state.
“We’re still getting responses from local celebrities that have done some movies and TV shows,” Tran said about who will be in attendance. “We also have producers and directors from TV shows like ‘The Walking Dead,’ and all of the industry organizations, whether it’s SAG and IATSE, or the sound stages, caterers – pretty much anyone who’s involved in the industry will be there.”
GPP is led by Co-presidents Shellie Schmals and Darius Evans. The organization also has a new board as of January 2024, including Vice President Alexis Bushell, Secretary Kimberly Raybon, and Treasurer Michael Price.
“GPP is incredibly proud of our Georgia Film Day collaboration with Representative Tran,” said Schmals in an emailed statement. “It’s a celebration of our talented and hardworking entertainment industry. I’m personally thrilled to see all of our partners come together, share support, and lend their expertise and voices throughout the day.”
GPP, which started in 1995, was the first organization to lobby for a film tax credit in Georgia. This year, the House of Representatives wants to put some restrictions on the tax incentive in the form of House Bill 1180.
Currently, if a production company spends $500,000 on a film or television production in the state, Georgia awards tax credits for up to 30% of the cost of that production. Credits start at 20%, rising to 30% if the production displays Georgia’s peach logo. The legislation would require film production companies to meet at least four of 10 criteria to qualify for that additional 10% income tax credit in addition to the 20% base.
Tran, who is a member of Georgia’s Arts and Entertainment Committee, said he had some concerns about the tightening of the tax incentive.
“My biggest concern comes as to whether or not it’s too soon to make changes to our tax incentives, because we still have what I call the brick and mortars getting invested in Georgia. Whether it’s a catering company, a soundstage, a company storing props, we still have so many facets of the industry opening up in a sense of the brick and mortars. And I’d like to get that infrastructure set in place and really grounded in something that the industry relies on before we mess with the tax credits.”
If production companies don’t use all of their tax credits, they are allowed to sell or transfer them. The new bill includes a provision that would cap the total amount of sales or transfers of credits within a calendar year at 2.5% of the governor’s revenue estimate for that year.
Tran said he worries the cap on the sale or transferring of credits will negatively impact independent filmmakers. When asked if the General Assembly would ever consider lowering the $500,000 budget minimum for the tax credit so more filmmakers could take advantage, Tran said he hopes so.
“I hope they lower it, make it more accessible to budding filmmakers, independent filmmakers, documentarians,” he said. “They’re a very vital part of our creative industry.”
The status of House Bill 1180 can be tracked online. Georgia Film Day will take place at Atlanta City Hall on March 18 at 6 p.m.
