Photo Credit: George Hodan. Roll of film.
The Georgia film industry has faced challenges in the past few years. However, the filmmaking community in the state is willing to adapt and change, which might lead to its continued success.
There have been many claims that the Georgia film industry is dying, but the continued success of independent films, like “Signing Tony Raymond,” show the strength of the film industry in the state.
Since 2008, Georgia has made a big effort to bring and maintain the film industry. However, since the pandemic, there has been increased media coverage of how the Georgia film industry has been struggling to compete against overseas markets that offer better incentives. One of these articles, published by the Wall Street Journal, claims that the filmmaking industry in Georgia is unsustainable.
According to Mitch Olson, an Associate Professor of Screen and TV Writing at KSU and an Executive producer of “Signing Tony Raymond,” the claims made in this article do not paint the full picture.
“I think the industry is opening up in an entirely new way that emerging and independent filmmakers should be very excited about,” Olson told The Sentinel during an interview.
According to Olson, the struggles facing the Georgia film industry today are leading to a recalibration of the whole filmmaking industry, rewarding those who can adapt to the new landscape.
Georgia might just be in the right place to adapt to those changes. According to Olson, this might be one of the reasons that Georgia has been the target of so many articles that claim that the film industry is failing in the state, even though studios have also left California and other states.
“We have just actually proven that we can literally birth, raise, and put out into the world our own content in a big way,” said Olson. “We are disrupting– people are taking notice and they are trying to stop a movement that is an independent, meritocracy driven industry in Geogia.”
“Signing Tony Raymond” is a good demonstration of where the filmmaking industry in Georgia might be heading. This film, which was completely made in Georgia and deals with the advent of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rules for collegiate athletes demonstrates how independent films made in the state can succeed by taking themes that people are interested in and marketing to an audience.
“Now that we’ve proven that we can do it and we’ve learned how to do it while the risk was low, we can start taking those risks a little bit more.”
The success of this film, according to Olson, was also due to the community that surrounds it.
“If you look at a movie like “Signing Tony Raymond” you can feel it– you can feel that the crew loved that movie.”
For Olson, the crews and the community in Georgia is what makes filmmaking here so special and keeps so many talented crews in the state.
“I feel so validated going to work every day here because, frankly, when I lived in LA it was toxic,” Olson said. “You come out here and everyone is paddling in the same direction—all the ships are rising together.”
The community aspect is fragile if led by the wrong people, however. Olson said that this just means it is up to filmmakers to recognize the opportunity present in Georgia to be better and different than Los Angeles and to rely on leaders that embody that culture and mentality and who put community and connection over profits.
However, for any of that to happen, the filmmakers in Georgia need continued support from the state.
In the past, tax credits have supported a sustainable business in Georgia. A great part of that sustainability has been through the implementation of education through the Georgia film Academy. This investment has allowed Georgia to develop its own workforce instead of having to bring in workers from other states. Olson encouraged Georgia to keep making decisions that promote sustainability.
“I think there are ways that the legislation could support us even more,” Olson said. “Looping in marketing and looping in development to all these tax credits would further spark other aspects of this business to emerge here”
Support from people outside the filmmaking community is also important, according to Olson. Most of all, people should support the films by watching them and sharing them on social media.
“If you go and see a Georgia movie that you are proud of, share it because worth of mouth is powerful.”
Moreover, Georgia offers opportunities to support the filmmaking industry directly through the Georgia Film Office which connects small business directly with productions.
For any students seeking to join the industry in the future but who might be afraid of all the challenges and changes, Olson offered one piece of advice:
“Embrace the uncertainty and learn to find success in the process and not the outcome.”
“Singing Tony Raymond” has been available to rent on Amazon starting on March 3.
