Get Involved In Atlanta's Feature Film Making
Lights. Camera. Action!
The film industry in Georgia is in full force. Ranked as 5th in 2013, Georgia is now ranked as the 3rd highest location for feature film locations. In fact, the boom has been so extensive there has been a job training program launched in collaboration with the industry and the state of Georgia. Gaurdians of the Galaxy 2 was recently filmed here in Atlanta and the directory, James Gunn, gave the city of Atlanta high praise.
Several years ago, I spoke with a location manager for a feature film and asked him what the draw to Atlanta was for the film industry. While the tax incentives incentivized the productions, it was three other factors that the production crews valued the most. The range of diversity in location, culture and people within two hours of the Altanta airport was highly important. Almost any type of scene a director wanted to film could be found in the area. The climate was also a feature they liked as crew members dislike making movies in the cold miserable weather of the new england area. And, while it can get warm and humid in the summer, it's better than the extreme weather found in the state of Florida.
It appears the film industry is here to stay, so the question becomes, how does one get involved in it? Well unless you're highly connected or have an agent, one the best ways to get involved is as a film extra. In fact, these five famous actors started as a background actor. To help you get started, here is a list of sites you can visit to learn about casting calls to apply for. Here are your links to get your started.