Atlanta is the home of the Falcons, lemon pepper wings and Black Hollywood. But while the city’s reputation for sports and food cannot be debated, there seems to be some chatter about why the city often attracts the biggest and most expensive film productions.
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We all know about Hollywood in California, but how much do you really know about the “Black Hollywood,” which continues to produce a huge number of films each year. To tell the full story of Georgia’s film scene, however, you’d have to start decades in the past. But don’t worry, we’re laying it all out for you. Just grab the popcorn!
‘Deliverance’ Inspires Gov. Jimmy Carter
Atlanta’s film boom can actually be traced all the back to the ’70s and then-Gov. Jimmy Carter. In 1972, the film “Deliverance,” starring Burt Reynolds and Jon Voight, officially put Georgia on the film map!
The Oscar-nominated movie was set in Rabun County, and buzz from the film prompted Gov. Carter to establish the Georgia Film Office in 1973. According to the state’s official website, the office’s “mission is to attract film and television projects, and the infrastructure to support them, to the State.”
Movies of the ’80s
By the times the 1980s came around, directors began choosing Georgia as the official backdrop for their movies. In 1980, “The Long Riders” was largely filmed in the state, and the 1989 classics “Driving Miss Daisy” and “Glory” were also set in Georgia, which brought in revenue for the peach state.
Atlanta’s Historic Markings
There are several reasons why Georgia has grown into one of the most diverse, cheapest and historically significant places for film. It’s home to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement, several historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) plus so much more!
Atlanta’s Black Art Renaissance
We always talk about the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s, but Atlanta’s own renaissance completely changed the culture and politics of the city.
Like jazz was the Harlem, a new wave of southern hip-hop and rap ushered in an artistic overflow into metro Atlanta. Yes, were talking about the rise of Outkast and T.I., but also the 1996 Olympic Games held in Atlanta allowed folks to see the southern city had a lot to offer.
Black Movies Take Over the 1990s, 2000s
Black cinema also started to take off around the same time. The ’90s and 2000s could be referred to as a “golden era” for Black film. Movies like “Love & Basketball” and “Friday” blended Black drama, romance and comedy in ways never seen before on the big screen.
Movies of the ’90s
Director Robert Zemeckis’ 1994 Oscar-winning film, “Forrest Gump,” was partial filmed in Georgia. “RoboCop 3” with Robert John Burke and “Kalifornia” starring Brad Pitt were also filmed in the state.
Why Did People Flock to Atlanta?
The population of metro Atlanta has grown 94 percent– 2.5 million to almost 5 million– between 1990 and 2020, according to The Atlanta Regional Commission. This unprecedented growth began during the Atlanta Renaissance we mentioned earlier. At some point, Atlanta became the pinnacle of what Black art, education and wealth looked like… So, folks from all around the world came rushing in to claim their own stake.
Movies of the ‘2000s
By the mid-2000s, there was no question just how valuable Georgia was to the film industry. Atlanta wasn’t Hollywood, but the potential was there, and directors and producers dove right in!
“The Blind Side” directed by John Lee Hancock was filmed in Georgia along with “Zombieland,” “X-Men: First Class” and “Sweet Home Alabama,” which was ironically mostly filmed in Georgia.
2008 Opens the Floodgates
In 2008, state officials knew they had to be more appealing to film producers in order to be competitive with Hollywood. That mindset introduced 30 percent entertainment tax incentives for production companies wanting to film in the state. The 2008 recession meant the film industry needed to find ways to save money, and in Georgia, that became possible.
Tyler Perry Studios
In 2015, actor and film mogul Tyler Perry secured a 330-acre plot of land which previously served as the Fort McPherson army base. The purchase marked uncharted territory for Black leaders in the film industry, and is known as the largest film production studio in the country.
Why Did Perry Chose Atlanta?
On the surface, Perry’s historic purchase might just seem like the right business move, but he explained local radio station V-103 his decision went back to his love for the city.
“This is about the community that I love, that I live and work in,” Perry said. “This is about good people who are in need of a hand up, not a handout. This is about the good police officers who do their job well everyday, some of which are my personal friends. This is about trying to bridge unity in a city that adopted me and held me up high enough to reach my own branch on the tree of success. I love Atlanta and its people!”
Marvel Takeover
In 2018, more major movies were produced and filmed in Georgia than in California. Notably, several Marvel movies were filmed in the state, including “Black Panther” in 2018, “Spider-Man: Homecoming” in 2017 and “Captain America: Civil War” in 2016. Another blockbuster film, “The Hunger Games,” was also produced in Georgia.
Black Hollywood Today
The state’s film industry rakes in about $4 billion annually straight to Georgia’s economy, according to Georgia Public Broadcasting. Gov. Brian Kemp praised the success of the film world which traces all the way back to Jimmy Carter.
“Those who benefit most from the significant growth we’ve seen in this industry over the past couple of decades are hardworking Georgians who fill the many behind-the-camera jobs that come with each project,” Kemp said according to GPB. “That’s why we’ve worked hard to attract these and other opportunities for those who call the Peach State home.”
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