Louisiana used to be just behind California and New York in film production, but Georgia is now number 3, thanks to its tax incentives and its talent pool. This is yet another indication of the ever-increasing competitive pressures around the globe - and Africa has not even begun to show its stuff.
But there are two things that are apparent. First of all, Georgia has a talent pool, thanks to CNN, which is based in Atlanta, Georgia, which provided training and experience for generations of professionals in the relevant skill sets. As I have been saying, flexibility is key in today's world - if a director or producer can't find enough work in, say, movies, he can go into documentaries, commercials, training videos, and so on. The transition can be painful, but it can be done - I've been saying this for years.
The second thing is that, even as production leaves the Golden State, film commissioners from all over the world are gathering in LA for their annual convention. Once again, no matter what, LA remains the center.
But there are two things that are apparent. First of all, Georgia has a talent pool, thanks to CNN, which is based in Atlanta, Georgia, which provided training and experience for generations of professionals in the relevant skill sets. As I have been saying, flexibility is key in today's world - if a director or producer can't find enough work in, say, movies, he can go into documentaries, commercials, training videos, and so on. The transition can be painful, but it can be done - I've been saying this for years.
The second thing is that, even as production leaves the Golden State, film commissioners from all over the world are gathering in LA for their annual convention. Once again, no matter what, LA remains the center.