New Jack City: Hooray For Y’allywood

Do you know what motion pictures and television programs like THE DUFF, HUNGER GAMES MOCKINGJAY, ANCHORMAN 2, THE WALKING DEAD, LAWLESS, THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE, DIVERGENT, TAKEN 3, SELMA, FAST & FURIOUS 7 and ANT MAN have in common?

They were all filmed in Georgia which has become known in the industry as Y’allywood.

According to THE WALL STREET JOURNAL Georgia is now one of the most popular states for movie and tv production behind California and New York.

Why Georgia?

It’s primarily due to that state’s generous tax credits which were increased in 2008.

Georgia offers film and tv projects transferable tax credits for 20% of production costs—plus an additional 10% if the production agrees to display the Georgia logo in its credits.

Besides keeping the worldwide spotlight focused on that state, Georgia’s Department Of Economic Development reports that for fiscal-year 2013, production budgets in Georgia totaled $933.9 million—and probably will be in excess of $1 billion in 2014.

However, according to the Journal this industry focus on Georgia has created a new problem. Namely a shortage of available local crew members, leaving producers to scramble for qualified on-set staffers.

So what’s the answer?

Georgia governor Nathan Deal has proposed to establish a state-run Georgia Film Academy—a partnership between the state’s university and technical college system.

Deal told the Journal that “Georgia cannot afford for another state to do to us what we are doing to Hollywood.”

Touche.

Maybe Kansas and Missouri lawmakers can take a page from Georgia’s playbook and at least re-think their current financial hands-off policy when it comes to movie and tv production in the two states.

You know, and maybe let the Peach State’s success rub off on us—at least a little.