It’s time to say the quiet part out loud: Georgia’s film industry faces an uncertain future, and that reality unnerves many in the business.
Ask anyone who works in entertainment, and they’ll tell you it’s been an unsettling year. As reported by WJBF, in 2022 the Georgia Screen Entertainment Coalition said there were more than 400 productions in the state with more than $4 billion invested in those productions. But data released in August shows that in 2024, that number dropped to 237 productions and $2.6 billion.
With these losses, film professionals aren’t sure when the “Hollywood of the South” will return to its glory years. Earlier this month, a major props sale from Marvel Studios highlighted yet another challenge: studios continue to scale back operations and relocate productions overseas in the aftermath of the 2023 SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes.
Linda Burns, a 30-year industry veteran, and film producer said because of the slowdown, she’s seen many experienced film professionals pivot to different careers in order to support themselves.
“It’s an industry on wheels. There are good times and bad times, [but] this is the worst I’ve seen it in 30 years,” Burns said. She initially hoped for a wave of new film productions to start this fall but now she’s looking ahead to early 2025 for signs of recovery.
But Burns, a well-known Atlanta film industry heavyweight with a call sheet folder as long and varied as the city’s production history itself, is also hoping to cultivate more local talent in Georgia’s industry. She has been an instructor with the Atlanta Film Society (AFS) for over a decade and according to her resume has produced numerous films shot in the state.
“I’ve shut down busy roads and highways to create an accident on I-85, raced a NASCAR car down Peachtree Street…and taught Himalayan monks and grade-school kids how to make movies,” Burns said.
With AFS, Burns teaches workshops, classes, and other hands-on experiences to film professionals. As more studios halt productions in Georgia, she’s part of the local crew that’s stayed behind to keep film programs running.
One of the most successful programs she created for AFS is The PA Academy. This two-day boot camp takes place every February, June, August and November and teaches aspiring production assistants (PAs) how to work behind the scenes on film sets. The biggest incentive? Attendees are given exclusive job opportunities, internships, and mentorship if they complete the requirements. Since 2009, The PA Academy has trained over 2,000 attendees from around the country to work in the Georgia film industry.
Many people who have attended the boot camp over the years now work in various departments as lead editors, producers, and assistant directors. The program is hailed for being authentic in its approach to real-world scenarios on set and is credited for strengthening the caliber of film professionals in Atlanta to compete with Los Angeles and New York crews.
However, it’s a boot camp that refuses to pull its punches. A former boot camp attendee told Rough Draft, “We stood in a line for over 11 hours at the soundstage and only took about a 30-minute break for lunch. It’s not what I expected at all. Hearing all the different professionals speak was great, but I almost didn’t come back the next day.”
Burns and several of the guest speakers at The PA Academy in August told attendees that being on your feet for several hours is accurate to the PA experience on set, and knowing what to bring – a radio headset, multitool, gaffer tape – is essential. While other challenges may seem simple, like wearing comfortable shoes or using a walkie-talkie, they reiterated constantly that a new PA can be an asset on set, or easily become a liability if they aren’t prepared from day one.
Despite the harsh reviews, Burns remains adamant about keeping the boot camp tough, especially now that the Georgia film industry is under scrutiny by studio executives to prove its value.
“Anybody can be a PA, anybody can figure it out, but as a career, the industry is very difficult…and it’s not right for everybody,” Burns said. “Knowing in advance the challenges you’ll have to overcome prepares you to have some success. You’ll understand the realities going in.”
AFS and instructors like Burns remain dedicated to the local workforce. Their goal is to help keep the industry alive by offering professional development, hosting monthly social events like “Eat, Drink, and B-Indie” and member-only film screenings, and advocating for greater diversity among Georgia’s production crews.
Despite Atlanta’s reputation as a cultural and entertainment mecca for Black communities, the film industry could do better to incorporate diverse perspectives into production. According to Statista, in 2023, nearly 77% of those employed in the U.S. motion picture and video industries identified as white, while only about 10% identified as Black or African American. Additionally, women made up just over one-third (34.3%) of the workforce.
A few of The PA Academy guest speakers and Burns spoke about how the experience of being one of the only women or persons of color on set is still a common one in 2024.
“My biggest goal and the reason I do this is because I’m tired of seeing crew photos of white guys,” Burns said. “Our crews have certainly improved, but my long-term goal is to see Atlanta’s crews as diverse as our city.”
Burns says using The PA Academy attendee scholarships to help make these changes happen is just one step towards progress. AFS’s scholarships and financial hardship grants aim to support marginalized communities, including LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, veterans, and women. These efforts are part of a broader initiative to promote a more inclusive, diverse workforce in Georgia’s production sector.
Burns believes that while the industry holds its breath for the next big wave of opportunities, now is the time to welcome a variety of new perspectives and leadership to make progressive changes.
“Understanding that we still need to educate our legislators and hire lobbyists to talk about our industry and why it’s important and to keep it here is a big part of us continuing to move forward,” Burns said. “We should not take that work for granted”
While some productions may have given up on the Georgia film industry, there are still thousands of committed professionals ready to answer the call sheet. Now it’s up to both local professionals and studio executives to continue investing in Atlanta film and its next chapter.