ATLANTA — Five major movie and television studios in Georgia have come together to create the Georgia Studio & Infrastructure Alliance (GSIA), a 501 C-6 group designed to serve as a legislative and educational advocacy effort. Eagle Rock Studios Atlanta, EUE/Screen Gems Studios Atlanta, Mailing Avenue Stageworks, Tyler Perry Studios and Triple Horse Studios are the founding members of the GSIA.
“This is a group of companies putting capital at risk and hiring employees, many of them Georgians, due to the success of the tax credit,” explains Kris Bagwell, executive VP of EUE/Screen Gems Studios and chairman of the GSIA.
“Tyler Perry Studios is pleased to become a part of the Georgia Studio and Infrastructure Alliance,” adds Ozzie Areu, president of Tyler Perry Studios. “We believe that it is important for those investing in making this a long-term business in the state of Georgia speak with one voice. TPS is fully committed to working with state and city officials along with the other members of the Alliance to make the TV and film production business a permanent fixture in Georgia's vibrant economic success story."
Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office deputy commissioner Lee Thomas points to the combination of the sound stages and the film tax credit make it possible to attract projects that directly and indirectly employ more than 77,900 people in the state. "Being able to provide productions with state-of-the-art infrastructure, a trained workforce and deep network of support services is essential to the sustainability of this industry," she says.
Members of the group are making education and job training a priority. The GSIA has partnered with the Lt. Governor’s Office and Georgia’s College and Career Academies, developing a training curriculum for film and television jobs. Several GSIA members serve on the Advisory Board for the Georgia Film Institute at Southern Crescent Technical College in Griffin, GA, where students are already enrolled and learning film-specific trades.
“I couldn’t be more excited and thrilled about the partnership between the Georgia Studio & Infrastructure Alliance and our College and Career Academies,” notes Georgia Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle. “It is important that we develop a film-ready workforce to meet the needs of the film productions that are advancing to Georgia. This great partnership will not only serve as a powerful economic generator for our state but will create jobs for Georgians and new opportunities for a highly skilled workforce.”
GSIA executive director Misty Holcomb says the membership will eventually encompass other production support businesses, such as post production houses, lighting and grip companies, production payroll and others related services