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Film industry bouncing back from COVID-19 hiatus (albanyherald.com)

ATLANTA — Georgia’s film industry has recovered from the coronavirus pandemic and then some.

Film and TV producers currently are working on 37 projects in the Peach State, up from 23 at this time last year, Lee Thomas, the state Department of Economic Development’s deputy commissioner for film, music and digital entertainment, told members of a Georgia House committee.

“In spite of all that’s happened, we’re up considerably now from where we were last year,” she said.

By: Dave Williams

Continue Reading at albanyherald.com

Film industry returns to Savannah, despite pandemic; downtown roads closed for Korean War movie (wjcl.com)

Over the course of this week, you’ll notice that streets and ramps near River Street will be blocked off, which was normal for Savannah before the pandemic.
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But with the coronavirus still spreading like wildfire, having crews together in the streets, raises some safety concerns.

“As long as they are able to show us that they can do it safely and in accordance with our guidelines, then we support it,” Savannah Mayor Van Johnson said.

Johnson says the crew currently in town from Black Label Media company has been testing people for the virus nonstop and practicing safe social distancing.

The movie being filmed is entitled ‘Devotion,’ set during the Korean War. In recent weeks, the Savannah Film Commission has put the word out about several casting call opportunities.

By: Emma Hamilton

Continue Reading at wjcl.com

Small Axe financier to float £200m streaming trust (thetimes.co.uk)

The film financing company behind the BBC’s Small Axe series will give investors the chance to tune into the streaming boom by floating a £200 million trust.

Great Point Media, based in London and chaired by Robert Halmi, the founder of the Hallmark TV channel in the US, is to list a trust that will finance films and shows on streaming platforms such as Netflix and terrestrial TV.

By: Jamie Nimmo

Continue Reading at thetimes.co.uk

Local man dreams big, building a movie studio in the heart of Barberton (beaconjournal.com)

For the last five years, Brett Flowers has been constructing his dream, bit by bit, set by set.

The business is a little off the beaten path, he’ll admit. At first, it’s a nightclub with strobing lights, a dance floor and a VIP room.

But the appearance changes quickly. A few strides from the nightclub is a jail cell and a room for processing prisoners. There’s an interrogation room next door to an industrial kitchen, a fitting room and a morgue.

By: Alan Ashworth

Continue Reading at beaconjournal.com

It might again be time for film incentives in Michigan (freep.com)

Is it time to bring back film incentives to Michigan? 

Count state Sen. Adam Hollier as one who thinks the time is right. Hollier is getting set to jump-start the conversation in Lansing with fellow legislators as he holds workshops to get feedback and input on a proposed plan by the Michigan Film Industry Association. If all goes well, he’s planning to introduce a bill in the Senate in March. 

Hollier, 35, is a rising star in the Democratic Party who hails from Detroit and has his master’s in urban planning from the University of Michigan. He serves in the U.S. Army Reserve. And he knows he has his work cut out for him. 

By: Carol Cain

Continue Reading at freep.com