Shooting in Georgia:
The Complete Production Guide
Everything your production needs to know before rolling camera in Atlanta — permits, locations, the film tax credit, unions, craft services, and more.
Get Craft Services for Your Shoot Full Interactive GuideIn This Guide
The interactive guide adds a live Georgia tax credit calculator, profiles of twelve studio complexes with stage counts and credits, a searchable timeline of everything filmed in Georgia since 1972, forty-five filming locations organized by region, hotels near every major lot, an Atlanta neighborhood comparison, and a month-by-month shooting board.
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Why Georgia?
Georgia has become the undisputed capital of American film and television production. What started as a trickle of runaway productions in the early 2000s has grown into a full-scale industry ecosystem — one that rivals Hollywood in output and surpasses it in cost efficiency.
The combination of a generous tax incentive, a mild climate, diverse locations, a deep local crew base, and world-class studio infrastructure has made Atlanta the go-to destination for major studio tentpoles, streaming originals, and independent features alike.
What Georgia Offers Productions
- The most competitive film tax credit in the country — up to 30% on qualified Georgia expenditures
- Diverse locations — from downtown Atlanta's urban core to coastal marshes, mountains, and small-town Americana
- Established studio infrastructure — Trilith, Tyler Perry Studios, Eagle Rock Studios, and dozens of smaller facilities
- Deep local crew base — thousands of experienced IATSE and non-union crew members who've worked on major productions
- Lower cost of living — crew rates, housing, and day-to-day costs are significantly lower than LA or New York
- Year-round shooting — Georgia's mild climate allows production in every month of the year
A production that spends $10 million in Georgia can receive up to $3 million back in tax credits — money that goes directly back into the budget or the studio's bottom line.
The Georgia Film Tax Credit
The Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment Act is the engine that drives the state's film industry. Understanding how it works — and how to maximize it — is essential for any production planning to shoot in Georgia.
Credit Structure
| Credit Component | Amount | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Base credit | 20% | Minimum $500,000 in qualified Georgia expenditures |
| Georgia logo bonus | +10% | Display the Georgia peach logo in the production's end credits |
| Total maximum credit | 30% | Both conditions met |
What Qualifies
- Wages paid to Georgia residents (no cap on resident wages)
- Salaries paid via W-2 qualify up to $500,000 per person. No cap on payments made through a loanout company or 1099.
- Equipment rentals from Georgia vendors
- Location fees paid to Georgia property owners
- Craft services and catering costs from Georgia vendors
- Post-production work performed in Georgia
- Set construction materials purchased in Georgia
Every dollar spent on craft services and production catering from a Georgia-based vendor like Atlanta Craft Services qualifies for the 30% tax credit. On a $50,000 catering budget, that's $15,000 back. Productions that understand this use it to justify premium catering — the net cost is significantly lower than it appears.
Important Limitations & Recent Changes
- No annual cap and no sunset clause — one of the few uncapped film incentives in the country.
- Filming must begin within 30 days of the date of the certification letter, or the application must be amended in writing.
- The $500,000 minimum must be spent within a 12-month period
- Certain above-the-line costs for non-residents are capped
How to Claim the Credit
- Register with the Georgia Film Office before production begins
- Track all Georgia expenditures meticulously throughout production
- Obtain an audit from a CPA licensed in Georgia (required for credits over $2.5M)
- File Form IT-FC with your Georgia tax return
- Transfer or sell the credit if you don't have Georgia tax liability (credits are transferable)
Georgia film tax credits are fully transferable. Productions without Georgia tax liability can sell their credits to Georgia businesses or individuals at a discount (typically 88–92 cents on the dollar), effectively converting the credit to cash.
Run your own numbers with the live tax credit calculator in the interactive guide.
Permits & Locations
Georgia has a well-developed permitting infrastructure built specifically to accommodate film and television production. The Georgia Film Office serves as the central resource, but most permitting happens at the local level.
The Georgia Film Office
- Free location scouting assistance
- Coordination with state agencies for permits on state-owned property
- Tax credit registration and guidance
- Crew and vendor referrals
- Liaison services with local governments
Atlanta City Permits
- Application: Submit at least 5 business days before filming (10+ days for complex shoots)
- Insurance: Minimum $1 million general liability, naming the City of Atlanta as additional insured
- Fees: Vary by location, crew size, and duration
- Police: Off-duty APD officers required for street closures and large crowd scenes
- Parking: Separate permits required for production vehicles on city streets
Georgia's diverse geography means you can often find a local stand-in for expensive or difficult-to-permit locations. The Film Office's location library has thousands of pre-scouted options. Many productions have doubled Georgia locations for New York, Chicago, and even international settings.
Unions & IATSE in Georgia
Georgia is a right-to-work state, which means union membership cannot be required as a condition of employment. However, major studio productions shooting in Georgia typically operate under IATSE agreements, and the local union presence is strong.
IATSE Local 479
IATSE Local 479 is the primary below-the-line union for film and television production in Georgia. It covers most craft departments including art department, camera, grip & electric, set construction, locations, script supervisors, and many other crafts.
Atlanta Craft Services is experienced working on both union and non-union productions. We understand IATSE work rules, meal penalty requirements, and the specific needs of union crews. Our team has worked on major studio productions operating under IATSE agreements throughout our history.
SAG-AFTRA in Georgia
SAG-AFTRA covers actors and performers. Craft service plays a direct role in SAG compliance — proper meal periods and craft service availability affect whether productions stay in compliance with applicable agreements.
Craft Services on Georgia Productions
Craft service is the department responsible for keeping the crew fed and energized between meals throughout the shooting day. On a Georgia production, craft service is not an afterthought — it's a critical logistics operation that directly affects crew morale, productivity, and SAG compliance.
What Craft Service Covers
- Craft service table: The central hub — snacks, beverages, coffee, and light foods available all day
- Set crafty: A roving cart or kit that follows the shooting company to provide snacks and drinks on location
- Morning setup: Breakfast-adjacent items before the first meal, typically including pastries, fruit, yogurt, and coffee
- Specialty items: Dietary accommodations (vegan, gluten-free, keto, allergies) for cast and crew
- Cast trailer service: Dedicated craft service for talent in their trailers
- Welcome baskets: Personalized gift baskets for cast and department heads on their first day
Craft Service Packages
Bronze Package
Essential craft service for smaller productions and tight budgets. Core snacks, beverages, and daily setup.
Silver Package
Full craft service with expanded menu, specialty dietary options, and dedicated crafty cart for set.
Gold Package
Premium craft service with gourmet selections, full cast trailer service, welcome baskets, and dedicated Key Crafty.
The Key Craft Service person (Key Crafty) is responsible for the entire craft service operation. On union shows, this is an IATSE position. Atlanta Craft Services provides experienced Key Crafty personnel who've worked on major productions throughout Georgia.
Production Catering in Georgia
Production catering — the formal meals served to cast and crew during the shooting day — is one of the most important logistics elements of any production. In Georgia, the combination of local culinary talent, fresh regional ingredients, and competitive pricing makes production catering a genuine advantage.
Meal Requirements
- First meal: Within 6 hours of general crew call
- Second meal: Within 6 hours of the first meal wrap
- Meal penalties: Significant financial penalties apply when meals are late
- Craft service: Available throughout the day between meals
Georgia's agricultural bounty — peaches, Vidalia onions, pecans, peanuts, fresh seafood from the coast, and world-class BBQ traditions — gives Atlanta production caterers a genuine edge. Crews that have worked in other states consistently comment on the quality of Georgia catering.
Studios & Stages in Georgia
Georgia's studio infrastructure has grown dramatically over the past decade. The state now has more stage space than any location outside of Los Angeles and New York.
Trilith Studios (formerly Pinewood Atlanta)
Located in Fayetteville, GA (30 miles south of Atlanta), Trilith is one of the largest purpose-built film studios in the world. With more than thirty stages across roughly 700 acres, including a 400-acre backlot, it has hosted Marvel productions, major studio tentpoles, and prestige television.
Tyler Perry Studios
Situated on the former Fort McPherson military base in southwest Atlanta, Tyler Perry Studios spans 330 acres with 12 sound stages.
Eagle Rock Studios Atlanta
Located in Norcross, GA, Eagle Rock offers multiple stages and production support facilities. Popular with television productions and commercials.
Third Rail Studios
Based in Doraville, GA on the former General Motors plant site, Third Rail offers large stages and extensive backlot space.
Compare all twelve Georgia studio complexes by stage count, acreage and credits in the interactive studio explorer.
Top Filming Locations in Georgia
Georgia's geographic diversity is one of its greatest assets for production. Within a few hours of Atlanta, you can find virtually any environment a script might call for.
Downtown Atlanta
Urban streetscapes, modern architecture, and iconic landmarks. Has doubled for New York, Chicago, and generic "American city" in hundreds of productions.
Savannah
Historic squares, antebellum architecture, and Spanish moss. One of the most filmed cities in the South.
North Georgia Mountains
Blue Ridge, Dahlonega, and the Appalachian foothills. Waterfalls, forests, and rural Americana.
Georgia Coast
Jekyll Island, St. Simons, Cumberland Island. Pristine beaches, salt marshes, and historic sites.
Small-Town Georgia
Madison, Senoia (The Walking Dead's home base), Newnan, and dozens of other towns offer authentic small-town Americana.
Industrial & Warehouse
Atlanta's industrial corridors, former factories, and warehouse districts provide gritty urban environments popular for action sequences.
Browse forty-five Georgia filming locations by region, with the productions that shot at each one, in the interactive location guide.
Weather & Shooting Seasons
Georgia's climate is one of its production advantages — mild winters allow year-round exterior shooting, and the state's four distinct seasons provide visual variety.
Spring (March–May)
Ideal shooting conditions. Mild temperatures (55–75°F), blooming dogwoods and azaleas, and long days. The most popular season for exterior production.
Summer (June–August)
Hot and humid, with temperatures regularly reaching 90–95°F. Heat management becomes a significant production concern — craft service and catering play a critical role in keeping crews hydrated and energized.
Fall (September–November)
Excellent shooting conditions return. Temperatures moderate (60–80°F), foliage color in north Georgia peaks in October–November, and the light quality is exceptional.
Winter (December–February)
Mild by national standards (40–60°F). Georgia winters can occasionally bring ice storms, but the mild climate makes Georgia viable for winter production when other locations are frozen.
In Georgia summers, craft service must prioritize hydration. Atlanta Craft Services provides enhanced beverage service, electrolyte drinks, cooling foods, and shade-appropriate setup for summer productions. Heat-related illness is a real risk on Georgia summer shoots — proper craft service is a safety issue, not just a comfort one.
See a month-by-month shooting board with production conditions and craft service notes for every month of the year.
Housing & Production Logistics
Atlanta's production infrastructure extends well beyond the studio gates. The city has developed a robust ecosystem of production-friendly housing, transportation, and support services.
Housing for Productions
- Trilith area: The Trilith community itself offers housing, and Fayetteville/Peachtree City have extensive hotel inventory
- Midtown/Buckhead Atlanta: Convenient for productions shooting in the city, with extensive hotel options
- Corporate housing: Many production companies use furnished apartments for long-running shows
Transportation
Atlanta is a car-dependent city. Productions should plan for significant transportation department requirements, parking logistics, and Atlanta traffic — I-285 and I-75/85 can add significant time to commutes during rush hours. Hartsfield-Jackson Airport offers excellent connections for flying in above-the-line talent.
Hiring Local Crew in Georgia
Georgia's local crew base has grown dramatically over the past two decades. What was once a thin talent pool requiring significant fly-in crew from LA and New York is now a deep, experienced workforce capable of staffing major productions at every level.
Finding Local Crew
- IATSE Local 479: The primary source for union below-the-line crew
- Georgia Film Office: Maintains crew referral resources
- Production Facebook groups: Georgia has active online communities where local crew post availability
- Word of mouth: The Georgia production community is tight-knit; referrals from trusted department heads are often the most reliable source
Beyond the direct cost savings, local hires bring knowledge of Georgia-specific logistics, vendor relationships, and location familiarity that fly-in crew simply don't have. A local Key Grip who's worked at Trilith for five years knows the facility in ways that save time and money every day.
Pre-Production Checklist for Georgia
Use this checklist to ensure your production is set up for success before cameras roll in Georgia.
Tax Credit & Legal
- Register with the Georgia Film Office before production begins
- Engage a Georgia entertainment attorney to review tax credit eligibility
- Set up Georgia expenditure tracking from day one
- Confirm Georgia peach logo placement for the +10% bonus credit
- Identify CPA for required audit (if credits will exceed $2.5M)
Permits & Locations
- Contact the Georgia Film Office for location assistance
- Apply for city/county permits with adequate lead time (minimum 5–10 business days)
- Secure production insurance naming required parties as additional insured
- Arrange off-duty police for street closures and crowd scenes
Craft Services & Catering
- Book craft services vendor early — top vendors book out months in advance
- Book production caterer with confirmed crew count and dietary requirements
- Confirm meal schedule compliance with applicable union agreements
- Plan for summer heat management if shooting June–August
- Arrange welcome baskets for cast and department heads
One of the first calls any production should make when planning a Georgia shoot is to their craft services and catering vendor. Top vendors book out months in advance, and locking in your food service early removes one major logistics variable from your pre-production checklist.
Ready to Feed Your Georgia Production?
Atlanta Craft Services has been feeding film and TV crews across Georgia since 2014. Let's talk about your next shoot.
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