Crews were set up to film the remake of "Footloose" starring Dennis Quaid at the Acworth Presbyterian Church in Acworth, Ga., in 2010. Since 2008, Georgia has offered a tax incentive for production companies that spend at least $500,000 in the state: Up to 30 percent of the production's budget in tax credits as long as the finished film displays a special Georgia tourism logo prominently in the credits.Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal and the Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office said today that all 159 of the state's counties have been designated Camera Ready, a program that is the first of its kind in the nation and offers community-based assistance with film and television productions.
"Not only does this industry employ more than 77,900 Georgians, but it creates a sustainable environment with new infrastructure, more business opportunities for existing Georgia businesses and new educational programs through our universities and technical colleges," Deal said in a news release. "I congratulate every community in Georgia for taking part in this statewide program and making our state a more attractive place for film and television production."
The state's Camera Ready Community Program, established in 2010, helps develop and sustain the film and television industry by offering production companies access to local resources and information. The program is a special designation given to participating Georgia communities interested in cultivating and attracting the entertainment industry. Camera Ready communities name liaisons who can assist film and television production companies on a local level.