Written by new-contact on Nov 27, 2013. Posted in On Location

Georgia plans to capitalise on film tourism boost from Hunger Games success

Georgia is planning ways to boost regional film tourism and capitalise on the success of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, which shot locally. The state is promoting tours of the filming locations and the movie itself contributed to regional spending of nearly USD935 million in 2012/13.

“Not only did Catching Fire create hundreds of jobs here, but millions of people around the world will see Georgia locations on the big screen,” said Lee Thomas, Director of the Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office: “This Lionsgate franchise has tremendous worldwide appeal and in anticipation of the potential film-induced tourism generated, we created ComeTourGeorgia.com, a website devoted to filmed locations in Georgia.”

“Georgia-filmed productions spent USD933.9 million in Georgia during fiscal year 2013,” added Chris Carr, of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, which encompasses the film office: “The economic impact goes well beyond the productions themselves – with 11 soundstage facilities locating in Georgia and more than 70 film-related companies locating or expanding here – this industry is creating jobs for Georgians.”

High-profile TV shows filming on location in Georgia include massively successful zombie drama The Walking Dead and young-adult series The Vampire Diaries. Locally-filmed upcoming features include Fast & Furious 7, videogame adaptation Need for Speed and also the first part of the Hunger Games trilogy-closer Mockingjay, which is already in production.

Not only did Catching Fire create hundreds of jobs here, but millions of people around the world will see Georgia locations on the big screen.

Lee Thomas, Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office

Georgia is firmly established as a major US production centre and has also attracted international interest. Pinewood Studios made an agreement earlier this year to develop new studio facility Pinewood Atlanta.