To attract visitors interested in Georgia’s entertainment industry, Georgia’s Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) has launched a new website: www.ComeTourGeorgia.com.
This interactive website promotes Georgia’s film and music history, film tours, Georgia-filmed productions, film locations, destinations, festivals and other events.
By increasing visitation to entertainment-related destinations across the state, the Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office’s new website seeks to enhance the film industry’s long-term impact on Georgia tourism.
Georgia’s 2013 travel guide also showcases the connections between Georgia’s entertainment and tourism industries with dual covers featuring Zac Brown of the Zac Brown Band, and the most-watched television series in basic cable history, “The Walking Dead,” filmed in Senoia.
“ComeTourGeorgia.com is an opportunity to help drive tourism to Georgia by showcasing filming locations across the state,” said Lee Thomas, Director of the Georgia Film, Music and Digital Entertainment division. “’Catching Fire,’ the sequel to ‘The Hunger Games,’ opens in theaters on November 22. Not only did this production create hundreds of jobs in Georgia, but it is anticipated that the momentum generated by Lionsgate’s billion dollar franchise will benefit our tourism industry by bringing fans to Georgia.”
Georgia-filmed movies to be released in the next few months include Tyler Perry’s “Temptation” on March 29; “42” starring Harrison Ford and Chadwick Boseman on April 12; and “The Internship” starring Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson on June 7. Other Georgia projects slated to hit theaters are “Prisoners” starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal on September 20; “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” on November 22; Tyler Perry’s “Madea Christmas” on December 13; and “Last Vegas” starring Morgan Freeman, Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro and Kevin Kline on December 20.
In addition, a record number of television shows are shot in Georgia including AMC’s “The Walking Dead;” CW’s “The Vampire Diaries;” BET’s “Reed Between the Lines,” “The Game,” and “Let’s Stay Together;” “Family Feud;” USA’s “Necessary Roughness” and “Royal Pains;” Lifetime’s “Drop Dead Diva” and the new series “Devious Maids.”
Feature films in preproduction or currently in production in Georgia include “Anchorman 2” starring Will Ferrell; “Prisoners” starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal; “Need for Speed” starring Aaron Paul and Michael Keaton; and “The Good Lie” starring Reese Witherspoon.
The Georgia Department of Economic Development’ 157 state employees plan, manage and mobilize state resources to attract new business investment to Georgia, drive the expansion of existing industry and small business, locate new markets for Georgia products, inspire tourists to visit Georgia, and promote the state as a top destination for arts events and film, music and digital entertainment projects.
Visit www.georgia.org for more information.
