Group VI Principal and Pinewood Atlanta Studios Project Manager Jim Pace was one of several panel members to give his perspective on the local impact of the move and television industry at the annual South Metro Development Outlook Conference held Feb. 18 at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park. His comments centered on the impact of Pinewood Atlanta Studios in Fayetteville.
The “South Metro’s Thriving Film Industry” portion of the conference had Pace and others providing input on the local ramifications of the growing film and television industry.
Pace began his remarks with a brief history of the events that led to Pinewood Atlanta establishing its first U.S. presence in Fayetteville.
The immediate studio property on Veterans Parkway annexed into the city in 2014 and totaling nearly 300 acres was only the beginning. The property was part of 1,200 acres annexed last year on Fayetteville’s west side.
The Pinewood Production Center property across Sandy Creek Road and an adjacent 40 acres to the north are also part of the growing presence of the studio’s impact.
Referencing approximately 900 acres that will be developed for various purposes, Pace described the emerging efforts as leading to a city within a city and calling it “a legacy project” due to the expected long-term effects that will arise with Pinewood’s likely expansion and impact in the coming years.
“The industry regards (Pinewood Atlanta Studios) as having some of the finest sound stages in the world,” Pace said.
Pace said there is an urgent need for housing, hotels, apartments and single-family homes in the area. But there is also the need for a variety of other businesses which will be needed to support Pinewood’s growing local presence and the people who move to the area, whether short-term or permanently, he said.
“We need the ability to welcome these new neighbors,” said Pace.
Pace said he was excited that the state’s “amazing” tax incentives are working, but added that what has not been included to date is a tax incentive for post-production work.
Post-production accounts for approximately 30 percent of a movie’s overall budget but the “post-production businesses say they can’t come here without the incentives,” Pace said.
Moderator and Georgia Film, Music and Digital Entertainment Office Dep. Commissioner Lee Thomas during the session said Georgia in 2014 ranked third in the nation for movie and television projects.
“The incentives are very important,” Thomas said, noting that the 158 projects in 2014 brought an economic impact of $5.1 billion.
