Georgia Film Office Services in Atlanta: How Productions Really Work Here

Atlanta has become one of the busiest film and TV hubs in the country, and at the center of that growth is the Georgia Film Office, based right here in the metro area. Whether you’re a producer scouting locations, a local business hoping to work with productions, or an Atlanta resident wondering how all this filming works, understanding what the Georgia Film Office does is essential.

This guide breaks down how the Georgia Film Office supports film and production services in Atlanta, what they can (and can’t) do for you, and how their work connects to life and business in the city.

What Is the Georgia Film Office?

The Georgia Film Office is a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) that promotes and supports film, television, commercial, and digital entertainment projects across the state, including metro Atlanta.

They are not a studio or production company. Instead, they:

• Help productions understand and access the state’s tax incentives
• Maintain location databases and connect productions with local contacts
• Offer guidance on working with cities and counties, including film permitting in Atlanta
• Support workforce development and vendor connections
• Promote Georgia—and especially Atlanta—as a production destination

The office is headquartered in downtown Atlanta:

Georgia Film Office
75 5th Street NW
Suite 1200
Atlanta, GA 30308
Phone: (404) 962-4000 (main GDEcD line – ask for Film Office)

For the most accurate and up-to-date contact details, producers often call or use the state’s main economic development contact channels to be routed to the film team.

How the Georgia Film Office Fits Into Atlanta’s Film Ecosystem

Atlanta’s film world is a mix of:

• State-level support (Georgia Film Office)
• City government (City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Film & Entertainment)
• Local unions and guilds
• Private studios and stages
• Independent producers, crews, and vendors

The Georgia Film Office typically focuses on statewide support and incentives, while Atlanta’s city offices handle local permits, neighborhoods, and city services.

In practical terms:

• Georgia Film Office
  Big picture: tax credits, statewide locations, connecting you with Georgia resources.

• City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Film & Entertainment
  On-the-ground: permitting, road closures, filming in Atlanta parks, working with city departments.

Most productions that plan to shoot in Atlanta interact with both.

Key Services the Georgia Film Office Provides to Atlanta Productions

1. Tax Incentive Guidance for Georgia Film and TV

One of the main reasons productions choose Atlanta is Georgia’s film tax credit program. The Georgia Film Office helps explain:

• Basic eligibility for the state incentive
• Minimum spending thresholds in Georgia (not just Atlanta)
• Qualifying expenses, such as local crew, vendors, and facilities
• Application and certification steps

They don’t offer legal or financial advice, but they provide:

• Overviews of how the incentive applies to productions filming in Atlanta
• Contacts for approved auditors, consultants, and local specialists
• Clarification on what counts as “Georgia spend” when using Atlanta-based services

If you’re planning a project that will base in Atlanta, contacting the Georgia Film Office early can help you plan your budget and schedule around the incentive requirements.

2. Location Support in and Around Atlanta

The Georgia Film Office maintains a statewide locations database, with many of the listings in and around metro Atlanta. They can:

• Suggest Atlanta neighborhoods or types of locations that match your script
• Connect you with local contacts for downtown landmarks, government buildings, parks, and infrastructure
• Provide high-level guidance on where filming commonly works well versus where it may be more challenging

Some popular Atlanta-area location categories they can help point you toward include:

• Urban downtown look (Downtown Atlanta, Midtown, Buckhead)
• Residential areas (Inman Park, Virginia-Highland, Grant Park, Westview)
• Industrial and rail (West Midtown, South Atlanta)
• Suburban and small-town looks (Decatur, East Point, College Park, Stone Mountain area)

You will still work with the City of Atlanta or surrounding cities and counties to obtain actual permits, but the Georgia Film Office often acts as a starting point for out-of-state productions that don’t yet know the region.

3. Connecting Productions With Atlanta Crew and Vendors

The Georgia Film Office maintains resources to help you find local film and production services, especially in Atlanta where much of the crew base is located.

They can:

• Direct productions to crew lists, vendor directories, and professional associations
• Encourage hiring from Georgia’s local workforce to strengthen eligibility for incentives
• Provide general information about Atlanta’s below-the-line labor pool

Common Atlanta-area production services they routinely point people toward include:

• Grip and electric houses
• Camera and lens rentals
• Production sound and post-production audio
• Costume and wardrobe rentals
• Prop houses and set decorators
• Security services familiar with film shoots
• Production accounting and payroll firms
• Casting offices and background casting

While the Film Office does not “approve” or rank individual businesses, they can help you understand what categories of services are well represented in Atlanta and where productions typically look for them.

4. Support for Atlanta-Area Communities and Businesses

The Georgia Film Office also works with local governments and business groups around Atlanta to help them:

• Prepare for and manage growth in filming
• Understand the economic benefits and logistical challenges
• Communicate with residents and neighborhoods impacted by production activity

If you are an Atlanta-area business wondering how to work with productions, the Film Office can help explain:

• Typical needs of production companies (catering, lodging, storage, transportation, rentals, etc.)
• How businesses often market themselves to location managers or production coordinators
• Basic expectations around scheduling, contracts, and site use from the film side

They may also coordinate with organizations such as:

• Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (for large events and meetings)
• Regional chambers of commerce around metro Atlanta
• Local tourism offices in nearby cities used as filming backdrops

Film Permits in Atlanta: Where the Georgia Film Office Fits In

If you’re filming inside the City of Atlanta, you will almost always need to work with the Mayor’s Office of Film & Entertainment for permits. While the Georgia Film Office doesn’t issue local permits, they often:

• Explain the overall permitting landscape across Georgia
• Refer you to the correct city or county contact when your locations are in or around Atlanta
• Give general timelines and expectations for working with municipal authorities

City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Film & Entertainment

This office manages:

• On-street filming and traffic control
• Use of city-owned facilities (city hall exteriors, certain public buildings)
• Filming in city parks and right-of-ways
• Coordination with Atlanta Police, Fire, and city services

For productions based in Atlanta, it’s common to first speak with the Georgia Film Office (incentives, general locations, state support) and then work closely with the Mayor’s Office of Film & Entertainment for daily practical details.

Georgia Film Office vs. Atlanta Studios and Soundstages

It’s easy to confuse the Georgia Film Office with the large studios around metro Atlanta. They are separate:

• Georgia Film Office: Government agency focused on support, incentives, and promotion.
• Studios and soundstages: Privately or institutionally owned facilities where filming happens.

Atlanta is home to multiple major studio complexes and independent stages. While the Film Office does not manage or operate these, they can:

• Give an overview of where most soundstages are concentrated (for example, in areas of south metro, west side, and near the airport)
• Help productions new to Atlanta understand general options for studio space
• Direct you to contact information for studios or studio associations

Productions often combine:

• Studio stages (for builds and controlled sets)
• Atlanta-area locations (for exteriors and real-world environments)

How Atlanta Residents Experience the Work of the Georgia Film Office

If you live in Atlanta, you may never speak directly with the Georgia Film Office, but their work shows up in everyday ways:

• Street closures and detours
  Increased filming can mean intermittent road closures in neighborhoods like Downtown, Midtown, Old Fourth Ward, and West Midtown.

• “Filming Today” signs and production trucks
  You’ll see production base camps and trucks parked near locations, especially in commercial districts and near popular neighborhoods.

• Jobs and training opportunities
  As the state promotes film work, Atlanta’s training programs, crew calls, and entry-level opportunities remain more active, especially in peak seasons.

• Business rentals and partnerships
  Local restaurants, hotels, and venues sometimes work directly with productions for catering, lodging, or location rentals.

Residents who have questions or concerns about filming usually start with the city’s film office, but the Georgia Film Office is involved in broader coordination and long-term planning.

Using the Georgia Film Office if You’re an Atlanta-Based Creative

If you live in Atlanta and work (or want to work) in film, the Georgia Film Office can be a helpful resource, particularly at the information and networking level.

They may provide:

• Statewide overviews of training pipelines and workforce development efforts
• Information on entry-level roles (production assistant, office support, set work)
• Occasional connections to industry events, panels, or educational programs held in Atlanta
• Guidance for independent filmmakers on how to become eligible for the incentive if their project qualifies

They do not act as an agent, casting director, or employer, but they can point you toward many of the organizations that do operate in those spaces around Atlanta.

Quick Reference: Who Does What in Atlanta Film?

Practical Tips for Working With the Georgia Film Office From Atlanta

Whether you’re local or coming in from out of town to film in Atlanta, a few simple steps make the process smoother:

• Contact them early in development
  Before you lock your budget or schedule, speak to them about tax incentives, location strategy, and general expectations.

• Be clear about your Atlanta footprint
  Share whether you plan to base your production, build sets, and hire crew in metro Atlanta. This helps them point you to city-appropriate resources.

• Ask for introductions, not endorsements
  The Film Office can connect you with categories of vendors and organizations but doesn’t “recommend” specific companies.

• Coordinate with local offices in parallel
  If you’re definitely filming inside the Atlanta city limits, loop in the Mayor’s Office of Film & Entertainment early for permitting and logistics.

• Stay flexible with locations
  Atlanta offers many types of looks. The Film Office can often suggest alternatives nearby if your first choice is challenging for logistical or permitting reasons.

For anyone working in or around Atlanta’s film and production scene, the Georgia Film Office is a central, state-level resource that helps tie everything together: incentives, locations, workforce, and the ongoing growth of the city’s screen industry. Understanding what they do—and how they interact with Atlanta’s own film offices—makes it much easier to navigate production, whether you’re a major studio project or a local filmmaker planning your next shoot.