Third Rail Studios in Atlanta: What to Know About This Film & Production Hub

Atlanta has earned a reputation as the “Hollywood of the South,” and Third Rail Studios is one of the major purpose-built film and television studios that helps power that reputation. If you live in Atlanta, are visiting for a production, or just want to understand how the local film industry operates, this studio is worth knowing about.

Below is a clear, practical overview of what Third Rail Studios is, where it is, what happens there, and how it fits into Atlanta’s production landscape.

What Is Third Rail Studios?

Third Rail Studios is a full-service film and television production facility serving the metro Atlanta area. It’s designed for large-scale productions, including:

• Feature films
• Scripted television series
• Streaming platform originals
• Commercials and other long-form projects

The studio provides soundstages, production offices, support spaces, and back-of-house areas that allow productions to prep, shoot, and wrap in one location.

For people working in or with the Atlanta film industry, Third Rail Studios is generally seen as:

• A professional, purpose-built stage complex (as opposed to a temporary warehouse conversion)
• A site that attracts regional, national, and international productions
• Part of the broader Atlanta production ecosystem along with other studio campuses and locations around the city

Where Is Third Rail Studios Located?

Third Rail Studios is located in Doraville, just northeast of the City of Atlanta, in the metro area.

While you should always verify exact address details and directions before heading there, the studio is generally situated near:

• Peachtree Industrial Boulevard / Buford Highway corridor
• MARTA’s Doraville Station area
• Major highways such as I-285 and I-85

For most Atlanta-based crew, the studio is considered conveniently accessible from:

• Midtown and Downtown Atlanta – typically via I-85 or surface streets
• Brookhaven, Chamblee, and Dunwoody – via Peachtree Industrial or I-285
• Tucker and Norcross – via I-285 or local routes

If you are working on a show that shoots there, transportation departments often coordinate parking, shuttle, and load-in routes tailored to each production.

Key Facilities and Services at Third Rail Studios

Third Rail Studios is built to handle a full production workflow. While exact details can evolve over time, many Atlanta-area professionals look for these types of features at the facility:

Soundstages

The campus typically includes multiple soundstages that are:

• Large and column-free, allowing for flexible set builds
• Sound-controlled, which is important for dialogue-heavy scenes
• Equipped for rigging, lighting grids, and set construction

Productions may book:

• A single stage for more compact shoots
• Multiple stages for bigger series or features with parallel units and rotating sets

Support & Production Spaces

In addition to the stages, Third Rail often provides:

• Production offices – for producers, accounting, writers, and coordinators
• Mill and construction areas – for set building and scenic work
• Wardrobe and costume rooms – for fittings, storage, and breakdown
• Hair and makeup rooms – close to stages for quick turnaround
• Flex spaces – used for table reads, rehearsals, or storage as needed

This layout helps productions keep most departments on one campus, which can be a productivity advantage compared to splitting teams across multiple buildings in different parts of Atlanta.

Parking and Loading

As a production-focused facility, Third Rail Studios is typically designed with:

• Truck access for grip, electric, and transportation departments
• Load-in and load-out routes for heavy gear and set pieces
• Designated crew and production parking areas, depending on each show’s footprint

Productions often receive detailed parking maps and call sheet notes, so if you’re crew, follow your show’s instructions rather than relying on generic GPS directions.

How Third Rail Studios Fits into Atlanta’s Film Scene

Atlanta’s film industry is supported by Georgia’s film tax incentive, a deep local crew base, and a network of studios. Third Rail Studios contributes to that ecosystem in several ways:

One of Several Major Studio Campuses

In the metro Atlanta area, Third Rail Studios is part of a constellation of production facilities, alongside other campuses in and around:

• Fayette County (often used for large franchise films)
• South Atlanta / Union City
• Midtown and Westside areas (for smaller stages and specialty spaces)

For producers and line producers evaluating Atlanta, Third Rail Studios often enters the conversation when:

• They want to be closer to the city and intown locations
• They need modern stages without going too far from central Atlanta housing, dining, and services
• They’re scheduling around crew commute times from neighborhoods like Grant Park, East Atlanta, Decatur, Brookhaven, or Sandy Springs

Proximity to Atlanta Locations

Because Third Rail is in Doraville, productions can pair stage work with on-location shoots around metro Atlanta, including:

• Intown neighborhoods – Midtown, Downtown, Old Fourth Ward, Inman Park
• Residential looks – Decatur, Kirkwood, Brookhaven, Smyrna, and others
• Industrial and rail-adjacent areas around Chamblee and Doraville

Location managers often appreciate being able to pivot between stage and location days without excessive travel time.

Who Typically Uses Third Rail Studios?

While Third Rail Studios is generally not a walk-in space for the public, it is widely used by:

• Studio-backed film and TV projects filming in the Atlanta area
• Streaming series needing longer-term stage rentals
• Commercial and advertising productions that require stage environments
• Production companies based elsewhere that temporarily base operations in Atlanta

If you are an Atlanta-based crew member, you might work at Third Rail if you’re hired onto a project that has:

• Basecamp and stages there
• Multiple departments (art, camera, grip, electric, costume, production office) working out of the campus

If you’re an independent filmmaker, you may or may not find Third Rail to be the right scale or price point. Many smaller projects instead look at:

• Smaller local stages and studios in Atlanta’s Westside, East Point, or Midtown
• Flexible warehouse spaces converted for short-term use
• Location-based shooting with minimal stage requirements

Practical Tips if You’re Working at or With Third Rail Studios

For Atlanta-Based Crew

If your call sheet lists Third Rail Studios:

• Confirm access instructions – Many productions use specific gates, entry points, or security check-in procedures.
• Plan your commute – Morning and evening traffic along I-285, Buford Highway, and I-85 can be heavy. Building in extra time is common practice in Atlanta.
• Know nearby amenities – Doraville and Chamblee offer a variety of food options, including Buford Highway’s well-known international restaurants, which many crew rely on between long days.

For Producers and Production Companies

When considering Third Rail Studios for your Atlanta shoot, you’ll typically:

1. Contact the studio’s management or sales office to check:

   • Stage availability and sizes
   • Support spaces and office layouts
   • Pricing structures and lease terms

2. Coordinate with Georgia-based resources, such as:

   • The Georgia Film Office (part of the Georgia Department of Economic Development) for tax incentive guidance
   • Local crew booking channels and casting offices in Atlanta

3. Compare commute patterns for key staff and cast:

   • Housing in Midtown, Buckhead, Decatur, and Sandy Springs is often considered
   • Shuttle and transportation plans from hotels or rental housing to the Doraville campus are commonly arranged

Contacting or Visiting Third Rail Studios

Because Third Rail Studios is a working production facility, public walk-ins are usually not appropriate unless you have:

• A confirmed job on a show shooting there
• A scheduled meeting with production or studio staff
• A pre-arranged tour or scouting appointment as part of a professional production inquiry

To move forward in a professional capacity (as a producer, location manager, or vendor), people typically:

• Look up the official phone number or email for Third Rail Studios’ office
• Reach out with basic project details (format, estimated dates, space needs)
• Request a stage tour or availability check

For general information on filming in Atlanta and working with area studios, you can also contact:

City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Film & Entertainment

• Atlanta City Hall, 55 Trinity Ave SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
• Main City of Atlanta phone line: (404) 330-6000 (ask to be directed to the film office)

Georgia Film Office (State Level)

• 75 Fifth Street NW, Suite 1200, Atlanta, GA 30308
• Main Georgia Department of Economic Development phone: (404) 962-4000

These offices provide guidance on permits, incentives, and general filming logistics in the Atlanta area and can help point you toward appropriate studio resources, including Third Rail and other facilities.

Quick Reference: Third Rail Studios at a Glance

If You’re in Atlanta and Curious About Third Rail Studios

If you simply want to understand how Third Rail Studios fits into Atlanta, it helps to view it as:

• One of the metro area’s major production campuses
• A place where big shows quietly operate behind the scenes
• A facility that contributes to the local jobs and economic activity associated with the film and TV boom

For working professionals, it’s a practical, well-located option for stage-based production. For residents and visitors, it’s a reminder that some of the shows and films you watch may be created just a short drive from the heart of Atlanta.