Bartow Is a Camera-Ready Community

Bartow was one of 23 Georgia counties last week designated Camera Ready by Gov. Nathan Deal and the Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

Ellen Archer, executive director who will serve as Bartow's Camera Ready liaison, told the distinction will aid Bartow in attracting film and TV projects. Even low-budget films bring an economic boost to the local economy, she added.

The state’s Camera Ready Community Program was started in October 2010 to support the growing film and television industry. The program now includes 112 counties across the state. 

“Our aggressive tax incentive, new infrastructure and expanding crew base make Georgia the leading lady for film and television production,” GDEcD Commissioner Chris Cummiskey said in a press release. “At any given time you can find multiple productions providing jobs and investment in numerous communities across the state.”

Camera Ready was put in place by the state to offer film and television production companies access to local resources and information. The program is a special designation given to participating Georgia communities interested in attracting entertainment productions. Local economic impact from productions can be significant, including hiring of local residents, hotel stays and purchases of goods and services. A Camera Ready Community must designate one point person who can assist film and television production companies on a local level.

The other 22 Georgia counties last week to receive the Camera Ready Community designation were Chattooga, Catoosa, Dade, Johnson, Troup, Polk, Jackson, Liberty, Union, Bacon, Clinch, Murray, McIntosh, Sumter, Evans, Cook, Colquitt, Spalding, Randolph, Wayne, Clarke and Putnam.

The 2008 Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment Act helped the state’s entertainment industry achieve record numbers. Georgia is now among the top five states in the nation for film and TV production with more than 327 productions shot in Georgia from July 2010 through June 2011, bringing in more than $683.5 million in investment to Georgia. These projects have generated an economic impact of $2.4 billion.

Georgia-filmed movies slated to hit theatres in the coming months include a remake of Footloose on Oct. 14 and Wanderlust starring Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd on Feb. 24. Georgia can also be seen on television sets across the world with multiple television series now calling Georgia home. Season 3 of the CW’s Vampire Diaries aired Thursday night and AMC’s record-breaking The Walking Dead returns on Oct. 16.

Cartersville played host to . Mosquito Coast and I'll Fly Away also were filmed in Bartow, according to the newspaper.

To learn more about Georgia’s Camera Ready Community Program, visit www.georgia.org/cameraready.