By Daren Pesick
Apart from Georgia film tax credits to bear in mind, most states have guides or directories listing production services available to filmmakers interested in filming in their cities. The guides are usually put out by the state film commissions (which you could find by calling your city hall) to promote productions to use local businesses to aid the state's economy. The right film location can mean the difference between substandard work and a quality project. Regardless of whether you are working on an advertisement, documentary, film or TV series, the venue you select will have a huge impact on your footage.
If you need to have space to build sets, make sure the facility has one or more on-site stages so that the sets can be made and used without incurring additional transport costs. For commercials and music videos, already dressed sets can be a real asset by saving both time and money: look for fixtures that work, furniture, and availability of the most commonly needed props. Whether your project is one day or a long term commitment, you don't want to pay a lot of money and get started then find yourself pinched for space. A good film location will offer a variety of studios, stages, and prep areas to choose from that will suit day to day needs to a tee.
You can make your own soundproofed room, or at least lessen the reverb, by putting up foam sheets on the walls, or on stands (outside of the camera's perspective) close to the actors carrying out their dialogue. These foam sheets will absorb reverb and stop sounds from bouncing back. You could also rent sound blankets (the kind utilized by moving companies). Sound blankets also help to prevent echo and reverb by absorbing sound the way carpeting does. You can hang them outside of the shot or lay them on bare floors (when you're not showing the floor in your shot).
Shooting your movie in a local diner or coffee shop is a good idea. However, you'll need to talk to the owners and get their permission before you begin. You may even need to get a permit. Don't forget, you are interrupting their business so make sure you are over polite in the process okay? Nobody wants a snobby filmmaker around. Filming is typically booked to best work around your schedule or that of the person being filmed. But consider also if there may be a day and/or time which tends to be quieter or less chaotic (e.g. morning vs. afternoon).
Georgia film tax credits of 20% are transferrable along with a possible further 10% if a state promo logo is included in the finished production. Minimum spend is $500,000. The state of Michigan grabbed the tax-break spotlight with its pumped-up package of a refundable, assignable credit that ranges from 30% to a whopping 42% of a production's eligible expenses. And the required minimum in-state spend is only $50,000. North Carolina not too long ago upped its incentive to the level of a 25% tax credit on a minimum $250,000 in-state spend.
If you need to have space to build sets, make sure the facility has one or more on-site stages so that the sets can be made and used without incurring additional transport costs. For commercials and music videos, already dressed sets can be a real asset by saving both time and money: look for fixtures that work, furniture, and availability of the most commonly needed props. Whether your project is one day or a long term commitment, you don't want to pay a lot of money and get started then find yourself pinched for space. A good film location will offer a variety of studios, stages, and prep areas to choose from that will suit day to day needs to a tee.
You can make your own soundproofed room, or at least lessen the reverb, by putting up foam sheets on the walls, or on stands (outside of the camera's perspective) close to the actors carrying out their dialogue. These foam sheets will absorb reverb and stop sounds from bouncing back. You could also rent sound blankets (the kind utilized by moving companies). Sound blankets also help to prevent echo and reverb by absorbing sound the way carpeting does. You can hang them outside of the shot or lay them on bare floors (when you're not showing the floor in your shot).
Shooting your movie in a local diner or coffee shop is a good idea. However, you'll need to talk to the owners and get their permission before you begin. You may even need to get a permit. Don't forget, you are interrupting their business so make sure you are over polite in the process okay? Nobody wants a snobby filmmaker around. Filming is typically booked to best work around your schedule or that of the person being filmed. But consider also if there may be a day and/or time which tends to be quieter or less chaotic (e.g. morning vs. afternoon).
Georgia film tax credits of 20% are transferrable along with a possible further 10% if a state promo logo is included in the finished production. Minimum spend is $500,000. The state of Michigan grabbed the tax-break spotlight with its pumped-up package of a refundable, assignable credit that ranges from 30% to a whopping 42% of a production's eligible expenses. And the required minimum in-state spend is only $50,000. North Carolina not too long ago upped its incentive to the level of a 25% tax credit on a minimum $250,000 in-state spend.
About the Author:
Georgia film tax credits is something that movie firms and studios are quite mindful about. You'll find lots of sources about film tax incentives online and in the respective government offices that you can read more about.