Charles Rivkin Remarks at Georgia State of the Industry Summit
Good morning, everyone. My thanks to Frank Patterson and the team at Trilith for hosting us today. And a special shout-out to Lee Thomas, Georgia’s Film Commissioner, for the work to lift up this state as a prime destination for production.
Before we dive into the topic at hand, allow me a moment to recognize the families and individuals devastated by Hurricane Helene.
We’ve all seen the gut-wrenching images: the far-reaching damage…the homes destroyed…the lives upended and changed forever.
And we’ve seen the extraordinary courage and service of the first responders…of neighbors helping neighbors…of Georgians’ resilience.
Our thoughts are with everyone impacted by this storm…and will remain so as you recover and rebuild.
Now, in the wake of this natural disaster, we’ve witnessed what makes Georgia special – the character of its people, the compassion of its communities, and the strength of its economy and workforce.
That’s the spirit we honor today, too, as we evaluate the landscape and the state of our industry here in the Peach State.
I’m proud to join you on behalf of the Motion Picture Association, the leading voice for the film, television, and streaming industry in D.C., in Atlanta, in states and capitals throughout the United States and across the globe.
In my past life, I served as Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs – a long title that meant I got to travel the world promoting the economic ties between our country and our partners abroad.
In that role, I made my way to over 40 nations. And nearly every single one of them told me that they want their own “Hollywood” – their own creative sector – and they wanted to know how to build it…
How to attract studios to their communities…
How to create the conditions for casts and crews to succeed…
Because they knew, as we do, what production could mean for their economies and their citizens – more jobs, more skills, more growth for their workers.
Some of them had incentive programs already on the books.
Some were considering changes to their laws targeting entertainment companies.
But if any of them truly wished to see how it’s done, they’d be smart to train their sights on Georgia.
Because here, you have a successful production incentive program, to be sure.
But you also know that creating the ecosystem for production takes more than dollars and cents.
You need a skilled workforce featuring on-screen and behind-the-scenes talent.
You need sound stages and studio space.
You need world-class locations that can transform into anything from Wakanda to the spider-verse and beyond.
Perhaps above all, you need a sustained commitment to creativity – not as a one-off investment, but an ongoing promise to make the Peach State a place where movie magic comes to life.
In Georgia, you have all of that, and more.
At the MPA, our job is to help you foster that ecosystem – and expand it…
To help great storytellers share great stories with audiences worldwide…
To shine a spotlight on the starring role played by this industry in driving local economic growth, fueling local job creation, enriching cultures, and connecting communities everywhere.
When we do our jobs right, we strengthen the well-being of the people who live here, who work here, who run businesses here, who define your local communities.
Recent research paints a clear picture of what Georgia’s film tax incentive brings to the table:
Every dollar of the incentive generates over six dollars in economic impact for this state. Not just for casts or crews, but for local caterers, cleaners, construction workers, electricians, restaurants, makeup artists, and more.
On top of that, nearly 90 percent of on-set crew positions are held by Georgia residents – and those gigs pay an average of $86,000 a year.
That’s a solid paycheck, and significantly higher than the average pay for jobs overall in this state.
All of this is the result of critical and enduring investments by this industry.
So it’s no wonder that eight-in-ten voters, majorities of Republicans and Democrats alike, say this industry has a positive impact on Georgia’s economy.
Georgians see what our studios do – an industry that’s creating good-paying jobs, attracting tourism, generating revenue, and bolstering the economy.
So there’s plenty of positive news to celebrate in this state. But we can’t sugarcoat the reality of this moment in our industry.
We face strong headwinds right now, and we’re feeling their effects in Georgia and California and everywhere in between –
The pandemic and its aftermath…
The labor negotiations and their impacts on production timelines…
The disruptive force and breathtaking potential of emerging technologies…and on and on.
And that can be unsettling for many of us in this business.
But let’s never forget: audiences still want to be awed and entertained…
Filmmakers still want to find the perfect location for the next legendary tale…
Casts and crews are still ready and eager to bring incredible stories to our screens…
Now more than ever, the world needs what we do.
That’s what this summit is about – investing in Georgia’s future as a hub for entertainment, for innovation, for the right policies, the right people, and the right strategy.
That’s the Georgia model, and just like with any great film, I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Thank you, and enjoy the summit.