ATLANTA — Georgia’s film and television industry is bringing attention to one of the most controversial bills signed into law.
The Peach State is now better known as the Southern Hollywood - or "Y'allywood." A bold tax policy has helped spur the creation of about 92,000 jobs statewide and brought in billions in spending.
At least some of that, though, has been put into jeopardy with the passing of HB 481 - the "heartbeat" abortion law, one of the strictest in the country. It's expected to take effect next year.
The backlash from entertainment industry figures has been swift and harsh. Projects that have been pulled and some executives have vowed to boycott the state.
Despite the fallout, TV shows and films have decided to continue working in Georgia:
CHARMING HEARTS OF MEN
A new romance film starring Kelsey Grammer is slated to start production in Atlanta this August.
Grammer will play a southern Congressman in "Charming Hearts of Men," an indie movie inspired by true events leading up to the Time's Up movement.
The 64-year-old actor will star in the film set during a “politically-charged era” and written by Susan DeRose, who will also helm the project.
Richard T. Lewis will produce, and cameras will roll this August in Georgia, according to Deadline.
THE BALLAD OF RICHARD JEWELL / KIKI
Production for Clint Eastwood’s next film “The Ballad of Richard Jewell,” officially kicked off in Atlanta during the first week of July in Midtown. And the all-star director took some time from his busy schedule to savor one of the city’s most popular Italian restaurants.
Eastwood, 89, enjoyed dinner with friends Jon Hamm, Kathy Bates, Sam Rockwell and producer Tim Moore at Antico, just a few miles from Georgia Tech.
Owner Giovanni Di Palma made his famous Sorrento lemon chicken with fresh, Amalfi-style lemons, garlic, wild oregano and olive oil, along with plenty of Antico pizza.
The legendary actor is no stranger to these parts of town - Eastwood filmed his action-packed film about a Mexican drug cartel, “The Mule” in several parts of Atlanta during summer 2018.
Eastwood will direct “The Ballad Of Richard Jewell,” and has been in discussions with Disney and Fox about distribution.
Behind the scenes : 'Waldo' starring Mel Gibson, Charlie Hunnam
LEGACIES / LC
"Legacies" is the next installment off of the CW hit "The Vampire Diaries" now gearing up for season two. Crews often shoot around Conyers.
“Legacies” carries on the story that originally started with “The Vampire Diaries” and continued in “The Originals”.
We’ll see the next generation of witches, vampires and werewolves making their way through The Salvatore School for the Young and Gifted.
THE RESIDENT / TR
“The Resident” is coming back to Georgia for Season 3!
The medical drama on FOX got picked up for a third season in early May, and is getting ready to start production.
The majority of the first and second seasons were filmed in Conyers and at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta.
“The Resident” follows a young doctor who’s paired with a senior resident that is as tough as he is brilliant. It stars Matt Czuchry, Emily VanCamp, Manish Dayal and Bruce Greenwood.
WALDO / WDO
We went behind the scenes of “Waldo,” a new action-packed movie starring Mel Gibson!
The A-Scene’s Ryan Dennis and Kevin Sanchez rolled their cameras as production picked up in Buckhead!
Crews worked for hours Tuesday on Peachtree Avenue inside one of the buildings at the Atlanta International School. Now, we didn’t exactly spot stars Mel Gibson and Charlie Hunnam but we have a feeling we might before the end of summer.
The movie follows a disgraced ex-cop seeking solace by moving to the woods, but his quiet life comes to an end when a private eye recruits him to investigate a murder.
THE CONJURING 3 / CJ3
“The Conjuring 3” has continued filming in downtown Newnan since early May. Dozens of residents have shared images of the mansion displaying the set for the next film with The A-Scene.
A-Scene Insider Tara Ja'Net White sent us a photo of her taking a selfie at the mansion.
The third installment of the franchise directed by Michael Chaves is based on a true story that has previously followed paranormal investigators.
You can expect this film in theaters in 2020.
GREENLAND / GLD
Gerard Butler stars in the upcoming disaster thriller “Greenland”. The plot follows a family’s fight for survival after a cataclysmic natural disaster.
While some scenes are being filmed in Toronto, several scenes have been filmed in parts of Georgia throughout June and July.
Production has been spotted in Marietta (West Cobb) near Dallas Highway. Basecamp signs with GLD by North Metro Church and Mt. Calvary Church.
HOLIDATE / HD
Emma Roberts will be spending lots of her summer in Atlanta! She’s filming “Holidate,” a movie about two strangers who are sick of their families asking them about their love lives during the holidays. So, they make the arrangement to fake date.
BROCKMIRE / B4
Our cameras were rolling as we entered the production set of "Brockmire" at the Briarcliff Campus of Emory University to investigate a tip we got from our A-Scene Insiders.
If you see the set, it may look familiar because it most recently served as the site of Hawkins National Laboratory in “Stranger Things.”
We also saw production signs for “Brockmire” and the crews which we're told have been filming on campus for several days.
ROBBIE / CP4
Production for Comedy Central’s upcoming show “Robbie” began last summer and has resumed production since late April.
The half-hour scripted series stars Rory Scovel (I Feel Pretty, Rory Scovel Tries Stand Up For The First Time). Rory plays a small-town youth league basketball coach living in his father’s shadow, until he realizes he has a son of his own who can lead him to greatness.
"Robbie" is written by Rory Scovel and Anthony King (Broad City, Silicon Valley). Co-starring with Rory are Beau Bridges, who plays his father, Sasheer Zamata and Mary Holland. Scovel, King, and Scott Moran are executive producers.
Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, Betsy Koch and Owen Burke are executive producers for Gary Sanchez Productions. Monika Zielinska and Rachel Olson are Executives in Charge of "Robbie" for the network.
OZARK / KRAZO
Filming for the Netflix series “Ozark” was caught burning rubber when A-Scene insider Christy Benton grabbed a photo of Marty Byrde’s van in Stone Mountain.
The Honda Odyssey was seen in the process of being towed with several splatters of dirt on the side of the minivan. Marty, played by Jason Bateman, drives the vehicle.
The fictional series follows the financial conflicts of a family from Chicago to the Ozark Mountains.
The families modular home was also found near Van Pugh Park near Lake Lanier, according to A-Scene insider Susie Llanes Fitzgerald.
In 2018, Bateman announced the new season on Twitter with a graphic combining the number three and a dollar sign.
THE WALKING DEAD / SF
The “fetal heartbeat” bill is impacting another production that has filmed in Georgia. AMC‘s “The Walking Dead” could be leaving the state after filming here for 10 years.
AMC said in a statement, “If this highly restrictive legislation goes into effect, we will reevaluate our activity in Georgia.”
However, season 10 has kicked off without a hitch.
The series was filmed in Georgia since its first season and the city of Senoia has seen growth. According to Zillow, the average home value nearly doubled since filming began there.
There are more than 50 businesses on Main Street, the population has doubled and many of the show’s stars have bought homes they’re out of convenience. The city has also become a tourist attraction for “The Walking Dead”.
LOVECRAFT COUNTRY / RP
J.J. Abrams and Jordan Peele are looking for fresh talent to be featured in “Lovecraft Country, “a one-hour drama series by HBO.
What follows is a struggle to survive and overcome both the racist terrors of white America and the terrifying monsters that could be ripped from an H.P. Lovecraft paperback.
Michael Kenneth Williams, who once joined played in HBO’s inner-city drug traffic series “The Wire,” will star as Black.
STARGIRL / JSA
The DC Universe series “Stargirl” has been spotted in production at a school near Atlanta Rd. in Smyrna by A-Scene insider Kristina Bessent.
The series trails the journey of high school student Courtney Whitmore who joins the Justice Society of America.
Signs of the series have also been found in Paulding County, Lithonia and Lithia Springs recently by A-Scene insiders.
THE OUTSIDER / CANT/MUST
Filming for the HBO-produced series based on Stephen King’s latest novel "The Outsider" is in full speed.
Rose Locke Casting announced the shoots are happening in and around Atlanta back in February and will take place through July.
Several of our A-Scene Insiders have spotted the basecamp signs "CANT/MUST" used in filming scenes for the show.
King's novel unravels a story of how an 11-year old boy is found brutally murdered and strong evidence points to Little League coach Terry Maitland.
Scenes for the upcoming season were being filmed in Conyers and Norcross.
HILLBILLY ELEGY / IVAN
Storing away cables and various sets of equipment, the production crew for the upcoming Netflix film ‘Hillbilly Elegy’ inches closer to wrapping up production.
Not far from Chamblee, the production partially blocked off roads and slowed down traffic because of storage trucks along the road.
Days before, several of the trailers that held actors were seen at the parking lot of the Shallowford Presbyterian Church. Signs titled "IVAN" for the movies filming site has also been spotted by A-Scene insiders in Brookhaven, Smyrna and Rabun.
The feature film directed by Ron Howard is an adaptation of the No. 1 New York Times Bestseller, ‘Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis’ by J.D. Vance.
With a release date set in 2020, it captures the reality of the white working class in the United States.
The film will star Amy Adams, who is known in the Netflix series ‘The Office.’ It will also include other big-name stars such as Haley Bennett and Glenn Close.
In a behind the scenes look into the series, Brian Grazer, who is the producer of the movie, shows actors and a furry friend in action.
SLUTTY TEENAGE BOUNTY HUNTERS / TBH & 326H
Scenes for the upcoming upcoming Netflix comedy series “Slutty Teenage Bounty Hunters” has been filming throughout parts of downtown Atlanta.
According to Variety, Maddie Phillips and Anjelica Bette Fellini will star as the titular in the new series executive produced by Jenji Kohan.
BLACK LIGHTNING
"Black Lightning" is based on the DC Comic by the same name.
It's about a man who dressed as a superhero and acted as a vigilante in his younger days but left it all behind him to become a family man and a school administrator.
Then he finds himself getting dragged back into his old life.
The third season has been filming throughout parts of Georgia.
MACGYVER / EYE
“MacGyver,” the CBS reboot of the classic series, continues production for season three in Loganville and other parts of Atlanta. Under the production code “EYE,” crews have also been seen filming in Midtown and Grant Park.
MacGyver first aired in 1985 and ran on television until 1992. In the reboot, 20-something Angus “Mac” MacGyver, creates a clandestine organization within the U.S. government, where he uses his extraordinary talent for unconventional problem-solving and his vast scientific knowledge to save lives.
DYNASTY / CROSS EYE
“Dynasty” is filming under the code “CROSS EYE.”
The remake follows the same basic premise as the original, two of America’s wealthiest families feuding over their fortune and their families, but with an updated storyline and cast.
LAUREN LAKE'S PATERNITY COURT
Filmed in Georgia, Judge Lauren Lake presides over highly emotional cases that lead to life-changing consequences and new beginnings. "Paternity
Court" uncovers the truth 5 days a week . . . and sometimes the truth hurts.
AMERICAN SOUL
Production for the second season of BET's "American Soul" has kicked off in Georgia. “Soul Train” was the first prominent African-American variety television show exposing audiences nationwide to musical acts and dancers for over 35 years.
The show ended in 2006 and still holds the title of one of the longest-running syndicated programs in American history.
Now the franchise is back as a docuseries executive produced by the son of “Soul Train” creator, Don Cornelius.
Behind the Scenes | 'American Soul' filmed in Atlanta
COMING 2 AMERICA
While the future of filming in Georgia remains in flux, the state continues to host a number of future blockbusters.
The Georgia Film Office added Paramount Pictures' "Coming 2 America" to the projects currently in production or prepping in Georgia.
The comedy is a sequel to Eddie Murphy's 1988 hit that grossed nearly $300 million at the worldwide box office.
Variety reports Murphy is expected to again star, alongside Jermaine Fowler, with an expected August 2020 release date.
FEAR STREET / FS
‘Fear Street’ is the second of two big-budget productions that has been filming near downtown East Point for several weeks.
This is a reboot of the classic 80’s horror anthology ‘Creepshow’.
The title is spawned from the mind of yet another horror auteur, R.L. Stine of ‘Goosebumps’ fame.
Street’ is the first film in reported trilogy of films adapted from R.L. Stine novels of the same name.
DIVORCE COURT
It’s the longest-running court room show on television helping couples duke it out since 1957. ‘Divorce Court’ moved their 20th season to Tyler Perry Studios and continues to grow.
Like Judge Lynn Toller tells couples on the show, sometimes a little change is good and when your show enters its 20th season — it may need an even better location.
“Atlanta! How did that happen and why did that happen,” the A-Scene’s Francesca Amiker asked.
“I’m not sure how it happened or why it happened but I’m glad it happened! I ran into so many cool people. I got to meet Kat Williams, my son ran into TI. I saw Tyler Perry, so it’s been a blast,” Toller said.
And it’s not just the stars! She loves our workforce as well.
“Everybody has capacity. One guy was doing this and next thing you know he was my photographer,” Toller said.
On a typical day, her show's crew shoots 10 episodes and she set aside a mere 16 shooting days a year over six trips for an entire season.
The show also employs dozens including her new bailiff Nick Barotta.
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